New-York tribune., 1910-10-02
1.-THE LITTLE DAMOzH"
Miss May Buckley Talks OF Her
Piay and He' Ar'

a co-,,e, NJ Tondol,-- '~r----- is being
pictured at the cosey l-Jtc "'', IL Theatre
in zlst street. II Is only = pay, but it has
atmosphere Its people are real people and
its Illusion is complete.
The centre Of the group is the Little
namozel (Aiiss May Buckley. She is the
harpist in the band AT the cafe Angeliqu"
sn Shaftesbury avenue. Soho. London. She
IS beloved 10y all her associates and by
every man who freauents the place.
Whether in the first act, when the little
.damozei. dressed in her striking uniform on
blue red and gold. is at the height of her
sayety. or in the second act, when she is
married and happy. or in the third Z.
when she has discovered that Recs aw
Poole. an Impoverished and discredteo
English gentleman. has married her for a
price she is simply and sweetly reai-a
little person who draws alike the smile and
1he tear
How does Miss Buckley do this thing? Is
St art or is il nature? or is it both? Let
her answer for herself and in her dressing
,ooa al tne theatre. while the spirit Of the
play stir dominates.
We'll in the first place. said Miss Buck
icy, Nj Savage sent me over TO London
40 see the play as it was presented at
WEndham's Theatre. where Miss Blaney
played the Little Damozel and Mr. Charles
Hawtrey was the Recklaw Poole. I at
iended the play-oh. SO many times,-until
i knew The part from beginning 10 end. /
studied il and stcdied il. and thought Just
bow the Little DANCED would think and feel
and act under each situation in he plav.
] thought Of her L. day and I dreamed Of
her by night. ] visited The Bohemian sec
sions Of London. Then I went 20 buy
tiresses for the little lady in Paris.
after which I came hack TO New York for
SehearSals under the direction OF Mr..
Edward Fitzgerald. whom Mr.. Savage
brought over from London. We had the
good fortune 10 rehearse for four weeks
under his helpful direction. and Mr.. Saw
age gave US constantly the benefit of his
suggestions. II was Mn. Savage who had
the play changed in important points for
his American audiences. He knew that
they would dislike the bargain made by
Recklaw Poole with Captain Neil Parking
ton TO marry the Little Damozel for f15.ooo.
and he introduced semblsnce of love in
She proposal Of marriage that was absent
sn the London performance. The whole
play was toned down so that there would
De nothing offensive in the cafe scenes.
Finally Mr. Savage SAID to US one day:
ryou- are all now part perfect; can DO
no more for YOU. You will have TO work
srom now on along the line Of a perfect
ensemble
~'Then came first night. Oh, what an
erdeal Il wasl / didn't know whether we
had succeeded or not. 1 went into my
S-essing room and cried. But when ]
5read some of the criticisms in the morning
saewspapers l was overjOyed, and things
have been going smoothly ever since.
Yes the performances vary consider
ably" continued the Little Damozel. Some.
Mines we all think that We are going tC
S,lay rniserably and We surprise ourselves
apy giving an unusually good performance
Vrhe play grows better every day. We al
Introduce new business as it occurs TO US
ls~y-rii Keightley. whom Mr.. Savage brought
sover here 10 play the part of Recklav
ePoole has been very helpful, and it is Z
.bleasure TO act in a company with him
When asked if she ever became so en-
grrossed in her part as to forget herself
miss Buckley said: "Oh, no. ! Away!
khink Of myself as above the stage. looking
aown on the character that / am imper
iAonating. = say 90 another She did tha
prery well. didn't she% and oftentimes
sam not understood. II ! fail TO produc'
Ahe effect desired on the audience ] TT!
4Eain IN some other way"
Miss Buckley's eyes on the stage sparkl
Eike black diamonds. and send out theii