The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-03

4In@~ ndNo
no changes OF
costume TO make or during the acts when
waiting for cues. one hears many anus
ing and interesting conversations. for
stage folk are proverbially quick witted
and excellent rsoonteurs. Here. when
the stage characters are momentarily laid
aside. one comes in close touch with the
personalities of the player folk, that
phase of the actor whics+ 10 the world
at large. is perhaps the most interesting.
IL is especially interesting 10 meet stock
company players away from the glamor
OF the footlghts, and. In an organization
OF such high grade and calibre as the
Albee Stock company. one is rarely dis
appointed In the men and women behind
the actors and actresses
The Afbee company Is made up OF men
and women stamped with intelligence and
refinement. They are not all "prize
beauties but they have something thai
is worth more than mere good looks,
character and a decidedly well-bred man
ner. The women are women OF culture
and grace. and the men are well-groomed
men OF brains To them, the work OF
their profession is serious. not a super
fetal occupation. Yet when together in
seriousness and delight in recalling old
experiences and anecdotes.
Some one mentioned The Henrietta"
which Is being planned for early produc-
tion at Keith's with Edwin Nicander, who
has been III for several weels in the role
| OF Bertie. the lamb, and Tom Wise. the
jovial comedian OF the Albee company,
known 10 the entire theatrical profession
as one of It's funniest men and one of
the shining lights Of the Lambs club-the
frivolous society OF actors-remarked en-
thusiastically, There's a great play. The
greatest play ever produced on the Amer
lean stage Do you know what the exact
value of that play was reckoned to be.
after Robson and Crane had played IL for
n great many years all over the country
to packed houses, and after each had
amassed fortunes OF considerable size
from It? Fifty thousand dollars. Yes, siri
Robson paid Crane exactly twenty-five
thousand for his share when they dis
solved partnership. That was after they
had made lot of money with It, mind
you. No sir. Bronson Howard never
wrote better play"
'I was a witness to the SALE" said Mr.
Losee. ''I was with Robson and Crane
during their last season together. There
had been chickering's all season. nut their
business manager managed to maintain
a semblance OF peace, to the world at
least. At last. things came 10 a crisis.
and In Omaha the sale OF The Henrietta
was completed So lacking In trust of
each other were both that they wouldn't
either OF them agree TO either reading the
agreement TO the other, so they called In
one OF the other members of the COM
pany and myself. and / read the agree
ment aloud TO both. affixing my sigma
ture as witness The last performance
together of Robson anG Crane, I'm May.
IS. at the Star theatre in New York, was
nf he in1nraqciVa rms nCa
I,pe-eper seen. The house was packed
TO the very doors by crowd anxious 10
see the two men who had been together
for so many years give their farewell
performance together.
'"The audience was one OF that recep-
tive kind that devoured every point and
applauded at every opportunity. Al the
end of the performance they clamored
for speeches and the curtain was raised
and held up. Robson stood modestly aside
while Crane stepped down to the foot
lights and effusively thanked the audi
| ence. speaking at length OF his inten-
tions for the future. The audience ap
plauded warmly, but cheers for Robson
almost shook the, theatre roof. In his
retiring. shy little manner, dear old
Robson stepped down 10 the footlights,
and when the audience mad hushed to an
| impressive silence he told In his peculiar
nasal twang. with hint OF a sob in IL,
OF the sorrow with which he parted from
his comrade and friend, with whom for
years II had been his privilege to be con-
nected in a business way. He said the
affair was the breaking off from a life
which held many dear memories for him
and the severance Of which business con-
nectlons would be TO him one Of the
greatest. griefs Of his life. When he
had finished, there was not a dry eye
| in the theatre, not even the members
OF his company being able TO restrain
| the sobs which his words called forth.
IL just showed the difference--one man
a typical, alert business man, and the
other like a naughty child who regrets
the punishment which his mischief brings
! appealed 10 by the sentiment Of the occa-
sion.'
Speaking Of Robson" continued Tom
Wise. as Mr.. Losee walked away TO take
up a cue. reminds me- chow dear TO the
newspaper man or woman's ears Is the
phrase that reminds me) "of a slick
| little trick he played on Billy Crane once.
had replaced him In The Henrietta
or perhaps l shouldn't exactly say l re-
placed him, for as clever a man as he
is cannot be replaced by anyone More
correctly speaking. / played Vanalstyn,
the role Crane had played n The Hen
rietta. after ne and Robson dissolved
| DHTlneThnlp, hTu one uhy fNoDSOn lOok IL
| into his head to play The Comedy Of
Errors for a while. being a bit tired
OF playing BERTHE, the lamb, so continu-
ously. He and Crane had given a mag
nhcent production Of The Comedy Of
Errors which had cost them $50. 900. and
which at that time was lying idle in the
storehouse. Robson was keen enough 10
see that II he mentioned TO Crane his in
tention OF revivng The Comedy Of Err
rors' Crane would Immediately Jump the
value OF his share up high so he quietly
wired TO Crane. "A fool wants 10 pay
US $500 for Comedy OF Errors production
| Crane Immediately wired back Snatch
| the $500 quick The same day-almost
| the same hour--he received the wire.
Robson mailed Crane a check for $3.50 for
his share in the production. and consid-
cred IL we'll worth calling himself names
/ for"
Mr.. Wise rose. the green room began
TO look deserted and the hour for chat
| seemed over Before going however