Evening star., 1909-04-25

field 1dr as tle uIdHld -
concerned 1t gives novel
and JOYOUS turn IL an idea that might
long since have been expected 10 snow
threadbare places. The dream play IS
ordinarily filmy poetic concert Win a
moral uncompromisinGly Haunted be1ore
a public proverbially timid when the
stage assumes to offer instruction. But
this one has no lofty intentions. Ihere
is a trace Of substantial thought IN It's
reminder that much of the chivairy that
sraces the historic novel may have been
the merest f1ummery. But the main OBJ
iect is to amuse Francis Wilson has
left comic opera far behind him. but not
comic opera methods. He prudently
maintains the characteristics which gave
the public its first acquaintance with him,
and without which his performances
would undoubtedly be incomplete for
many admirers. He misses no chance
to score a smile, a chuckle or a laugh
outright and the result is that the audi
cnce has precisely what it paid fora
good time.
With all his broad and sometimes ath-
letic foolery Mr.. Wilson is evidently a
man of serious purpose. Having adopted
the profession of making people laugh,
he has reduced il as nearly as possible
to a science. Not being a singer, he en-
braced. the first opportunity to abandon
light opera in which the comedian Is
theoretically. If not practically, subordi-
mated To the music, TO appear In plays
which depend on situations, dialogue and
the personality of the star. But he did
not struggle for the artistic pose. He
was the same Francis Wilson with whom
the public had laughed in "Erminie.' Not
content with his establishment as legit-
innate comedian, Mr.. Wilson has taken
another step in the line of substantial
attainment and struck out into the field
of authorship. His new piece has a title
which rings familiarly-"The Bachelor S
Baby" 4 STOW with the same name
was written by Coyne Fletcher, a Wash
ington woman, some years deceased. A
dramatization of this book was made.
but it is doubtful whether there is any
relation between the two works.
The week has been made notable by
some of the most elaborate and salts
factory amateur productions seen in a
long time. There are amateurs and anna
teurs: those who play, sing and act for
the simple love of artistic expression,
and those who merely enjoy participa-
ton in such occasions as social events.
The professional stage has had so many
valuable recruits from the ranks of
Washington amateurs that events of this
description are we'll worth the study of
those who love to scan the horizon for
signs of future greatness.
SOThERN AND DUNDREARY.-Hid-
den away in one of the Oldest sections of
New Orleans, among the ruins of the
past and the progress of new skyscrapers,
in one of the picturesque side streets. is
to be seen today the old house wherein
L. H. Sothern, the eminent actor, was
born
In appearance scarcely anything has
been changed from the past generation.
The sign Furnished Rooms 10 Rent y
which was in evidence when the elder Mr..
and Mrs. Sothern rented rooms there. Is
still to be seen. This modest out-of-the-
way abode has memories clustering about
fl which have had a bearing not only
upon the American drama. but American
national history as well. 1t was here. at
the time of the birth of the younger
Sothern, that Sothern pere wrote and
rewrote the role of Dundreary which be-
earlier American stage history. and which,
in the play Our American Cousin had
such fateful influence on American his
tory through the crime of Wilkes Booth
The place, however. is not to be left
much longer without recognition, as a
tablet will soon be placed upon it by
prominent New Orleans people who are
interested III the literary. dramatic and
national events which the location tells Of.
IL was barely one year after the first
nprform2nap of .llur american Cousin -
in New York. when the role of Lord
Dundreary consisted of thirty-seven lines,
and the elder Sothern had taken it with
him TO New Orleans to rewrite that this
notation appears In a figure-croNded book
Of accounts kept by the elder Sothern:
Boy born at 30 Bienville street at .
o'clock Named Edward
This served to announce the entry into
the world OF the eminent romantic actor,
comedian and tragedian. +. III. Sothern.
The elder Sothern had come TO New
Orleans as owner and manager of Soth-
eri's Lyceum Theater in that city. Mrs.
Sothern. mother Of the present eminent
actor. had originate the role of Geor-
gina III the first performance Of Our
american Cousin" the year before. and
Travelled with the cider Sothern on all his
tours.
The role OF Dundreary became the dra-
matte passion OF the elder Sothern. lie
wrote and revrote the lines until from a
bare part OF iifty-Seven lines il grew to be
the overshadowing feature of the play.
So carefully did the elder Sothern ella bo-
rate each minute detail that he left as a
legacy TO mis- son d most remarkable
prompt copy manuscript. The sta se
business Of the play. for instance. IN
describing the action 10 company one
small inronSpiCuouS scene. reads fol-
lows: Take four steps forward down
stage toward right. place right foot for
ward slowly raise hand. adjust monocle.
raising left hand with index finger point
ing Ia left: move head toward right. fixing
eyebrows between balcony and gallery;
speak first few words with pause be-
tween"
The death Of John Chandler Bancroft
Davis. which occurred not long ago in
Washington. recalls the fact that i, was
lie who was indirectly responsible for the
success OF the elder Sothern on the stage
As secretary of the United States. legation
in London Mr.. Davis made the acquaint-
ance of Tom Taylor. who was then turn
ing OF: plays rapidly enough. but was not
able 10 find market for them. Taylor
knew nothing Of American theaters or OF
American plaEsoerS and their tastes. auc
after writing Our American Cousin
with the idea OF pleasing audiences or
both sides of the Atlantic lie sent the
manuscript 10 Mr. Davis. asking him IL
took the play 10 Lester Wallack's father
hoping II might be produced at his thea
ter. but Mr.. Davis was frankly told that
the piece would not do for Wallack'S, as
tile title part demanded a Yankee char
acter actor. and that he would recon-
mend Joseph Jefferson. then a member
% Laura keeneS company. as the very
man for the part MIR Davis then said
that at any rate ne had done what MS
friend Taylor asked. for he had sivei
The WaIIacks the first choice Lester
Nailack, who told the story. replied, 81