The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-30
WHEN MAY IRWIN PLAYS JULIET
She Will Need strong support and n
Revision of the Drama.

Chicago Chronicle
"why shouldn't ! play Juliet" asked May
Irwin. and the young man from the chronlclc
could only murmur;
"why, indeedg'
"Thc public seems to wnnt Iuiiets," wen,
or the comediennc, "and ali tho girls arc get
ting into the ga-that u.s. all the leading act
reeses are putting on Juliet Now the public
has the bsnamwoisht Juliet IN Miss Adams,
the lightweight Juliet in Miss Arthur and the
middewelght Juliet in Miss Marlowe why
not heavyweight Juliet could 20 on at
the weight with less than three weeks train.
ing and put up Juliet that would make a
To- of them quit. You know II has long been
my ambition to close my stage career In tho
legitimate, and think juliet Is part that
rs Just htted TO me- have given the chame-
ter much study, aud, though tho part is
heavier than my past work, so am H.
Fhen you arc willing TO meet any Juliet
now on tho stage, give or take twenty pounds.
If that ltg'' asked the visitor
'um-well-I would not put II lust that way
myself" said Miss Irwin. "hut have lone
desired to play Juliet, and the only bar 90
m, ambition has been my inability to get a
ter Then the rest of the casi. e" went ON tho
actress, musingly, as she laid down finely
bound copy Of Romeo aud Juliet" which she
had been studying, II should want a wen
balanced cast Of course. and the Hrst thing
would he 70 get Romeo"
well balanced casts" uuoried the reporter
How about Pete Daley wouldn't ho just
about balance thlngs'
" fear YOU did not catch nv idea exactly :,
said Miss irwin. turning her second act smlls
on the Young man you ser. tho term used
was entirely technical, No I'm afraid DALEY
would scarcely do--uot that he wouldn't muke
charming Romeo. experience being the beat
Of teachers but I'm sull thinking Of that
balcony scene. II he ever got on a ropn ladder
well, leave It to your own judgment
What Is your conception of tho character
of Juliet, Miss Irwin" asked the seeker after
light Tho Coincidence paused and rested her
brow IN her small white hand AS though lost
IN thought Her eyes wandered lovingly TO
the COPY OF Shakespeare on the table near
her and at lcnGth she said
well. between YOU and me. | think sho
was good deal of a slob that is, Of course
mean she acted with considerable lack OF
judgment when she cut herself all up in the
tomb when she found out that Romeo had
killed himself, Now. n | nut the show on /
will have to change tho end OF the last act
| cant stand for that suicide business I'll
have Juliet collect Romeos life Insurance aud
have good time with the money. What do
you think?
II have thought at times that the lines
could be improved" continued the actress,
- H. md b,,e
could be bettcred. Now YOU know that show
was first put on long time sgo. away back
before Maurice barrymore got into yoadyeel.
and they weren't quite. you know-the goods.
don't you understand They had lot to
learn. For instance. when Juliet locks the
door OF her room and drinks up lot OF
dope that tho druggist fixed up for her. no.
body knows what It Is. II put on Juliet III
have light Manhattan cocktail served for
that potion scene"
"only one?" asked the visitor.
well. there's only one arranged for In the
business OF tho play. but ! SUPPOSE We could
change that. too. | notice another thing
would have changed. In looking over the
cast Of characters ! see they have one named
Sampson. Now. when ] put on juliet III
give scbley aud Dewey a show. too. don't
know that Sampson is so very many u he'd
ipst eounl himself. He's not the only ad-
uiral on the bridge. II might be a 1901 idea
to work the Uncle Toms Cabin gag and
have double company. Two nurses and four
CspuIets and all that Certainly II Maude
Adams is entitled TO one nurse. ought to
have two--one TO guard each side OF me- or
they could take turns. four hours on watch
and four hours on. OF something like that