The Washington herald., 1910-11-27
THE CHILD ACTORS.


Henry B. Warner, the young English
actor who makes his first appearance as
a star in Washington next week, has
strong views on an issue which has re-
Gently been much dlscussed-the child on
the stage.
As is pretty generally known 10 the
playgoing world, Alias Jimmy Valen-
tine" Mr. Warmers play by Paul Arm
strong, has two Of its best parts in the
hands of children. Donald Galleher and
Alma Sedley. Following at the Belasco
next week. so close on the appearance OF
Francis Wilson at the National Theater
this week in a play wherein a very
young child has a very important part
the succession naturally calls attention
to the subject again. Mr.. Wilson has ex-
pressed himself emphatically on the child
actor.
MT. Warner, in discussing this matter
called attention to an interesting matt
nee at Wallack's Theater. in New York,
last March, performance of alias
Jimmy Valentine" in which all the parts
were taken by Riddles
A seven-year-old tot played Rose Lane
teen-year-eld leading man. A five-year-
old boy toddled on as bell-boy in the
hotel scene. and lads OF ten and twelve
took other parts The oldest actor in the
cast had just passed his fifteenth year.
II was a great Illustration OF the inteli-
gence of children
The performance was a huge success,
netting nearly $1,000 for the worthy
cause for which il was given, and of
which Mrs. James Speyer, wife of the
New York banker; Mrs. Vanderbilt, and
other New York society leaders, were
patronesses. II was the first time a
drama had been given in this fashion.
and the audience rocked iE mirthful APP
probation OF the novelty and the seri,
BUSINESS with which the children played
their parts More than that it called
the attention Of many influential people
10 the crusade being Waged and will
probably work lasting benefit for the
children of the stage. The two Riddles
who took the leading roles in this re-
markable performance were Alma Sedley
and Donald Catcher In the cast OF ALIAS
Jimmy Valentine"
Mr.. Warner. in commenting on this
performance, said II age-managed
this affair and II was a real delight TO
watch the Riddles at work. They were so
keenly alive, so intelligent. so magma
tive. You know children are naturally
little actors any way; watch them at
their play and you'll see 1t.
Moreover. there IS another side to this
question When Alias Jimmy Valentine
was given in Chicago the performance
was greatly married by the fact that the
laws Of Illinois would not allow children
TO appear and dummies had TO be sub
stituted That the play succeeded in
spite of this handicap is merely evidence
OF IT'S real strength. But Alias Jimmy
Valentine is only one OF many plays
where children are essential TO the de-
veIopment of the story-just as they
often are in human interest stories in
real life. Shall all this art be killed just
for the sake of prejudice? / ask you.
do not the children of the stage. in the
parts they play, in the case of Alias
Jimmy Valentine. for example. have an
actual and a good influence on theater-
goers? Is not the appeal OF these tender
lives always worth while? And are not
these little actors always used for good
purposes IN developing dramatic themes
las 10 the charge that II works in
fury 10 the children themselves, I dismiss
that with simple statement: 1t is not
true in any general sense of the word.
Stage children are well cared for, and
they are carefully educated. Donald Cal
leher. as an example. is bright attrac-
tive little chap. intellectually in advance
of most boys OF his age, and possessing
real wit, and little Alma Sedley is a
sweet winsome girl, who is acquiring al.
the graces and all the education proper
for a little girl OF her age"