Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-25
WHEN IS STAGE WOMAN
REALLY AN ACTRESS?
LONDON COURT rs ENLIGHTENED
ON POINT
"Gibson Girl" in a Suit Defines Status
of Theatrical Folk-LiveIy and
Funny Case In Which Actress Won
Many Laurels for Wit
Special Gable to The Herald.

LONDON, Feb. 24.-What is an
actress? Justice Darling tried to de-
eide the point some time ago, but his
jury disagreed, so the question was
handed over to Justice Ridley.
1t was an action brought by Miss
Ethel Lucy Karri Thomas, known pro-
fessionally as Miss Ethel Karri, against
the Messrs. Gatti and Charles Froh-
man, as lessee of the Vaudeville thea
ter, to recover damages for alleged
wrongful dismissal
The case in a nutshell is this: Miss
Karri was engaged as 4. Gibson girl at
the Vaudeville theater at e3 week.
She rehearsed for FIVE weeks without
pay, opened on September 9, 1904, and
received a fortnight's notice on Sep
tember 80.
Miss Karri says that she was an
actress and that her engagement was
for the run of the piece. The manage
ment say that she was chorus girl
and subject to fortnight's notice.
Miss Karri, it was explained, was
married fortnight ago and her name
is Mrs. Hawkins.
Tests in Court
This afforded a chance to the Judi
cial humorists' who, until Mr.. Gilbert
invented the phrase in THE Mikado,"
were known as court testers.
Mr.. Barkes, X. c., who was for the
defense, began it by suggesting that if
Mrs. Hawkins had remained for the run
n mic 10 M
married. Noughter).
Mrs. Hawkins-"Oh, yes 1 could"
CONTINUED laughter).
Justice Ridley-"Y ou would have had
to beg off to do So" Qrrepressble
laughter).
There was more humor "Is there
any one who has been able to go on
being a Gibson girl for two years?'
asked Justice Ridley.
"Oh, yes. One has survived" re-
piled Mr.. Bankes. (Peals of laughter).
Judge and counsel Gt was Marshall
Hall, X. c. this time) also INDUCED in
some repartee about the position of a
chorus in Greek plays.
They were occasionally seen and not
heard" said Mr.. Hall.
''How do you know? You were not
there" said Justice Ridley
Mr.. Halt was not there that 1
know. 1 might have been. One never
knows"
The judge-"You said from your
recollection
Mr.. Halt mean my recollection of
what 1 was taught" Naughter).
Mrs. Hawkins based her claim that
she was an actress on the fact that she
had some lines to speak.
A Speaking Part
The court was interested and asked
for them. Mrs. Hawkins obliged: "I
am a perfect wonder at spotting win
ners, and hardly ever lose at bridge"
She also had to say: Dear old Hyde
park"
Charles Cruickshanks, the secretary
of the Actors association, defined an
actor from the point of view of the pro-
fession. The speaking of a line was
the first remove from the chorus.
Marshall Hall seized the opportunity.
I'VE cannot all play Hamlet on the
first night" he said.
Crulckshanks. "I think. however, 1t
would be very amusing"
Justice Ridley suggested that one
word, one syllable, would make an
actor, If" he said, "a man had to say
Good morning or Good night he is
an actor"
Mr. Cruickshanks-"I it is necessary
to the piece. 1t might be very neces-
sary to say good night to some pieces"
Mr.. Bankes-'Do you think you can
draw sharp and distinct line between
a person who speaks by herself and a
person who speaks separately"
'Yes. At my last engagement lady
came on and said: My child; oh,
father'"
''Were you the father?"
Yes. She brought down the curtain,
and she was an actress.
Herbert Bourne, whose professional
name is Brabourne, gave evidence. He
had been an actor for fifteen years,
he said, and having heard Of Mrs.
Hawkins evidence. he said she was an
actress.
She was Small part lady" he said .
He did not care whether the part wa s
Hamlet or that OF the Second Murderer.
the man II he had something to say
was an actor. II have played Second
Murderer"
The hearing was adjourned
| TNn lnnHT :"