The Indianapolis journal., 1903-04-26
people are wondering if they have engaged

people are wondering if they have engaged
Ada Rehan.
In telling of Ethel Barrymore's debut, an
actor has this interesting little article in the
current number of Leslie's Monthly: 1--WE
had gotten into our parts thoroughly dur
ing the protracted run Of The Baube
Shop but nevertheless nervousness reap
peared when Miss Barrymores first appear
ance was brought to mind. She was to act
instead of Miss Elsie De Wolfe, and was
to use Miss De Wolfe's gowns; one, an al
fair in an excellent shade of blue with huge
black butterflies scattered all over it, the
dressmaker had so fitted that the butterflies
came in exactly the right places when the
gown was originally designed OF course
Miss Barrymore, then immature, practically
a schoolgirl, did not quite fill the dress. At
any rate, the maid nearly had Mysteries in
an effort to induce a refractory butterfly to
perch on the shoulder when IL persisted in
alighting half way down the back. Well,
the time for her cue came and the new
actress left her dressing room laughing;
her uncle, Mr.. John Drew, was already on
the scene, and Mr.. Frohman was out
front But with every one else on tenter
hooks. this GIRL who had never faced an
audience before, walked on the stage with
as much assurance as if she were about to
recite her geography lesson in school. She
went through the performance so neatly
that one could hardly avoid the notion that
she had been acting since she was a baby
of five. And when she came off she was
still laughing.
Sir Henry Irvings great production of
Sardou's Dante is to take place next
Thursday night at the Drury Lane Theater,
in London, and will be the greatest event
of the dramatic season in England. Less
daring than Beerbohm Tree in THE Eternal
City," Sir Henry has finally decided not
70 infr ha in he drop
the character having been changed to a
cardinal The London Times gives the fol-
lowing information concerning the coming
production: The prologue takes place in
Pisa In the first act there are two scenes,
the first height overlooking the city of
Florence and the second in the house of the
Malatestas. The second act begins at Ma
remma and concludes in the chapel of the
convent of Santa Clara. In the last scene
will occur one of the most moving incidents
of the play, in which Dante rescues his
daughter Gemma from the 1nquisition- In
the third act NJ. Sardou introduces a series
Of tableaux representing incidents in the
divine comedy, and the play nnlshes hap
PLY in Act " at Avignon. The dramatist S
idea has been TO exhibit the character OF
Dante representing the spirit OF the
renaissance rather than TO trouble very
nucn ABOUT historical accuracy in the Incl
1ents. OF course, the individuality OF his
torical characters in drama depends entire
| ly on the point of view of the dramatist,
being an entirely different person from Mr..
Bernard Shaw's. Anyhow. il is safe 70
assume that Sir Henry Irving's qualities
| will essentially help the realization OF the
| Italian poet"
Peter Robertson, the venerable dramatic
| writer Of the San Francisco Chronicle. is
| one of the few old-time critics that are left
| He loves TO write of the '.palmy days" OF
the American stage. and every word he
has to pen on the subject is of interest. too
| In a recent issue OF his paper he had this
| interesting little article concerning Clara
Morris and the big benefit performance
| given for her:
1.-THE palmy days are little but wreckage
1 on the shore of the dramatic sea now. The
| old style has all but passed away, and the
| actor. actress and manager alike are find
| ing in their growing age the penalty OF
| hardship and poverty as their reward for
devotion to the higher art. Clara Morris