Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-08

from England between Mr.. Willard and Miss Neither
sole Known through her many London successes, cul
minatng with the Bernhardt role in La Tosca, with
Forbes Robertson the Baron Scarpia great things
expected of her when, in 1891 she came over to
open Hammerstens Manhattan Opera House. The
evening of notable fasco The huge theater-
later known as Roster & Balls Music Hall and de-
moished-was impossible for drama; the actress was
longer in her prime; her leading man was udicrous
novice; and her play, Mrs Despard, was simply las
in Looking Glass already made familiar to Amer
A notable wear was 1895; for then H Beerbohm Tree
and John Hare both made their first visits to America
Nowadays the people few and far between who do
Difference as leader of the English stage. Soon there
will be no scoffers Yet when Sir Herbert made his
American debut. the attitude was different than it
would have been had he waited until for his first
He appeared here first in Boston, choosing for his in
PRODUCTION the contrased leading characters of The
Red Lamp" Russian melodrama, and 1.-THE Ballad
Monger,' translation from the poetic French of
Theodore de Banvlle The following morning leading
critic of Boston said in practically these words hoax
played upon the theatergoers of Boston last
ing H. Beerbohm Tree, an English actor of eminent
reputation, announced to appear in The Ballad
Monger and The Red Lamp We regret that he was,
apparently, too i'll to play; but he should have supplied
more competent understudy for his role
When Mr. Tree, as Sir Herbert then was, reached
New York he was hardly better treated popular
anecdote absurd though it was indicates the attitude
of the period Tree, the story went sitting in the
business Office back of the boxoce of the Knickebocker
Theater (then Abbeys) when young woman bought
six seats for the Saturday matinee.
1.-The play for the matinee is 'Hamlet'9" she asked.
NO" was the repy the matinee bill is "A Bunch
"Oh then l won't want these, the purchaser
turned slipping back the tickets and holding out hand
for the money.
Don't do that" an excited voice came from the in
ner office; "the play will be Hamlet"
Lady Tree, who her husbands leading actress
his first tour and Kate Rorke who filled that position
when he
known then as now. such members of his COM
pany as the beautiful Lily Hanbury Lionel Brough, and
Henry Neville, all since dead. But Marguerite Sylvia,
developed into grand opera prma donna, and Gerald
du Maurier, favorite London actor manager,
were obscure novices.
Lewis Waller is announced to make American tour
this season. and is rather odd fact that he the
only leading actor manager of London left to to
stranger. should not be surprised if that statement
is doubted Well let through the list. Gerald du
Maurier and George Alexander have been accounted
for. About twenty years ago, Cyril Maude, now
leader among the leaders, obscure member of the
touring Shakespearcan company headed by the late
Daniel E. Bandmann in which, by the way, John E.
Kelerd not generally thought of among English
importation, made his start.
Julia Nelson and Fred Terry have both been here,
having accompanied John Hare his first tour. But
Ellen Terrys popular brother came here first nearly
twenty-five years ago, when May Fortescue, prize
beauty played disastrous season at the old New
York Lyceum in Gretchen" W. S. Gilberts version
Miss Nelson and Mr.. Terry played the Mrs Patrick
Campbell and Forbes Robertson roles in The Notori-
Gus Mrs. Ebbsmth which Sir John chose for his in
troductory bill, though his role the Duke of st. Oh
pherts, subsidiary and did not appear until
the second act Sir John did not establish his popularity
firmly here until he played Benjamin Goldfnch in "A
Pair of Spectaces, in which neither Mr. Terry nor his
wife appeared So, for them, W. S. Gilberts Comedy
and Tragedy included in the bill Frank Gilmore,
leading member of the New Theater company,
and c. Aubrey Smith, who has acted here since lead
ing for Mrs. Patrick Campbell, Grace George, and
Marie Doro, of that company. Oddly enough.
Ellis Jefreys, who introduced herself star here in