Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-19

y
costumes, although they cost much more
than any one would suppose, if you try TO
nave everything accurate and appropriate.
IL is when you come to engage the cas-
| that the manager begins to get nervous.
Take Merely Mary Ann the play IN
which Miss Eleanor Robson is starring this
season. There are half dozen small parts
in that play. each one of which ought to be
played by star. But, of course, that is
impossible. for stars won't demean them
selves to play such trivialities. / gave out
one part in Merely Mary Ann no less than
six times before l found a woman-the right
kind of a woman-who would keep 1t. All
the rest sent IT. back with the remark that
they couldn't think of playing small
part. And, mind you, there was no ques
ton of salary in it. Each woman to whom
l offered the role commands a big salary,
and she knew she would get it from me,
whether her part were long or short. The
woman who did finally take it gets-well,I
won't name the figure. but you may take
my word for il that many star doesn't
get more.
In Merely Mary Ann" there is one small
part in the first act-that of medical stu
dent-which is played by Thomas Gresham.
who was Richal j Manslield's stage man.
ager for many years, and who is accounted
one of the cleverest directors in America.
He is on the stage in the play altogether
not more than ten minutes. Then in the
second act there is a German music pub
Usher. played By Guy Nichols. an actor
who has supported some of the greatest
tant roles. He is the stage not to ex-
coed half an hour. In the last act Mrs.
Grace Thorn Coulter. a daughter of
Charles Coulter, once at the head of the
old Union Square Stock Company in New
York, and Miss Ida Lewis, a clever actress
or established reputation, have the roles of
two grande DANES. who are before the foot
nights for only very few minutes.
But remarked Mr.. Tyler II won't tell
you what | pay these people. You wouldn't
pelieVe IL II you saw the salary roll. and
some managers would think had lost my
mind. L want to make the performance as
artistic as il is possible to make it, how
ever, and to give Miss Robson the kind cf
support her talents deserve OF course, l
can't do that with cheap people,
HENRIETTA CROSMANS SUCCESS
ladies and gentlemen: l knew the play
was good and | felt that you would like
the company; the only person l had any
doubt about was myself. and if you like me,
am the happiest woman in New York.
Thus spoke Henrietta Crosman at the
first performance of Sweet Kitty Bell
airs in New York al the Belasco Theater
last Wednesday night
Il went on the stage" says She because
l had to earn my living. There was no love
for the stage then. Only a desire to be
able to help myself and my family. Ambi-
ton came afterward. and my regret is that
l am only such a little way on my journey.
Any success that the public may be good
enough TO say l have attained has been
accomplished by hard work and disappoint-
ment
Like most every one else my start was
made in one of the smaller companies. AID
after a year or 50 | got into New York.
Then | went to Days and then to the Ly-
ceum. l thought i had made a name for
myself when | played "Gloriana," but
when that play Withdrawn l found
that l could not get an engagement.
But what, al that time, seemed to me
the hardest blow of my career was really
my salvation. for unable to obtain work. 1
was compelled to accept enga gements ia
stock. Naturally i said to myself If you
were a good actress, Henrietta Crosman,
they would want you in New York but
being a bad actress, you must play twice a
day.
Il didn't realize that that same twice i
day and a long part each week to study
was the very experience that 1 needed
only looked at the hardship of it all then
and complained at my lot. Stock experience
and the opportunity to play the great roles
gave me great experience. such as l could
have gotten no other way. and now | am
the most thankful of women that the fates
decreed that | could not get even one man
ager to give me part on Broadway
MISS ROBSONS FAD-While Miss
Eleanor Robson, who comes to the Ma
tional Theater next week in Israel Fang
Wills Merely Mary Ann" was playing
Audrey" last season some one told her
that she must have fad" mo actress
is really complete without one." remarked
the friend. So Miss Robson began to make
a collection of candlesticks.
1.-The idea was suggested to me by some