The Washington times., 1902-01-12


ly deserted vaudeville
Il am very seriously considering the
proposition of retiring from stage work
although not for about two years yet
While it is all very nice and would be
more SO If one could remain in wash
ington. New York. or scme other con-
genial city, it is the constant travelling
that makes me want to abandon The
life.
Il am very much of home body after
all. and am Just a little afraid that if
do not break away from the footiights
they will in time exercise the same fas-
cination over me that they have for so
many others and then | shall not want
to give I'D the work at all. i am little
afraid of myself. and before | proceed too
far on nv career | think | shall retire
yes. leave the stage for good. and
merely enjoy a regulation farewell
The stage history of Romeo and Ju-
liet," played by the Bellows stock com
pany last week. is perhaps more interest
ing than any other play Of the Snake
spearean repertoire.
The play, according to the page of the
first edition, was popular on the stage oe-
fore 1897. though there is no evidence TO
prove when it was first produced. Gu
rious to say, it is not mentioned in Hens
loves diary. Up to 1889 ii must nave
been cheaply acted by the Lord Chamber r
lain's servants. In the edition of 1909 IL
is said to have been .sundrie times pub
liquely acted by the Kings Ma1esties
servants at the Globe
Pepys mentions it under the date of
first of March. 1861 and 1862, as an opera.
1t would appear, however, from Genest' S
account that ON this date Romeo ana
Juliet was revived at Lincoln's Inn
Fields when Betterton played Mercutio.
The play was altered by James Howard
so as to preserve Romeo alive ana emu
happily-it was played alternately as a
tragedy one day and as a tragi-comedy
another-for several times together. IL
does not appear to have been revived
again until the 11th of September, l'ti,
when Theophilus Cibber's version, partly
founded upon Otways' "Caius Marius, but
half of which was taken from Romeo ana
Juliet was presented. with Theoph!lus
Ciber IS Romeo and his sister Jenny as
juliet Genest gives very interesting
abstract of this alteration. but it does not
appear that the diStigurements introduced
were SO great as to neutralize the merit
which Theophlus Cibber may fairly claim
of having restored to the stage. though in
an imperfect form, one Of the NEST beau
tiful CT Shakespeare's plays, and one
over eighty years.
"In all probability few persons have
ever noticed it, said Stuart Robson the
other night, but ii is fact that in
nearly all theatrical firms the JUNO. mem
bers lave been the first TO die.
Recall Wallack and Davenport. The
latter died first. Then you will come to
jefferson and Florence. jefferson is still
alive and apparently hearty, but Billy
Florence has long been dead. Then
Booth and Barrett-Barrett died before
Booth. Jarrett and Palmer, and their
famous trip across the continent.
Palmer was claimed by the reaper first.
Evans and Hoey, too-.Old Hoss' has been
dead many months, while Evans, | under
stand, is about TO be starred in a musical
comedy called My Antoinette, which is TO
open in Boston this month. Then take
Wheatley and Drew The latter is dead.
And so it goes, apparently. Mr.. Crane,
my old-time Partner, is vigorous and we
two are really about the only theatrical
celebrities whose firm name was famous
who have not gone to the great beyond"
making faux pas, her tastefulness, both
on and off the stage, being her notable at
tribute. But she confesses that she re-
Gently made the prize contretemps of her
life while visiting with the poo James
Whitcomb Riley. 1t was al a dinner party
of Miss Marlowe's friends, among whom
was the gentleman from Indiana. The con-
versation turned on the relations existing
between players and dramatic critics. The
actress said that the only unpleasant eX-
perience she ever had with one of the
critical guild resulted: In a suit for libel
THE critic" she added was on a paper
in Western city Il few seasons ago,
when l was at the head OF the most ex-
pensive company of players that l had
ever employed, he declared that | was de-
frauding the public by surrounding myself
with cheap and inexperienced actors. He
carried his assertions TO such an extreme
that in justice to myself was compelled
to bring suit
Turning directly to Mr.. Riley, who had
listened with evident interest, she said:
"He was really an impossible sort of
man, Mr.. Riley. l wonder if you knew
hiIn?" Thereupon she mentioned his name
NO. l don't know him myself" an
swered the poet in his characteristic
drawl: but my sister knows him WE'LL"
Indeed said Miss Marlcwe.
Yes" answered Riley, looking stead
fastly at the ceiling, she knows him
well-she married him"
Whereupon deep silence settled upon
poet and player. to be broken a few sec
onds later by Riley, who added comfort
ingly: We'll, you know, Miss Marlowe,
Mr.. Dooley says no man ever reaches
a point where he looks up to his brother
n-law."
Miss Alice Nielsen, since the finish of
"The Fortune Teller" has been studying
In London, under Henry Russell, son of
the great Henry Russell of Cheer, Boys,
Cheer fame, and brother of Landon Rom
aid the able conductor at the Lyric The
atre, with a view to singing at concerts
and in grand opera. Miss Nielsen will
make her debut in London as a concert
singer at the Queens Hall on February IL
next.
Martin Harvey will present his new
play, After ALL by Freeman Wills and
Frederick Langbridge, for the first time
in London this week. The play was re-
Gently produced in Dublin. where it was
well received The drama is founded
upon Lord Lytton's Eugene Aram,"
though it does not follow the story at all
closely.
Percy Haswell, the Baltimore stock act
ress, who is angling for a great play by
means of a prize competition, has sent
out a schedule of dramatic require
ments"-as she calls them-for the guild
ance of the ambitious and embryonic
sardous and Fitches, who are wasting