New-York tribune., 1915-03-28
PEGGY WOOD
Gives Her Views on the Art Of
BurlesQue.

, Miss Peggy Wood, who b1rleseuss
Elsie Ferguson in Geoge ". Cohsn's
revue, Hello, Broadway" az the As,or
Theatre, has well defined views on the
art. Burlesque, she declares, is iGs;
as exacting as comedy or tragedy
THE same methods are employed ~
burlesquing a character as are used b.
the original. The same high quality
of acting must be sustained II the bur
lesque is 10 be successful declares the
comedienne. "The basis OF both Is
identical, only the treatment differs.
"To burlesque a character requires
close study OF the original The puf'
| lose is not 70 copy or Initiate II, but 70
select the dominating features a.
basis for caricature. There must oe
enough similarity TO bring the orlglhs
TO mind Immediately, yet the treatment
must be such as 20 prevent u ifon
Cvershadowing the burlesque. The char
acteristic features only are selected,
they are overdrawn snd thrown out Of
true proportion, and, because oil ths
new perspective, they assume a 10
/ dicrous aspect The process IS idenu-
cal with that employed by the car
toonist, who. with pen and ink, presen"
a likeness, but a distorted one.
"When | assumed the role OF klss
/ Workingson in Hello, Broadway, !
went 70 see Elsie Ferguson IN "OUt'
cast several times. To carlcature sue
cessfully her portrayal OF Miriam r'
quired more than merely wearing
costume like hers. II was neeessSp
/ to study her walk, her gestures hs'
facial expressions and her lntonauoh
+ To study her in the way that an under
/ study might would be 10 court fa!1ufs
| Ny purpose was to transform TINS som
/ bre figure of Miriam into laugnSo'
one. While a large part OF the auGl'
ence was in tears, | sat there aosoI0
/ ing the character for the purpose ',
presenting II with the comic touen.
carefully noted Miss Ferguson's nsH
tating entrance, her slightly slouenin.
walk, her deliberate delivery OF hsl
+ lines, and all the little details whi.,
make up the character in the hrst ~.
sat in that audience like e'o'.
among mourners. Many things
which others laughed assumed a iu',
crous aspect. This was, OF course Nv
due to Miss Ferguson, but 70 myseLs
"Then ! began TO select "hat ness
ed for my part from the large amour
of material which had collected y
watching 0utcast.' As my Nn0"ls.s.
of the personality OF Miriam peyss ps,.,...
more intimate the great poss'ohl.,',
/ in the burlesque grew more aPPaiit -
Small traits-I might almost can ~ ~.
/ thumbnail sketches which hat
lected | soon discarded. and as 20
gressed, the principal features sharss
themselves into compact mass -,
portrait eventually stood out IN simY.
lines, and il was then easier 10 ue
il and complete the carlcature; =,
centuated the features when w.
ada ,table 20 distortion and suodue' =.
heightened others, but always kept 49,
original in mind. .,;,,
Miss Ferguson is an intere'u.'
stage personality and Offers ample %
terial. Her distinctive work SHOWS ~.
6nite care and presents immune ss' '
shades of character drawing. hA'.
however. selected only those whleh -, y,
broadly Characteristic OF Miriam : :
rnnch Of the delicate detail with WIZ
Miss Ferguson Celebrates her poruH
would be lost in the rushing, ousum'
revue which Mr.. Cohsn has "rl,s.
Tn audiences at the Astor get ohiy
br;e, GLIMPSE Of Elsie NorSlngsou ;,
nse Miriam-and IL IS necessary "
present her along broad INES i.,,s,
81 have never played a egHvsTr sTs,
mart before" said Miss Nood.
work was new 20 me, but l t1Jyg
Immensely. like tho part OF "a.
Workingson more than any law
before.