The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-15

| TIC SouiiS woman herself She came dlrec'
! TO the table Mr.. Norris rose and the WON
an said: II suppose YOU wondered why !
i spoke 10 you, Mr.. Norris? Well, We had all
been 10 the theater and when you came in
| mere we recognized you a once. One OF the
party dared me to speak to you. l never
| take q dare. so l spoke. No harm done.
was there" Norris bowed. and sat down.
| ana once more the young woman joined her
| companions.
| Charles Hawtrey believes that there is a
| neid Tor drama lists in the works Of Charles
Dickens. and his point seems well taken:
1t Is somewhat singular" he says. con
sloerlng the enormous popularity of Dick
ems novels. that few have been made
into plays. Nearly all those that have been
largely remunerative have utilized his short
stories.
This is true OF a Message From Mars,
though that is only indebted for the basic
Idea to Dickens; OF The Cricket on the
Hearth which the famous veteran, Joseph
Jefferson, acts so delightfully."-; of No
Thoroughbred in which Fechter and VIII
liam j. Florence We're So excellent. and OF
Mrs. Lirr!pers Lodgings which, under the
| title of Uncle Dicks Darling. j. L. Tooie
presented with Henry Irving. then young
leading man in the cast.
IF We turn to the long novels, know Of
but one from which really good plays have
been made. This is The Tale Of Two
Cities, called upon the stage and drama
tized by Herman Merivale All for Her and
by Freeman Wills. The Only Way.
Possibly the success of the last-aamed
was due In great measure to the original
story being more simple and direct than
was usual in the longer tales But con-
sidering the enormous wealth Of incident
and character and the ineXhaustib!e mine Of
wit and humor they contain. 1t seems to
me remarkable that mere profitable and
enjoyable use has not bean made of such
splendid MATERIAL
Speaking of his future plans recently, f..
S. Willard said: In all probability. l
shall not return to America next season. as
| shall occupy ST. James Theater IN London
| will be there from the LIST of september
until Christmas. 'rhe Cardinal will be my
opening bill, since it has never been seen
over there.
. Tom Pinch also will he put on at that
time. and l expect to meet with success in
this character, since there Is in London now
a great revival of Dickens. After Christmas
my plans are indefinite. but ! expect 10 re-
main in London the entire season, as l am
under contract TO produce new play by
Stephen Phillips author of 'Herod.'
'paola and France sea- and Ulysses The
basis OF my new play is the story in the
Bible OF David and Bathsheba. the wife OF
Criah. the HIttite. 1t tells Of how David
put rriah in front during the battle in
which Criah was killed and David consoled
the widow.
Il also have the English and American
rights to the next two plays by Capus the
author of La Chatelaine. one of which is
to be done at the Theater Francois. the
other at the Renaissance where La Chate-
Lame Is now being played. That will ne
cessitate my remaining in England. How
ever / do not intend TO desert America.
after all the kindness shown me here. of
which ! am fully appreciative. In fact.
have come to regard America my
artistic. II not real home
Henrietta Crosman vii! soon lave a coun-
Try home on the Sound. near 1ew London,
Conn. She has acquired the<1and and has
gone as far with the plans for the house
as 10 have made sure of vast central
hall which car be readily converted into a
miniature theater. This central hall forms
the central idea OF an outing and boarding
project for the actors of the company.
When the actress gets her New London
home furnished she intends to rehearse her
play there. She will have the members of
her company join her at home. become her
guests. ana will entertain them in part by
having them study their lines and run
through with them each day In the big
hall.
Miss Crosman has always been partic-
ular' about the persons she has admit
ted to her company. and says that she
will. never have an associate in the
theater whom she would not receive as
guest How much more pleasant this Will
be than the old custom OF holding rehesr-
sails In theater " obvious Rehearsais
usually begin about the LIST OF August.
which is the very time when out-of-town
gayety is at its height and the city is tine
hottest.
Blanche Walsh was recently asked II it
was true that she had once been RI
derstudy of Fanny Davenport. Miss Walsh
has spent much of her time DENYING t!i.s
idea, which so many persons entertain. She
says she never even saw Fanny Davenport
Nor did she ever see Bernhard. She haa
seen very few OF the leading actors and
OF the day. seldom having the
opportunity account of her own engage
msnts and work. Miss Walsh never attend |
ed dramatic school nor had any trainin.
for the stage other than instructions re-
ceived at home and suggestions and help
from her mother. though che approves Of
dramatic training.
According to the latest plans announced
for Virginia Harmed that actress will pro-
duce this spring a comedy written for her
by f. H. Sothern. her husband.
The piece has not been named but 1t is /
said Miss Harmed Will give 1t a tria! in
before the season closes, and |
If It proves go will use 1t next season a
her starring vehicle.
Forbes Robertson, who has not appeared |
IN the United States since he appeared in |
"Thermidor." twelve years ago. and his i
wife, Gertrude Elliott. have at last decided |
TO come to America
They will make a tour next season IN
of Kipling's novel. 1.-The /
Light That Failed' This will put two /
Elliotts in the field next year. for Miss
Maxine Elliott, Mrs. Robertsons elder SIS
Ter. will blossom forth as star at about |
The same time.
The seeming fickleness of New York the
lter-going populace was shown last week
n a chance meeting on Fifth avenue.
An actress who at one time. was better
Known than the Mayor of the city was out /
when. because of the efforts of the
ret dog that accompanied her to tear the
ollar on the neck of another canine follow
ng in the wake Of two society women, she
vas drawn into a conversation An ex-
.hange of ideas was followed BY an inquiry
s. to the name of the actress:
"Rehan.' was the reply.
How do you spell ;t?' was the next |
luery.
why. R-e-h-a-n'
Indeed, that is the way the actress. Ada
1ehan. spells hers Are you any relation"
II am Ada Rehan,' came the surprising |
Mrs Geneveve Haines, wife of Robert
LANES, the actor, is again on the road to
ecovery. Mrs. Haines IS the author of the
~:R 1