New-York tribune., 1920-09-12
First Nighters" and Firing
Squad Are One and the Same
Thing, Says Esther Howard

"If knew that tonight were to
stand before the rifles Of firing squad
shouldn't even bat an eye. I've been
through it already"
Thus did Esther Howard, comedienne
in THE Sweetheart Shop" explain how
she felt on Wednesday, the day follow
ing the opening of that musical comedy
at the Knickerbocker Theater. 1t was
her first time on Broadway in
regular" production. She had "played
little stock" hereabouts in other
years. But the ambition of her life
had beep realized on the night pre-
vious. And, as she will say, "it was
the biggest thrill of my whole life"
my business is trying to be funny"
she admitted, while her mother hung
UP her different costumes in .he little
closet leading from dressing room
b, which, by the way, indicates that
she stands pretty high with the man
ayers Of the production, this business
of being located in dressing room
---"and I'm sure | never felt so really
funny as did last night.
Somehow, one feels that his open
ing on Broadway, in case he has had
the long struggle that have had, is
Just about the critical moment of his
life And just before he steps out
there to the stage while the first night
audience waits in silence he has
shaky feeling in his knees and around
his heart that almost overcomes him.
Ana then, when he grits his teeth and
steps out into full view he seems to
.ose all that fear-if it is rcar-ard
he feels himself once more normal and
steady and he goes into his "trk with
as much regularity and confidence as
ever. Then. after he has stepped FROM
the stage again he crumples, some
times physically, sometimes mentally
ard it requires several hours or maybe
several days to recover himself: a,s AS
for myself 4 have been wondering all
Gay long just how | got through with
NV work. But all of the critics were
SO nice to me that feel / haven't
ca;led completely"
Miss Howard says she hasn't the
slightest doubt that New York audi
ences are going to be more difficult to
please than those in Chicago. Although
"The Sweetheart Shop" ran for twenty
weeks in that city before coming to
Broadway, it did not miss one day, she
saws. of filling the theater to capacity.
And they must have liked US very,
very much" she adds, because they
laughed and laughed, and it was said
persons came for many miles around 10
see us Perhaps you think that would
give us enough confidence and courage
to come into New York and defy you
people here Well, it doesn't. Nothing
proves your worth as an actor as we'll
as the New York man and woman who
see the very finest productions through.
out the year and know what they want
and don't beat about the bush telling
YOU of your faults and your merits.
II am as content as can be now SO
far as The Sweetheart Shop is con-
cerned, because it appears the judges
have decreed we may stay for while:
According to the newspaper reviews OF
this morning we have production that
will please, and SO we are happy, as
can be. Tonight Pm going to sleep
soundly for the first time in three
months. From the very beginning OF
rehearsals in The Sweetheart Shop 1t
has been the constant subject of CON
versation between the members of our
cast-our opening, in New York. Our
long showing in Chicago naturally kept