Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-28

usefulness. From this misfortune most OF
US have been mercifully delivered.
Good parts make good actors. L WISH
every one in the cast could have good
part. 1t seems to me the public should De
glad to see a play where there are nan
dozen good parts instead of only one. Ihere
is no reason why one man or one woman
should monopoiZe a play. That IS the op-
lection 1 have to the starring system Inc
play is made subservicnt to the self-concelt
of the star. In The Man from Blankleys
there are several parts as good as mine. In
fact, Miss Brough's part is much better
am very glad of it, and l should think the
public would be also They surely get more
for their money that way.
IF good parts make good actors, 1t is also
true that a succession of bad parts or bad
plays will ruin any actor. That has been
especially true in this country, where the
public is very tickle.
MANY actors,I think,are little too much
inclined to be forever facing the audience
and rushing to the footlights. There are
few scenes in this play of The Man from
Blankleys' where l face the audience
where in actual life 1 would naturally turn
my back. That's sort of dramatic license
that the stage demands. a distortion of the
real to make 1t seem real 1t is necessary
to face the audience occasionally to let
them see what you look like. otherwise they
might not know you on the street.
But don't like to face an audience my
self. 1 never have liked it since Wilhe Col
Inns once hurt my feelings. Camille had
|
that had proved a failure. l was very
young actor then. The stage manager put
me in a corner where 1 faced the audience
while watching Camille die. He himself
turned his back to the audience. Wise man.
he knew it was very easy to act with his
face hidden-no bother about the right ex-
preston necessary When it was over l
heard Mr.. Collins, referring to me, say to
the stage manager, For heavens sake. ten
that boy with the wooden face to turn his
back to the audience l have never been
keen about facing one since
WANTED TO SEE THE ELDER CRE,SSY
Will NJ Cressy. the vaudeville actor-au-
thor to be at Chase's next week, has been
pla ying old men marts even before the days
when he was with Den Thompson in THE
Old Homestead and he looks today twenty
years younger than the youngest part he
ever played This fact is the cause of many
amusing experiences by Mr.. Cressy for few
people seeing him round and ruddy-cheeked
off the stage, are willing to believe that 1t is
he who plays the septua genarian roles he
has assumed. A funny incident of this kind
happened recently while Mr.. Cressy was
playing his latest rural New Hampshire
ske tch 1.-The New Depot" at Mechanics.
Hall in Salem. Mass An old gentleman in
the audience displayed the keenest interest
in the sketch and laughed so long and so
loud and slapped his knees with such
whacks of his hands that he about shared
with the actor the attention and applause
Of the big audience. 1t amused and pro-
voked Cressy at the same time. After the
performance as Cressy walked up to the
desk of his hotel and called fer his keys the
clerk said:
"Mr. Cressy. here's gentleman very
anxious to see you
The comedian turned and found at his ell
bow the same old gentleman who had
laughed so much in the theater. He was lit
tie, wrnkled lie decayed pippin and evil
1rad tn, 16ay Qaf
ms" He had his hand outstretched as Mr..
Cressy turned. but before the actor could
gra sp it he let it fall.
THAT amt Bill CresSy, he said disap-
pointedly to the clerk
That's Mr. Cressy. affably replied the
clerk
Eyes, sir. am w NJ. Greasy" interpolat-
ed the actor in the same breath with the
clerk
"Sakes alive boy. I know you amt Bill
Cressy 1 want to Maybe you're his
son?' he queried. ray of hope cleaning In
his eyes. How Is the old boy, pretty
peart?"
VERY much So" said Cressy. remember
ing his hale and hearty sire.
Hes gay old rooster tell ye," said his
interrogation with chuckle.
you know him?" asked Cressy.
Hes the cutest critter among the gals
ever seed. Say. that was tarnation
scrape he got into with that young gal to-
night. warn't it?"
''What?" calculated Cressy. my father
here in a scrape? Are you crazy?'
''Oh, he got out of 1t slick as snow sliding
off a roof
What do you mean?" said the bewlder-
ed Cressy.
'Oh, get along now" replied the old fell
low, trying to dig his fingers into Cressy's
ribs. You know I'm from New Hampshire,
too. I saw him up at the opry house to-
night and 1 made up my mind that I'd hunt
him up after the opry."
Then light dawned upon Cressy. The old
gentleman was looking for the ancient
Cressy of bald wig, antimonied cheeks and
seni-senile chuckle. But he was obliged to
relapse into the dialect of his part before
he could convince his visitor Of his Identity.