Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-09-04
Eta Romney 10 Presented.


precisely on the evening Of Wednes-
day, the twentieth day Of May. 1t
still wanted few minutes to the hour
of eight when that famous American
impressario, Mr.. Charles lizard, per.
mitted q waiter In the Carlton Hotel
to serve him with coffee and
lQueur; while he confided to his In.
valuable confederate and stage-man-
ager, Mr.. Walter Lacombe, the assur.
Ing intelligence that he had no doubt
either about the play or the company.
They're homogeneous" he said,
lighting cigar with comfortable de-
liberation; "the first acts bully and
any play with that Third Act l pro-
duce. We must get something writ
ten for her to follow in. My side will
take 'Haddon Hall and 1t will take
Eta Romney. If 1t doesn't, I close
up"
Mr.. Lacombe, the stage-manager.
had his own doubts. but he was far
too diplomatic to express them.
when you close up, sell
bananas" said he; that will be in
the ldes OF March"
Mr.. Charles lizard, who had not
enjoyed the distinction Of three years
idleness at Cambridge land so had
strange concentrations of sounds
which served him for laughter before
uttering a pious wish.
TITS the ides of the critics I'd like
to TOUCH" he exclaimed with real
feeling; you know what they're 60
ing to say about this as we'll as do"
"Oh, Of course" said Lacombe
frankly, they'll baste 1t, sure enough.
No historical play is likely to please
Watley. He'll say that hot blankets
are the proper treatment"
"Id like to wrap him up in 'em
and smother him." interjected Mr..
Charles lizard, still piously.
That's so, but 1 fancy he will take
her none the less"
"Etta Romney, why yes! I'd like
to see the man who wouldn't take her
It's woman that makes a play now
adays. II you'd more Of 'em this side,
you wouldn't have SO many failures
| In America we star the woman first
and the play afterwards. Here you
star the man and when all the school
girls have seen him, your theatres
empty"
"Exactly-this play Is the excep-
tion. You've certainly cut the writ
Ing on the wall. There's no room for
whiskers on your IDEAS"
f! Mr.. lizard drained his coffee cup
and admitted loftily that there was
not.
| "Pd have been fool not to. Here's
! girl comes to me out Of the ewig-
keit No name, no story, nothing.
| Won't tell me who she is or where she
has played before. Just says, I've
read about Constant Hayter's play-I
know Derbyshire; l have loved the
tradition of that story all my life.
| Money Is nothing to me. Let me play
the part Miss Fay Warner has given
up. Let me play it at rehearsal, and
then say whether you wish me to go
on You couldn't better it In a fairy
book. / see her act scene, hear her
speak twenty lines, and say, That's
| bully She doesn't ask salary
Why, sir the girls genius born and
bred-and what's more she's lady
from the top Of her hat to the soles OF
her boots. ] couldn't wish my own
daughter to behave better"
! Something odd about her all the
same" Lacombe reflected; "dreadful-
ly afraid Of being known. She goes
in and out of the theatre like ghost.
L Mr. ho,.le ard
well, don't she play the part OF
one?" he asked affably. "How would
you have her come In and out? Whis.
Ting like the overhead? The parts
herself-the Lady of Haddon. She
was born to 1t. If that girl hasn't
walked as ghost sometime or other
put me down for twenty pounds to an
hospital. And no salary, sir, not a
single penny"
immense" said Lacombe, but i'm
mediately paused as well-known
critic passed through the hall and
went out to the theatre almost ad
joining the hotel
There's Clayaton," he went on
quickly, Its not often he sits out q
sword-and-cape drama"
"Then he'll sit out one tonight
and be ashamed of himself In the
morning. Let's get, my boy, it's just
on the half-hour. We must be there.
What precisely would have hap
pened had SO great man not been
there, the merely humble individual
might hardly dare 10 say. AS events
went. Mr.. Charles lizard put on light
great.coat with a great deal OF splen
did ceremony, and giving the many
colored lackey shilling. strolled
pompously into the street with hil
cigar still alight. Passing His Ma
iesty's, before whose doors the boards
House Full" were conspicuously dis
played, the pair walked Nleisurely OF
to the front entrance Of the Carlton
Theatre. and were there gratified by
one Of those spectacles which Londot
alone can display upon the first nigh
OF new production.
Cahu rria alaatri hrnu0 n q m q