Evening star., 1912-07-14
BY VANDERHEYDEN FYLES

modern classic almost inevitably establishes
the fame of of its leading actors No more
notable example be cited than The Second Mrs
Tanqueray." In night Mrs. Patrick Campbell
emerged from the obscurity of nconsequential melo
small doubt that excellent actress would have
made her way in any case but there is doubt that
the first actress to play Paula Tanqueray whoever she
might have been, would have achieved fame. There
some roles that cannot help make player as
Frou-Frou made the late Agnes Ethel, and as Zaza
served for Mrs Leslie Carter; but the point about
actress afterthought. Elizabeth Robins was
Pneros choice and she rehearsed the role. Why she
did not play it. have never known But the result IS
that Miss Robins is still known only the special few
while Mrs Campbells rings round the histrionic
universe.
Oddly enough, the substitution of Mrs. Campbell for
Miss Robins not the first important change in the
cast of "The Second Mrs Tanqueray." Sir Arthur
wrote the play for John Hare; but Sir John had lately
had such bad luck with "The Prohigate" from which
the prdish public of the period drew away improper
that he became frightened at another Pnero play OF the
same sort; SO he relinquished the drama to George
Alexander However, he still admired it and felt
lively interest in it. and he it who took Sir Arthur
and Sir George to minor theater to see his dscov-
cry, Mrs. Patrick Campbell 1t to be noted however
that George Alexander was not taking John Hares
place in casting himself tor the leading male role Of
Aubrey Tanqueray, as PiDero wrote Cayley Drummle.
the fussy advising friend for Hare This part by the
way was first acted by Cyril Maude and it served him
as a steppingstone to stardom. Oddly enough he has
established himself the legitimate to many
of the old comedy roles that held for years as
sacred to John Hare.
In America the experience of 1.-THE Second Mrs.
Tanqueray' not dssimlar. Daniel Frohman held
the rights and though his at the Lyceum was
bad one owing to lack OF plays he was afraid to produce
this masterpiece lest he offend his public But for his
timidity Georgia Cayvan would have been the hrst
American Paula Tanqueray instead OF Mrs Kendall 1t
is not unneresting to note the cast that within
hairs breadth of being the American original in this
great play and the one that really was Herbert ke-
cey rehearsed the role of Aubrey Tanqueray which
w. H. Kendall acted w. J. LIE Moyne, instead of ]. E..
D0dS hav beer he
Williams, instead of G. P. Huntly, the Sir George
Orryed; Effie Shannon, instead of Annie Irish, the
Elean Tanqueray and Mrs Charles Wacot instead OF
Mrs. A. B. Tapping, the Mrs. Cortelyou.
THE cast that just escaped introducing Candida to
America is, in a way, interesting because
that play when it finally did come not only elevated
Arnold DAILY from the ranks to stardom, but inaugu
rated the for Bernard Shaw. Ten years before
Richard Mansfield put Candida in rehearsal He
even imported Janet Achurch the original Candida,
America and when he abandoned the play, had pay
her salary for weeks without having any for
her. So Miss Achurch, instead of Dorothy Donnelly,
would have been first Candida. Oddly enough Mr..
Mansfield did not purpose playing Marchbanks; but
engaged Edwin Arden for that roe casting himself tor
Morell the clergyman.
One other cast for candida" was formed and had
advanced considerably with rehearsals before the
that in 1908 actually to be the American original
In 1900, Arnold DAILY was acting minor part with
Julia Marowe in Barbara Frietchie"; while Robert
Lorraine, who four five years later established him
self suddenly star by means of Shaw's Man and
Superman" leading actor of Daniel Frohmans
stock company, recently transferred from the old Ly
ceum to Days Theater. Lorraine and DAILY formulated
a scheme to give candida at special matinee: Mr..
DAILY to play Marchbanks as, in similar crcum-
stances he did three years later; and Mr. Lorraine cast
himself for the clergyman. Hilda Spong and Alison
Skipworth, both of the Daniel F-ohman company, en-
tered heartily into the scheme ard diligently rehearsed
the Candida, the other Prossy, in which role,
you will recall, Louise Closer Hale original But
Miss Marlowe went on tour and Mr. DAILY, of necessity
went with her; SO the candida" plan went over for
three years.
The "Herod OF Stephen Phillips is another modern
Continued page I9