Evening star., 1909-04-17
Dos ACTORS ON THE STAGE
IN SOME PLAYS MUCH HAS DE-
PENDED ON THEM.
Miss Their Cues Now and Then.
Sometimes They Will Break
Up the Show
rom the Illustrated Kennel News.

Dogs, like human beings, have in their
time played many parts on the stage of
life, and in none have many of them
been so successful as in the roles of ac-
tors. Though it is known that dogs took
part in theatrical performances in Shake
speare's time and even, before that. there
is unfortunately no reliable record OF
such performances. Ii NAV be that in
those days dog actors We're not con
sidered of sufficient Importance to merit
the preservation of their names and
deeds. for II is not until the beginning OF
the nineteenth century that We find a
definite record of a dogs histrionic eff
forts.
In 1913 al the old Surrey Theater a play
was produced entitled 'Llewellyn Prince
OF Wales, and the Dog Gelert'' The dog
on this occasion was the star for the
whole play centered around him-haci
there been no dog there could have been
no play. We are not told the breed OF
this sagacious animal, but Of his success
there Is not a. shadow of doubt From
the appearance of GeIert in 1913 to that oi
Pingo. diminutive Yorkshire terrier in
1905. there has not been one dog on the
stage who has not proved an ornament
and an attraction Indeed. in several cases
four-legged performer has made the
greatest success in a play, dra wing hun
dreds of people night after might by the
magnetism Of his inarticulate art
''The Dog of Montgaris.'
In 1914 1.-THE Dog of Montgaris"-the
play to which Genest refers-was pro-
duced at Covent Garden Theater 1t was
written around a true incident in which
man was murdered in the Forest of
Bondy and the murderer tracked BY
means of his dog. One day this dog sud
denly sprang at the throat of a man and
almost killed him, whereupon the wretch.
terror struck. confessed that he was the
murderer. This dramatic incident forme 4
the basis of the play, and everything de-
pended upon the cleverness of the dog.
He was called Dragon and his acting was
so marvellous that the play achieved a
remarkable success, running for thirty
nine performances.
Lion. wonderful ST. Bernard. played
in Hans. the Boatman. at Terry's The
ater. He afterward went twice around
the world. playing in the principal cities
of India. Australia. Japan and South
Africa, on one occasion travelling from
Sydney to Chicago. via London, without a
break-17.1 15D miles-for which perform
ance he holds a record among doggy ac-
tors
In Hans the Boatman' this great aog
was the attraction of the play; his master
became blind and parted from his wife.
and the dog was the means of reuniting
them in a touching scene, which never
failed to move the audience to tears. Lion
used to stroll quietly to the wings every
night and stand waiting for his cue When
the time came he always went on without
a word from any one and played his part
like true artist. His utter detection when
his master recovered his sight in the play
and he, like Othello. found his occupation
gone, was most pitiful.
Terrier in my Wife"
In more recent years clever little York
shire terrier appeared in MY Wife, at
the Haymarket Theater. This tiny creature
was an unfailing source of delight to play
goers ard players. his cunning wickedness
being an everlasting joy. In the first act
a duologue 60 took place between one Of
the actors and the dog. who lay placidly
on a table and appeared TO understand
everything that was said.
One of the cleverest dogs that ever fas-
clnated an audience was Binkie. the fox
terrier in The Light That Failed" His
master was Aubrey Smith. who was so ad-
mfrable as Torpenhow in the play, and
Mr.. Smith, who has had dogs of his own
for twenty-five years, says that Binkie
was the most human, intelligent, plucky,
affectionate dog he had ever known. He
quickly learned to shut doors and fetch
slippers, taught himself to extinGuish a
lighted match and was quite profession
al at hide and seek. never falling TO find
the ball, even if it was concealed behind
"a picture or at the bottom of the coal
scuttle
His first appearance was not an over
whelming success owing to an accident,
for which he was not to blame. After
rehearsing splendidIy he made his en-
trance on the first night quite correctly.
when Mr.. Smith turned to speak to some
body and accidentally hit Binkie, en- the
nose with his stick. The dog naturally
concluded he was wrong and made an alb
rupt exit. On another occasion he knew
his mistress was behind the scene and
made hurried and unrehearsed departure
through the fireplace.