The times., 1899-03-26
CHATS WITH THE PLAYERS.

In the 'palmy days" of the drama an ac-
tor whose profession could not have been
told from block distant would have been
considered disgrace to the Muse. Times
have changed, however, and players with
them. So it is that when a short, rather
commonplace looking man. with small
round face pientifully decorated with
freckles stopped in front OF the prospective
interviewer who had sent up his card to
Eddie Foy few afternoons ago at the
Regent, that individual never thought OF
connecting his vis-a-vis with the comedian,
but asked simply, ''WelI?"
We'll" repeated the new arrival. There
was moments silence and then the visitor
began to see about the drowsy eyes and the
drawn mouth before him some resemblance
to the clown of Cluny's Colossal Combina-
ton in Hotel Topsy Turvy." The iden-
tification was soon completed verbally and
then Mr.. Foy began talking about himself
and his work. This is my last week with
the company" he explained land I'm not
half as sorry of the fact as | might be- The
present season has been one of hard work
for me and | shall be glad OF little rest
Most outsiders do not realize the worry
and bother Of trouping from place to place
and OF repeating night after night the lines
that have become as familiar as is the al
phabet. Then there is a constant strain
ing for effect in the labor of the entertainer
and nervous wear and tear that is in
conceivable. With the role of the bogus
count the physical toll is not to be men,
toned lightly. Any man who thinks it
easy to climb tables. jump here and there,
dance occasionally and always appear as
though one enjoyed the activity and longed
for more OF it is welcome to play my part
any time he pleases.
'Topsy Turvy' has not been great
success as a production, but, luckily,
seem to have scored, and so my year has
not been wasted. OF course, my portrayal
in the piece is one constant run of horsi-
ness, but | do not claim to be great come
dian and am quite satisfied if | can make
people laugh. After ALL while this critical
stuff about art and more art and still more
is undoubtedly OF benefit in the long run, it
is the public that must be pleased. and con-
sequently the public that should be praised
or blamed for the good or bad influence
of the stage. do not know a manager in
this country who can afford to try forcing
on theatregoers what they do not want,
and even if there were one he would get
no profit out of educating the general
taste. One cannot expect directors to be
philanthropsts any more than one can eX-
pect stock brokers or other capitalists to
embark in that line. | can't see where
venturers in the amusement business are
at all liable for what they put on-or oblige
others to take off. They merely wait to
see for what their patrons will pay and
then endeayor to supply the commodity
desired.
This idea holds good even more with
the alleged suggestive offerings OF the
present period than with anything else.
You reviewers continually demand that
proprietors of one combination or another
cleanse their performances and yet you
acknowledge that you do not wish TO con-
denim these entertainments for fear that
the effect will be an Increase in business.
Consequently you subscribe to the argu
ment that theatregoers want something
risque. This being true you have no rea-
son to think that managers should make
any alterations in the morals CT the come
dies or dramas they present.
Personally, l can only do that for
which am paid by being broadly horsey
in my methods, but were l as able as is
Nat Goodwin would not change my style.
The public seems TO want TO laugh and so
long as it will laugh at man who sup
posedly puts his foot in the butter or
stuffs a chicken in his pocket | Will be
that man. Nor can / see that | may be
considered to blame for this course If
everyone in the world were a lawyer none
OF the legal personages would get his shoes
shined. and perhaps the comedian who
wins applause by deyislng an amusing
way OF eating Is as necessary as the one
who gives humor to witty line somebody
else has written. Isn't that true?'
Truly Shattuck was busily engaged in
packing a large trunk on Wednesday
morning when a Times man called upon
her The singers voice had given out
completely two days before and she had
determined to visit New York and her
physician at once. Il have been working
constantly this season. she said. "and nv
break down is hardly mere than I expected.
Six months of drudgery with a burlesque
company was more than 1 could stand and
/ knew 1t. When Hurtig and Seamon book
ed me with their road organization ! in
sisted that ! should have week of be-
fore the show closed. and was very angry
when discovered that was to be sent to
Washington during what had been prom