New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-09-28

suggested to John Golden that he had
better see her regarding the character
OF Mandy Coulter. "She may not be
able to play it, but by Jove. she looks
it to the life" was Smiths recommen-
datlon. The young person was inter-
viewed, and in fifteen minutes secured
contract to appear as silent spec
tator in the courtroom scene in
"Lightnin'" until such time as "Thun-
DER was produced then she was to be
given trial in the character Of
Mandy.
For the fifty-three weeks that
Lightnin' has brig tened Broadway
this solemn-eyed, ambitious little girl
sat in silence, gazing longingly over
the footlights awaiting the night when
she would be given a chance to show
New York what real stuff was in her.
good. So why not She?
Last Monday night her opportunity
arrived and she made good
Every newspaper IN New York on
Tuesday made special comment upon
the realistic, consistent characterize
ton of Mandy Coulter" giving the
visualizer the credit Of having given
to broadway one Of the mot delight
July created characters seen in many
years.
Thus Leila Bennett, an obscure little
actress from Newark, \. j., became q
Broadway favoritc in one night.
Cecil Yapp, who is the delightful
Captain Hercules Penny in Cup From
Nowhere" was statistical clerk in
the passenger department of the
Northern Pacific Railroad, at his home
in st. Paul, when he made up his mind
that that kind of life was entirely
too devoid Of romance He had been
railroad man in Seattle, & clerk in q
lumber camp both of them prosaic oc-
equations, but passenger statistics was
the limit. One day he found a London
pages he read the announcement of a
school for acting to be established by
SIR Herbert Tree. Acting! The Stage!
Romance! That night he wrote to
London for a prospectus and after he
had dlgested that he started out on his
Great Adventure. He knew he would
have to pass a competitive examina-
ton, but he made the long journey
and longer voyage with the courage
OF youth-and enough money to sup
port himself modcstly for a few
months. Oddly enough, as part of his
entrance examination he memorized
the first chapter of Booth Tarkington's
Monsieur Beaucaire.' He passed
with flying coors, studied hard and
was soon eking out his meagre savings
by odd Jobs" on the professional
stage. At the end of the first year he
was touring the. provinces with Lewis
Calvert, and made his first appearance
with Tree in London in Shakespearan
comedy roles.
From the first Mr.. Yapp showed
decided ability for character roles
With Lewis Wa Ter he PLAYED the role
of Shorty in THE SQuaw Man." he was
the Lord Nelson of The Nelson
Touch" the Admiral Peters in the
play OF that name--a part. by the way
that was practically an English YER
sion Of his present role. Then he came
to New York in time to create the
role of the Cat in "The Bluebird" at
the Century Theatre, from which ne re-
ceived the highest praise ever be-
slowed upon an animal delineator
Then came the old village idiot in the
prize play, "Children of Earth" at the
Century; the young playwright in
Saturday to Monday" at the Bijou,
in which he was associated with Mr.
Trevor; the old Frenchman, in Lilac
Time: Trincuo, in the reviva! Of
The Tempest; the old miser in "The
Betrothal,' and with Eleanor Painter
in Art and Opportunity"
Although most ,h"atrcgoers who
have seen Mr.. Yanp in his splendid i'm
presentations believe him to be an old
man. he is still in is thirties. 1t
takes~ several layers of vests to give
him the chunky appearance of Captain
Penny in Cup Ffrom Nowhere" and
much art to conceal his athletic
springiness In the RHEUMATIC limp of
the grouchy old sea.@-g.