New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1911-11-25
RIP VAN WINKLE TO SHOW
HERE ON NOV. 18th.

the late Joseph jefferson first saw
his son Thomas play Grip Van
Wrinkle" He had gone there
from his home at Buzard's Bay
and had not warned Tom of his
coming. At the close Of the per
Torrance he went back on. the
stage and. shaking hands with his
son, said.
81 congratulate you. my boy. y
Congratulate me for what p
responded Tom.
"Why on your performance OF
Rip. Of curse. | was out in
flont. -
"Well 7 didn't see YOU. Where
did you hide YOURSELF" said the
younger Rip.
ooh, | sat in the back of the
theatre. replied jefferson the
eluer.
"But.' persisted Tom. knowing
his father was slightly deaf, -
"you couldn't hear sitting way
back there. could you?"
clear, my boy said the faith
er. "Why | didn't have to hear.
I know the play as well as you
do"
Yes. and the elder Jefferson did
know the play, for It was in his
repertoire for forty-fve years.
His father before him-also
Joseph Jefferson-played Rip for
seventeen years and Thomas has
played it for eleven years. Sew
enty-three years for one play in
one family is certainly some rec
ord.
To compare the Rips Of Joseph
and Thomas has never been an
easy task. The father always
said Thomas excelled in the
pathos. while he enjoyed the jov-
ial. hght-hearted Rip of the first |
act. Tn fact, it was the young
Rip who appealed more strongly |
to the father and the old Rip to
the son.
This was especially true in the
later years Of Mr.. Jefferson's lfe.
AS he grew older he did not en-
JOY playing old Rip but he romp-
ed through the early scenes with
genuine satisfaction. In coach
ing his son Thomas in the play he
said:
Where my conception of the
role of Rip appeals to you, and
you can act it my way, then do
so. If, on the other hand any Of
he scenes appeal differently. and
t is unnatural to follow in my
footsteps. then branch out and do
t in your own way" II
And this is just the, attitude
AIKEN by the son. In many ways
lis Rip IS like that Of his faith
RS. while in others, particularly
n the last act. his Rip is dis {
inctively his own conception. +
remember" said Thomas
efferson in rem, niscent mood. !
he other day. "that on one oc- {
aston Fred Grant and Grover I
cleveland sat in box and watch $
d my performance. AS the play
progressed, and they became
lore interested. Grant turned to
he former president and said:
He's great. I believe he plays
as well as his father NO,
eplied Cleveland, Il can't admit !;
lat. He is certainly playing it u
ell but there is only one Joseph h
efferson.' \
Some of my fathers friends 4
ou1d never come to see me in p,
'e role. among them William !.
Winters and Brander Mathews. a,
hey loved my father so well they h
most looked upon it as a sacri- ,,
ge to see anyone else in the role
Rip, even though it was his ~
vn son. 8,
When | was new to the role -;
Rip remember my father say p
g to me one day: when you On
me on with the children. come H.
as if you were not afraid. se
ROW your head up and don t IN
TX cast down. But, father I ~
afraid, ] replied. w,
Joseph Jefferson in playing 10.
p always played for his audi en-
ce and never to his audience. 81; 5
erein lay his art. II had this bo
titled into me from boyhood To-,
y said Thomas, "and in play ~. ~.
: RIP | have epdeavored to fol- ho
my fathers lead in this re- wl
ct. W.
1T was all very we'll until I tn,
ID the play out as a sketch in MIA
ldeville. Then I learned an adj
rely different method had to oni
adopted. The act was not 60 we