The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-13
BY MRS. ANNIE wAKEMAN.

BY MRS. ANNIE WAKEMAN.
Charles Frohman. in presenting Sir
Charles Wyndham. in 1.-THE Molluse." 20
Washington theater-goers this week.
brings forward an old friend, with whom
we renew our acquaintance. The long
and brilliant run of this play IN London,
| followed by a second successful New
York production. augurs well for its
week In critical Washington. 1t is only
necessary 10 add. that in this work OF
one Of LOndon's most gifted young
| playwrights Sir Charles has a typical
"Wyndham part. in the extensive
repertoire Of this Admirable Crichton"
OF modern actors.
OF Wyndham the artist YOU all know.
I OF Wyndham in private life. the younger
generation of Americans may know little,
for despite his frank genial manner, Sir
Charles has all the reticence of a true
Englishman, and has never been self
advertiser Urged TO write his reminiS-
cences. he shrugged his shoulders and
replied: Well some day, perhaps, when
I've nothing better TO do, and at once
he changed the subject.
Charles Wyndham was educated to be a
surgeon. as his father was before him.
He had, however, a taste for the stage.
and as a boy at school was the ring
leader in getting up amateur theatricals.
This taste was fostered by his meeting
at his fathers supper table many Of
the leading dramatists and actors Of the
time, to whom the Wyndham household
were most hospitable the master being a
profound student of the drama
In due course, however, he took his de-
gree. Then followed a heart-bTeaking
struggle to establish a practice. Then
an occasional opportunity to play some
part for a night or two in a travelling
company. A few patients now and then.
with occasionally one who paid the fee.
Then more failures, sandwiched between
dramatic successes And then. when his
fortunes were at the lowest ebb. he mar
ried a charming girl-wife, a genuine love
match. There was now a double reason
TO earn more money.
About that time began the association
on the boards Of Wyndham and the late
Sir Henry Irving. who was also a strug-
gler in travelling companies. This de-
veloped into a close friendship. which
ended only with the passing on" of Sir
Henry
Finding it imperative to seek other fields
of labor, Wyndham decided to give up
the surgical profession and sail for Amer
lea, hoping to get into theatrical work in
a newer country. where there might be
better opportunities. He landed in New
York with a slender purse and a wealth
of hope, ambition, energy; but it was
many weeks before he got an engage
ment in a small part in the company Of
the now venerable Mrs. John Wood, long
since retired. who was for many years
the leading comedy actress Of England.
The rehesrsals progressed successfully.
Wyndham's heart beat high. Twenty-Five
dollars week to share with the wife and
one other small person over seas-the
world was his!
The opening night came. The part
was one of few lines. The first line
was (the character being that of an ac-
eepted sweetheart): Il am drunk with
JOY, &C. suddenly lhe young EngilSn
actor got "stage fright" the commonest
of all miseries to a true artist, and one
from which to this day he sometimes
slightly suffers. and the lines went clean
out of his head He paused, and, trem-
bling like an aspen leaf, whispered: II
am drunk then he stopped Gathering
Icourage. ne began afresh: Il am drunk"
this in louder xey-another nauSe The
seconds seemed years. A third time, in
loud tones, II am drunk" but before he
could continue q boy in the gallery