The New York herald., 1921-05-03
Augustus Thomas
Makes Debut as
Actor in Nemesis )
Plays Leading Role in His
MelOdrama When Emmett
COrrigan Becomes i'll.

Augustus Thomas. noted American
dramatist and author of Nemesis" at
the Hudson Theatre. was about to leave
his home in New Rochelle last night to
come into New York with Mrs. Thomas
to meet friends for dinner when his
telephone rang. The voice at the other
end said:
Mr.. Thomas. this is the Hudson The
atre. Emmett Corrigan Is too i'll to ap-
pear tonight We have had George M.
Cohan on the long distance in Boston,
and he says II you cannot appear for
Mr.. Corrigan to dismiss the audience"
IAN right, III appear. It's good
thing I'm dressed for the first act" re-
piled Mr.. Thomas.
He grabbed the manuscript of
Nemesis from his desk; stuffed it
into his pocket and with Mrs Thomas
caught the 6 :22 from New Rochelle
On the ride in he ran over the play
refreshing his mind with details which
he had gone over many times at re-
hearsals. Mrs Thomas went on to the
dinner with apologies from her hus-
band and he was in the theatre soon
after o'clock.
IF l can get through that scene in
the sculptor's studio, | will get along
all right" said Mr.. Thomas to the stage
manager
But how about the murder scene?
That's the big act observed the man
ager.
"Oh. that don't worry me much" he
said. I'm used to forensic outbursts,
but I'm afraid of that quiet business
before my wife's portrait bust That
calls for some real acting"
The regular members of the cast did
not disguise their nervousness I'm
afraid ] can't go through with it, said
Miss Olive. Tell, who plays the leading
womans part. II am SO nervous. Think
of playing next to the author!''
There was half hour rehearsal of a
few episodes of his tragedy of modern
social life with an extra ten minutes
given TO the murder Then the play
wright said he was ready for the rear
business of the night.
An announcement was made from the
stage before the first curtain that be-
cause of the illness of Mr. Corrigan
Mr. Thomas would take the actors part.
The playwright received a hearty recep-
ton when he took his place in the play
In the first act. He appeared to be
much more at ease than the other mem
bers of the cast, to whom their various
parts have begun to take on the aspects
of second nature. In the murder scene
a man who had coolly arranged to kill
his wife and yet appeared stunned after
the ghastly deed had been done.
In thus appearing in one of his own
plays Mr. Thomas duplicated similar
emergency that occurred thirty-three
years ago. That was when the late
Maurice Barrymore was appearing III
the leading part in "A Man Of the
World" one of the playwright's early
successes that had long run in tns
Madison Square Theatre. Mr.. Barry
more was taken i'll. The understudy
was not available and the playwright
was called upon to fill the gap for four
successive performances.
The joke was on the public that time.
Physically Mr.. Thomas and Mr.. Barry
more then We're much alike. and that
advantage, together with the disguise
If make up. permitted the author 20 ap-
pear for the start without the pubic De-
Ing any the wiser.
Mr.. Corrigan is in private hospital.
His collapse followed an attack OF grip
from which he had suffered for ten days.
Mr.. Thomas. will continue to play until
Mr.. Corriean Is better.