The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-11
CHATS WITH THE PLAYERS.

During the past few weeks, George Led
| erer. manager of the New York Casino.
and incidentally, Of various musical COM
cdy companies. has been assisted by Edna
May in enacting a dramatic version OF
owen Meredith's The Portrait" Over a
coffned contract between them, Mr.. Led
erer FIRST claimed that the painted NINA
ture OF Miss Mays reputation righttully
belonged to him. And thus, by gradual
degrees and the aid Of the newspapers,
both worked up TO the familiar lines:
''And in your throat" groaued, 'you Iie.'
lie susvered-''Let Us see"
Intent upon placing himself in posi-
ton to criticise the performance a Times
man visited Miss May on Wednesday at
the National. He found her anything but
the egodst!cal, pedantlc woman she has
been pictured since her return from Lon
don-rather a quiet girl with an evident
disposition to be quite fair in her state
ment Of the difficulties that have deter
mined her upon going back to England.
The National has a green room, and in this
the reviewer was received. He seated
himself upon a trunk, surrenderins the
nearby sofa to his hostess. Then he
asked for information.
There is not much to say on the sub
ject the comedienne responded. but /
am glad OF an opportunity to say what
there is. One of the Washington papers
treated me a bit discourteously on Tues
day; condemned before hearing me. II
only for that reason I am not ayerse to
giving my version Of the present trouble.
of course you know that Mr.. Lederer
has claimed that he instructed me in
every detail OF my delineation Of Violet
Gray-when to step forward and when 10
bow my head and when to glance down
ward The journals have taken up the
quarrel with strange eagerness, contrast
ing my impersonatlon with the work did
when She was in the chorus. As a mat
ter Of fact. / never was in any chorus.
When l went on the stage Oscar Hammer
stein engaged me for a tTifing role In
his production of Santa Maria Next
PLAYED one OF the sisters in "A COntented
Woman Both we're done in a single sea-
son and neither brought me extended
commendation. for opportunities were few.
| drifted into Gotham and Mason Mitchell.
the rough rider, introduced me TO Mr..
LedereT who was preparing to present
The Belle of New York | was told 10
sing and tried the Baby air from The
Lady Slavey Mr.. Lederer said I could
have the part of Fif and | learned the
lines But a French dialect did not set
well on my palate and | asked for some
thing else. The director replied that I
might get ready to understudy the char
acter OF Violet Gray. He said that he
was about to secure a prominent actress
for the role. I rehearsed it frequently,
receiving only such aid as was extended
to the others. and finally was informed
that | was to originate the part. Not I'M
til after the premiere did Mr.. Lederer
come around to remark I told you so and
TO claim that he always had had me in
his minds eye for the bit. The affair has
been very unpleasant and | shall be glad
when it is over"
you leave The Belle SOON"
My contract expires on April a On
April IS I return to London. where l shall
appear under the management of Messrs.
Davis. Mcclellan and Kerker. Mr.. Mcclellan
who is Hugh Morton-and Mr. Kerker,
you know. were responsible for The Belle
The new piece to be done abroad is nothing
better or worse than AN American
Beauty in which Lillian Russell starred
for some time II has been practically re-
written and should be a great success.
am to have the title role. Miss Russell
has been very good In giving me her ideas
on me part. anu am uupluS 10 10 well IN
it. Again let me thank you for refusing
10 speak OF this matter until you had seen
me Au revoir"
No word about London triumphs or noble
admirerers or big type. Nothing against
anyone. This was all.
The story Of my life?" Thomas E. Shea
repeated after the visiting reporter. And
then he laughed.
The Times man waited eXpectanuy.
Well" continued the actor, Il don't
know that the narrative will prove UNI
usual. except in that It must detail the
fact that l never have worked for any
body save myself My people are not the
atrical and the germs got into my own
system at amateur performances. In my
early youth | would go to the play and,
returning home, would lock myself in the
room and read aloud from Shakespeare
and Sheridan and Goldsmith. Finally !
formed an organization from the young
people of my acquaintance and we made |
a tour of the suburbs of Boston. Strange |
" enough. the trip was profitable. The |
proprietor OF a repertoire combination |
saw and engaged me. labored hard and |
within a few months bought an interest |
in the venture. Gradually that interest |