The Washington times., 1901-10-13

life at Swansea it's brief glimpses of city
folk and city ways one will hnd the play
crude. but full OF the indefinable some
thing which has been called, Tor want OF
a better name heart interest," that IL Is
in this dramatic feeling the play has sur,
viVed through fifteen seasons me Olu
Home stead was an evolution, too, from
some vaudeville sketches which Denman
Thompson used to do around the variety
theatres-they were variety theatres then
and not the continuous vaudeville palaces
Perhaps the first OF the country plays
were Speed the Plough" and THE Gold
en- Farmer but they are so far away IN
point of time it is hardly profitable to
consider them.
The County Fair was next in the
course Of time-again crude idea filled
with all the realism which pigs and cows
and real trees could give il, and a Won
derful race to give the sensation neceS-
sary TO carry the story. Way Down
East came at opportune time and
again set in motion the stream of favor
toward farm plays. 1t, too. was an eVo-
luton and paved the way for Lovers
Lane, in which adventitious aids are dis
carded and the play depends for Its sue
cess on its inherent qualities as play I,
its great scope of character portrayal ana
the picturesque beauty Of its scenes OF
village thoroughfare, home, and apple or
chard.
Yes. the actors profession is a lucra-
tive one" said John w. Dunno, the other
afternoon Successful stage favorites
draw large salaries, and the average lay
man is prone to believe that he gets it
easily and perhaps is overpaid. Don't be-
lieve it 1 do not think there is any call
ing that requires as much hard work as
the theatrical profession. The actor, that
is, the successful actor. has to work hard
from morning till late at night TO earn his
money. 1t is true there are siuggards
among them, as there are in all profess
hoo ,eS
prominent.
Consider for a moment the amount of
work required TO produce the Hoyt re
vivaIs that we are now giving. The mem
bers OF the Chase company are instructed
to reach the theatre every morning at 10
o'clock. As soon as possible rehearsal IS
started We go through the entire per
formance. With the interruptions that
are necessary, it is generally 1880 be
fore We have finished. Then we have
the matinee performance at 2:l5. That
lasts until about o'clock. We have
three hours in which to go to our hotels,
eat our dinners, and recreate. From ) tlii
Il the evening performance is on Our
work is not done then Sometimes we
have a rehearsal after the play.
If not the members OF the company
go home and in the quietude of their
rooms study diligently the lines of their
part Ia the coming production after the
! izy Ia rehearsal. Mind you, study must
an be done at home. Sometimes We have
two or three plays in rehearsal and II re-
quir6s Il good deal of work to retain
in the memory the lines of the different
plays without confusion Sunday Is not q
day OF rest for US, as it is with persons
in ordinary business. 1t means another
day of rehearsal. Ten in the morning ana
? in the afternoon, with a dress re-
hearsal in the evening. of course, this IS
not the case with all theatrical com
panies. A combination company, thIt is,
one that plays the same piece all season;
does not require SO many rehearsais, ana
the members generally have the daylight
ho- 3 to themselves except on matinee
DAY Many of them put in their lels-
ure time studying. Is 1t any wonder that
the average actor welcomes the summer
vacation? l think he is entitled to rest,
a cessa ton of the daily grind through
which he has passed for eight or nine
months. 1t is only by this continuous
labor that we are able to give such good
productions Of the Hoyt plays, We are
gratified. however, that they have met
with the approval of the Washington pub
lie and hope 10 continue meriung their
patronage.
Charles T Aldrich. whose work as the
Juggling tramp was the distinct feature
of the Edna May play. THE Girl From
Up There in this country and in Lon
don during the career of the Charles
T0rohman musical comedy company last
season, Is one of the few important en-
gagements announced this week at the
Bijou, in connection with the burlesque
stock company.
Mr. Aldrich occupies a very unique po-
sitlon in the vaudeville, while as Jug
gier pure and simple. his pre-eminence is
undenisble. He is distinctly original in
all of his work. even his clever imitation
Of the Chinese magician, Ching Ling Foo,
being regarded by many persons as bet
ter than the original, even if Aldrich does
disclose the methods by which he obtains
such remarkable results. There have been
many efforts TO initiate Aldrich. but from
the futile efforts of those who have tried
their hands at his style OF work. he is
certain 10 remain quite alone in his Pc
culiar field. Other juggiers assume the
same garb. hut while they cunfine them
selves L. the routine tricks of the trade.
they are unable to branch out in the
realms Of the unexplored that are follow
ed by Aldrich.
There have been almost innumerable
enGeavors TO duplicate his trick with the
handkerchief. which persists in continual
ly bobbinE up and down, even after the
juggler nails il securely, seemingly, to
The stage. il is one of the cleverest feats
that have ever been disclosed on the
vaudeville stage. and it is also remark
able as being one OF s!3e very few that
have so far escaped the army of imi-
tstors.
A!bnrs remarkable versatility in the
conjuring line amazed many attendants
al the Bijou last week-persons who be-
leYed they knew something Of the man
ner in which card tricks are commonly
performe6-but it did not take Alibini
very long to upset all the traditions and