New-York tribune., 1912-07-14
BY VANDERHEYDEN FYLES

benefited bv the common sensible advice of Mrs Mans
field OF course rlmor may be wrong it may not have
been she who dsSuaded him from measuring himself by
Henry Irving and Forbes Robertson, and especially at
a time when the Dane OF Edwin Booth was treSher in
the general memory But, anyway, 1t is true that more
than once Richard Mansfield put Hamlet" very
privately, almost secretly in rehearsal, and then with.
drew it.
THE first cast of play that Immediately takes its place
l. as a modern classic almost inevitably establishes
the fame of one or more of its leading actors No more
notable example can be cited than The Second Mrs.
Tanqueray." In one night MIS-. Patrick campbell
emerged from the obscurity of inconSequenal melo.
drama into the glow of international fame here is
small doubt that so excellent actress would have
made her way any case; but there Is no doubt that
the first actress to play Paula anqueray whoever she
might have been, would have achieved fame. There
are some roles that cannot help make" player as
Frou-Frou made the late Agnes Ethel, and Zaza
served for Mrs. Leslie Carter; but the point about
Paula Tanqucray and Mrs. Campbell IS that the
actress was an afterthought. Elizabeth Robins was
pineros choice and she rehearsed the role. Why she
did not play it, have never known. But the result
that Miss Robins is still known to only the special few
while Mrs Campbels name rings round the h'stronic
universe.
Miss Robins was not the first important change in the
cast of "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray. SIR Arthur
wrote the play for John Hare but Sir John ai lately
had such bad luck with The Proillgate fraa which
that he became frightened at another Pnero play Of the
same sort; so he relnquiShed the drama q, George
Alexander However he still admired It ar. felt
lively interest in it; and he it was who took Arthur
and Sir George to minor theater TO see n. lIScoy.
erv Mrs Patrick Campbell. 1t is to be noted lever
that George Alexander was not taking JOIN Hares
place in casting himself for the leading ma role Of
Aubrey Tanouerav as Pinero wrote Cayley D:lmme
the fuSsy, advising friend for Hare This par by the
vav was first acted by Cyril Maude, and II --.cd him
as a steppingstone to stardom. Oddly enous ne has
Established himself the legitimate success ID many
Of the old comedy roles that were held to' cars as
sacred to John Hare.
In America the experience Of The Seed Mrs
Tandueray" was not dissimilar. Daniel Fro.1an held
the rights and though his at the Lyceam was
bad one owing to lack Of plays, ne was afraid y produce
timidty Georgia Cayvan would have been the hFSs
American Paula Tanqueray, instead OF Mrs Kendall It
is not unnteresting to note the cast that came "thna
hairs breadth Of being the American orlglnt IN TINS
great plav and the one that really was Herbert Ke
cey rehearsed the role of Aubrey Tanqueray, which
". H. Kendall acted ". J. lie Moyne inste.t ot J. E.
Dodson, would have been the Cayley Drunm,e; Fritz
Williams, instead of G.. P. Hunty, the S- George
Orryed; Effie Shannon, instead OF Annie !1,h, the
Ellcan Tanqueray and Mrs. Charles Walco, IN ,ead Of
Mrs a. B. Tapping, the Mrs. Cortelyou
THE cast that just escaped introducing candida to
America is in way even more interesting, because
that play when it finally did come, not only elevated
Arnold Daly from the ranks to stardom, but inaugu-
rated the craze for Bernard Shaw. Ten years before
Richard Mansfield put Candida in rehearsal. he
even imported Janet Achurch the original Candida, to
America; and when he abandoned the play, had 70 pay
her salary for some weeks without having any use tor
her. SO Miss Achurch, instead OF Dorothy Donnely,
would have been our first Candida Oddly enough, Mr.
Mansfield did not purpose playing Marchbanks; bu:
engaged Edwin Arden for that role, casting himself tor
Morell the clergyman.
One other cast for Candida" was formed and had
advanced considerably with rehearsalS before The one
that in 1903 was actually to be the American original.
In 1900 Arnold DAILY was acting minor part with
lula Marlowe in Barbara Frietchic' while Robert
Lorraine Who four or five years later, established him.
self suddenly as a star by means Of Shaw Man and
Superman." was leading actor Of Daniel Frohmans