The times., 1901-06-23
THE PASSING SHOW.

lar opinion, and, after all, versatility Is
gift that cannot well be deprecated.
When Bijou Fernandez joined the Lafay
cite stock company few weeks ago. she
essayed the role of Sonora Gonzales in
Because She Loved Him So, a part
almost necessary to the play, but one
which is commonly called a ''thankless'
part. She next appeared as Caroline Nit
ford the bright little Southern girl in
/ Secret Service scoring one of the dis
I tinct successes of the piece and during
/ the week just closed her Lady Miiicent
( in The Jilt proved TO be a well-deflned
! drawing of a repentant tiirt.
Miss Fernandez is of striking appear
ance, very dark and possesses an unusual
and attractive type of beauty Her work
since she became member of the Lafay-
ette company has demonstrated to Wash
. inSton the ability which has been known
to New York for some time and which
has rendered her services valuable to
metropolitan managers. In The Jilt
Miss fernandez drifted gracefully from
! the role of Jolly little Caroline Milford to
that Of Lady Aliilicent and her emotional
work came as somewhat OF a surprise.
Miss Fernandez was in her dressing
room one night last week when Times
interviewer intruded for the purpose of
a little chat. Fortune favored the brave
in reality. for the actress was free during
the third act. and it so happened to be
just at that period of the play.
so you want TO know something about
me? You're not going to ask
me for my career, are you?-for
that dates from my second year
and it's long story, too long for
me to tell and for you to hear So wen
come right up to date, if you don't mind,
! after ] say that two of my most delight
I ful engagements since have been on the
stage were with Joseph Jefferson and Sol
Smith Russell. Miss Radcliffe and / were
associated with Mr. Russell at the same
time, so were old friends. Last season
when +. c. Whitney put On the all-star
production of QUO Vadis' he engaged me
for the role Of Lygia. After that / ioin-
ed Amelia Binghams company in The
Climbers. Clyde litch's play. which was
one OF the greatest successes of the sea-
son in New York. / the understudy
for all the feminine roles. and found my
self busy for little while. as there were
seven parts to study l played, too
though mine was not an important part
I but next year ! shall play Mrs. Godesby.
/ the role originated by Clara Bloodgood
! and second to that plaVed BY Miss Bine-
/ ham. The play is really great. and Mrs
| Godesby is a splendid opportunity for me-
! She Is society woman who manages TO
: make things pretty lively by her vim
/ dictlVe nature and ready. though not
I too Wei guarded tongue. The lines are
( wonderfully crisp and bright, and | am
! altogether enthusiastic about the part
played II last year when Miss BlOodgoOd
/ was III. so it will not be entirely strange
I TO me next season. We did not 20 out
! side Of New YORK lasr year, Dut this SEQ
J sen we go on the road before opening
/ in New York, and Washington, | am glad
| TO say. Is among our early bookings
season after next / hope to go into
I musical comedy. l studied ali Of last
/ year and shall resume when | go home
/ was offered a part in The StrolIers,
I which George Lederer will put on this
month, and also received an offer from
Frank Perley, but my contracts with Miss
I Bingham for next season and with Mr.
/ Berger for this summer preclude the pos
slblllty OF accepting either. Strange to
! say, this is my premiere in stock work
and whether Shakespeare was getting in
word for stock managers when he
{ talked about one man in his time nIay-
( ing many parts, it is, nevertheless, just
what we have 10 do. Though it's pretty
/ hard work at times, it does one no end
/ Of good, and I'm not sorry for the op-
! portunity. Now | must ask you to ex-
tand some one knocked on the door and
/ eDteredD here's my mother and as she
has always taken such excellent care Of
me, l am sure she is capable of doing
/ the same for you. while / go TO work.
and, with a cordial Good night" Miss
Fernandez went downstairs.
! The words My mother meant no
more or less than they would in coming
! from any other dutifu and devoted
! daughter. but when the actress added
Mrs Fernandez. there was d quick
change, and. behold one of the mowers In
the theatrical world Mrs. Fernandez is
. a living example of the pluck, energy, and
. proGressiVeuess Of women. She occU-
/ pies a position in the theatrical world
/ mat has never been reached or even aD-
. preached by another of her sex She
( controls the largest agency in the world
and has upward Of 5000 names on her
register. on being questioned regarding
+ her work, Mrs. Fernandez said laughing
. Iy:
/ Il don't know that I ought to give the
I secret away, for some OF your enterpris-
ing women might take the cue and
I where would ! be- You don't think so2
! Well. then, | might as well tell YOU all
about it. Ny daughter, Bijou. began
Ia
( two years old. continuing until she was
/ too large for them. / then began to
/ think ii Was time that she should have
an education So she went to school and
/ / began training children for tho stage
Mr.. Frohman's business called him
away from New York and he asked me
/ TO look after his affairs while he was
on the road managed to conduct
{ things satisfactorily and if he wanted an
actor to iill a certain role in any Of the
+ companies he would write to me to send
him some one. When Mr.. FrOhman te-
! turned TO New York he suggested that
/ establish an agency. The idea seemed
. absurd, Iur so many people had failed
Z that ] took 1t as a matter of course that
/ th" same fate awaited my efforts. How
} ever, he said. Well, I'll do all I can to
! help you and If actor applies TO me
III ask him II hes registered with you,
and If he ism I, shall not consider his
| application And there's my start. That
/ was twelve years ago, and / am happy to
say that the business has increased until
busy, with no time for day dreams-ln
I fact little time for dreams of any kind.
MY first consideration is the actor |
always strive TO do my utmost for him
and, at ;he same time, TO be absolutely
I fair TO the manager. / have, ! believe,
convinced both OF this. and we find our
selves working very smoothly. another
thinG-and the real secret Of my SUCCESS
/ is that 1 have thoroughly eliminated per-
sonal feeling from all transactions. Were
/ I 70 allow il even the smallest part ms
I business would be gone and / should find
! myself wrecked on the same rock which
Z 50 many before me have struck. | have
I had twelve years to prove to managers
/ that my position is an abstract one where
J the actor is concerned and now they be-
+ lieve It. For that one reason | have been
! a detriment to my daughter. Had she
/ been anyone else / might have pushed
! her, but when a manager came to me for
I an actress 10 III Il certain line of parts
! / didn't want him 10 think and feel that
! | was thrusting her at him so / have in
way kept her back when she might have
J gone forward.
My agency is the largest in the world
/ ] do all the work for the Frohmans
! Elaw a. Erlanger, Maurice Grau-weIl I'm
I branch office in London, and, since Mr.
/ Frohman has established himself there
| / have found the English Office claiming
/ a great deal Of my attention. That re-
ayers and press were to me when ! went
! to London recently. | had hardly landed
/ before every house manager, including
those OF the music halls. sent me their
cards. Offering me the freedom ef their
J theatres Miss Terry entertained me at
so much at home that, to be sure, / be-
! gan to think that l was in reality.
! About three years ago T.. e. Rice sug-
gested that l add musical department
1 n rtN 10 gaN.l sl