The Republican journal., 1904-11-24
A BRILLIANT LEADING LADY.
Miss Charlotte Burkett's Success with the
Thomas f. shea Company. She has Beauty,
style, Grace and Magnetism.
/ Philadelphia Evening Item.

Philadelphia Evening Item.
Miss Charlotte Burkett is the de-
lightfully charming leading lady of the
Thomas f. Shea Company, which has
played such a successful engagement
at the Park Theatre this week. Messrs.
Nixon and Zimmerman, with notable
ZEAL have been untiring in their en-
deavor to surround Mr.. Shea with a
company that would be entirely in
keeping with the lavish manner in
which they present all their attractions
and the enterprise shown for further
ing the interests of the stage at large
They figure, and figure justly, that a
performance depends not only upon the
star, but upon the manner in which he
is supported and the play in general;
in fact, no detail is overlooked, which
partially explains the secret of their
success.
They have this year surrounded their
brilliant star with a company of the
first magnitude and it is little wonder
they have been careful in the selection
of a leading lady, because it is we'll
known fact that leading women are as
essential to male stars and leading men
to female stars, almost as the stars
themselves. Such has been proven by
the popularity of Maude Adams, who
was John Drew's leading lady; Robert
Edeson, who in turn became Maude
Adams leading man; Maxine Elliot,
who shared stellar honors with Nat
Goodwin; Margaret Anglin, who ma
terially aided Henry Miller; Fay Davis,
who was feature in Faversham's sup
port, and Orrin johnson, who, after his
Empire Stock days, had his name print
ed in bold type with the Annie Russell
Company, and who afterwards launch
ed into the sea of stardom at the head
of his own organization.
This is merely general view Of one
class, and then there are others who
have not become stars but, are none
the less general favorites, such as Frank
Worthing. Chas. Richman, Cyril Scott,
Edwin Arden, Jack Mason, c ara Blood
good and Hilda Spong. Then there is a
third contingent who sprang from the
Stock Company days and whom, while
general favorites in stock, have deyel-
oped into exceptionally strong leading
men and women and stars, such as
Mary Mannering, James K. Hackett,
Henry Miller, William Faversham, ct al.
An idea of the Importance of a lead
ing man or woman may be imagined
when Mr.. Dillingham;, who for the Lulu
Glazer Company went over to England
to secure Bertram Wallis, the hand
some and talented leading man, who is
now creating q sensation with that or
ganization. This is but one case in a
hundred, proving the writer's assertion
at the head of this article, that leading
men and women are of as much import
ance almost as the star.
In Miss Burkett, Messrs. Nixon and
Zimmerman have found for Thomas E..
Shea, "a brainy, well-educated, thorough
" capable man, leading woman Of
beauty, grace, style and magnetism. AS
Desdemona, she is exceptionally clever,
ranking favorably with any who have
essayed this difficult role. Her Julia,
in "Richelieu," is likewise excellent,
while she lends grace and interest to
the character of Agnes Carew, in "Dr.
yekyll and MI. Hyde" and Blanche De
Neveres in "Banished by the King"
The Item takes unlimited pleasure in
predicting for this charming and &C.
complished lady a brilliant future.