The Washington times., 1904-01-24

Fitch read Her own Way" to Miss
Elliott and the assembled company. it
is a matter of historic record that every
member Qf the company roared with
laughter at the scene where Bella Shin
die, the lady hairdresser, tells of the de-
parture Of her sweetheart. Mr. Ccoch.
the hoorwalker, who has gone away to
the wars
Fitch stopped reading and looked puz-
zled when the company laughed. Il
meant that scene to be pathetic" said
the author The players Immediately
became very sober. But" continued
Fitch. 81 see that the scene made you
all laugh spontaneously. Very well,
then-it shall be played to get laughs. ."
And so it is.
Suiting the Word to the Action.
Miss Elliott struck her first snag in re-
hearsing Her own Way" when she
came to a difficult scene, in which she
is required to crawl under small table
while romping with the children. This
is in the first act, and the stage busi-
ness requires that she shall hide from
Dick Coleman, her sweetheart, when he
enters Unexpectedly Then she is to
crawl gracefully from beneath the table.
How can anyone crawl out grace
fully" inquired Miss Elliott.
Fitch scratched his head and tried TO
solve difficult problem.
Upon my word. if anyone could get
out of it gracefully. you should, ne
said CALAMITY TO Miss Elliott.
Pretty speeches." she responded,
but they won't help me to crawl from
under the table. Besides, what of my
gown? This one won't tear, but sup
pose l wear an expensive lace gown2
Think Of the damage"
Il have IT," suddenly cried Fitch, Il
viii give you a line TO speak as you
crawl from under the table"
Much obliged. l am sure" respond
ed Miss Elliott. What is the line2"
Fitch was already at the prompt
table writing il down. In moment he
handed her a slip Of paper.
Put that i'm your part. he said. and
see If that doesn't make it easier for
you to crawl out gracefully"
Miss Elliott. once more under the
table. tried the lire as she crawled out.
This was the line:
Il don't believe Barnum's human
snake could get out OF this gracefully. .
II is surprising how easily Miss FL
lott apparently gets from under the
table with the assistance Of this line.
When Fitch Is Excited.
once in while Fitch gets excited at
Tehearsals. but it doesn't happen often.
When he does get excited he rumpRes
his hair and then takes a Few minutes
rest to rearranse it. After that he is
generally cool for an hour or so. once
in the course of the rehearsal of the
second act, he surprised Miss Elliott
and everyone else by making a little
running leap and landing upon the
piano. Finding it a very comfortable
place from which to direct the rehear.
sal, he crossed his legs Turkish fashion
and proceeded to view the rest OF the
rehearsal from that point of vantage
Fitch also likes to interrupt a re-
nearsal with mild joke. which usually
puts the company into a good humor
During the rehearsal of the third act OF
'Her Own Way" he startled Miss Ell
lott by an unexpected bit of business
which casts an interesting sideIight upor
his methods and motives
The actress. as Georeiana Carley ha
a line TO speak which might be deliv
cred in a dozen different Why's an,
still elicit applause from the gallery
1t is a good, oid-fashioned line from
melodrams. but Miss Elliott uses i
quietly and effectively. without trysns
to get applause upon it. This lire sh,
speaks TO Sam Coast. the unscrupuIou.
lover. who has deliberately ruined hel
whole family. so that she will be forced
to marry him for his money He says:
George. you've got to marry me-
Miss EliOtts line is.
Sam Coast II ! were the meanes
beggar on earth. and were starving
wouldn't become your wife
BravoI BIavol
Given in a temple of melOdrama thi
line. defantly uttered, would brin
down the. house with thunderous ap
plause. But. spoken quietly by Miss FL
lictt. il makes one feel that its speake
is telling the truth. and the scene car
ries weight with forcible and tellin
delivery
But~F'itch. who wrote the line is IA
miliar with the sentiments which fin
favor with the gallery.
When Miss Elliott spoke this line q
the rehearsal. Fitch was sitting in tn
front row. and as soon as the last wor
had been spoken he interrupted he
with furious and enthusiastic outburs
of solitary applause.
Bravo. bravo.' he cried
Miss Elliott. startled. turned suddenI,