The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-24
THE WEEKS ADJUSTMENTS
HOLDEN COMPANY IN ssEAsT LYNNE"
AND ENGLISH PLAY AT THE PARK.
Coming of weber and Fields and
sketch of Their Career-From
Bowery to Broadway.

The last week or the PARKS regular sea-
son will begin tomorrow afternoon. when
the Holden Stock Company will appear in
East Lynne" the famous old play that
brought fame and fortune to the late Ada
Gray. Manager Holden has secured the
original manuscript as used by Miss Gray
for SO many years, and the play will be
given a presentation that will be complete
IN every detail Bernice Howard will, OF
course, have the role Of the heroine, Lady
Isabel Carlyle. and John II. Preston will
be seen in the leading male part Of Archi-
bald Carlyle. These two players have made
strong Impressions upon Park patrons dur
ing the engagement Of the Holden COM
pany. They did splendid work last week in
the pretentious production OF THE Chris
tian" Many opportunities for effective
acting will be afforded them in the charac-
tiers which they will portray In East
Lynne" The old-time emotional play has
always had strong hold on theater-goers,
and never fails TO draw them in large num-
bers. The fact, too, that the Parks doors
will be closed for over two months after
the present week Will doubtless tend to in
duce all OF that theater's patrons TO visit
the popular playhouse for the last time this
season
East Lynne Will remain the bill at all
performances until Thursday. when the
Holdens will put on an English melodrama.
The Fool OF St Arven, for the latter half
OF the week. This play has been in the
repertoire OF the. company for several sea-
sons, and was given at the Park two years
ago during the engagement OF the organiZa-
ton II Is dramatization OF an old En-
glish novel. and Is romantic in the extreme.
with several sensational climaxes. There
are q number OF important characters in
the play, and all Of the members OF the
company are supplied with good chances
for the display of their talents. AS usual
there VIII be singing specialties between
Berry and Lulu May Touhy having a new
list OF songs and ballads to offer.
Weber and Fields. who come to Indianap-
oils week from tomorrow night with
their all-star company of comedians for a
single performance at the Park, are in Chi
cago this week and il Is understood that
while they are in the Windy City the sue
cessful managers of the famous little music
hall on Broadway will attempt to secure a
site for theater. 1t is said that for the
last two years they have been DESTROYS OF
having a Chicago playhouse of their own.
What viii be the nature of the attractions
to be played or the general conduct of the
house is not stated at this time. But the
possibility Of Weber and Fields becoming
proprietors OF a Chicago theater suggests
backward glance at the career of the
two young managers who, within a few
years. have upset all theatrical traditions.
made new history, and attracted the at
tention Of the dramatic world.
"A Few months ago they celebrated. at
their music hall in New York, the twenty
fifth anniversary Of their first appearance
on the stage. when, as pair of badly
frightened boys. they applied to the man
nger or Bowery concert hall and timidly
asked for an engagement II was their
first theatrical venture, and they had care
fully rehearsed all that they were going to
say. Their self-confidence partly vanished
when a burly, thick-set man demanded
what they wanted.
Falteringly they explained their mission.
They wanted TO become actors. and were
willing 10 accept any salary that would
tend TO encourage their desires.
The manager led them to dingy room
In th s, OF the stage, The performance
boot-heel applause were borne TO their ears
from some mysterious source.
Let's see what you kin do" said the
The youngsters. trembling and nervous,
one fourteen years old. the other thirteen,
stood shoulder TO shoulder on the opposite
which for months they had rehearsed on
pier at the foot OF the street near which
they were born:
Here were are. an Irish pair,
Ao yOO Cdu pidlnly see.
AT the conclusion of the verse they broke
into a dance. which terminated in a bit of
horse play that appealed to the manager.
What's yer salary?'' he demanded.
That was puzzling question for the boys.
They had seen golden visions OF wealth, but
the starting point had not occurred TO them.
Seeing their hesitancy, the manager was
quick 10 act
VII give you So a week apiece"
The bargain was closed. The boys rushed
out OF the theater happy in the thought that
at last they were TO be real actors. Early
next day they reported at the subcellar
music hall, carrying their dancing shoes in
a parcel under one arm and frugal lunch
the course of the day they marched on to
the tiny stage. declared in song that they
were an Irish pair and knocked each other
about.
The manager of a higher-priced theater
happened IN one evening and saw them.
Fifteen minutes later they agreed to join
his company at a salary OF IS week apiece.
Their income was doubled prosperity was
at hand. IL seemed TO them. They spent all
their leisure In inventing new stage "busi-
ness and rehearsing dialogue, which. under
ed They even changed their song. at the
suggestion OF the new manager, and at the
end OF the second week OF their engagement
BACKED their faces and sravely Informed
the audience:
Here we are, a pair of coons.
AS you can plainly see.
The melody was the same and the actions
suspiciously like those OF the former Irish
comedians. but IL was change. And when
they began their fourth week they bor-
rowed or made patchwork costumes, and
declared. more or less melodiously. that
they were German pair. They might have
run the gamut of nationalities had not a
Providence. r. L.. manager witnessed their
turn" and negotiated with them for an
extended engagement at his theater. The
youngsters had grown older and wiser by
that time. and contract was made by
which each was to receive $40 a week
That was the actual beginning OF their
career of prosperity. They persevered. built
up their act and invented business until
they came TO be known as the highest
salaried team on the variety stage. AL
that Is a matter of record.
Seven years ago they took a lease OF the
music hall In New York which now bear:
their name They formed a stock com
pany. which has from time TO time in
cluded such well-known people as De Vol
Hopper. David Warfield. May Robinson
Fritz Williams and a dozen others of lesser
fame. Their company now includes Lilliar
Russell. Fay Templeton. William Collier
Peter F. Daley. Louis Allen. John T. Kell,
(once their manager), Charles A. Bigelow
VIII Archie and collection OF the pretty
graceful girls vVh he Ia oh