EARLY ACTRESSES,

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2218, 23 October 1907, Page 5 (Supplement)

EARLY ACTRESSES,

Miss Marie Lolir, who has made so striking a success in “My Wife” at tho Haynnarket Theatre, may (said tiho Loudon “Express” in a recent airticlo on “Stars from the Cradle,” etc.), be taken as a living illustration of two striking facts about the life of the theatre. The first is that histrionic ability runs in families to a far greater extent, perhaps, than does any other artistic quality. And the second is that success oil the stage, at any rate as far as women are concerned, is nearly always the result of a career that began in early childhood. It would bo easy to multiply instances of stago ability running from father to son, from one generation to the other. One lias only to think of tlie Batemans, the Boucicaults, tlio Brouglis, tho Calverts, tlie Farrens, the Grossmitlis, the Irvings, theKembles, tlie Robertsons, tbo Terrys, and tbo Websters to realise the persistence with which tho stage instinct pervades families. lit is equally true that the great majority of successful actresses began tlieir careers at a very early age. As is well-known, Miss Ellen Terry made her first appearance at the Princess’s Theatre as Mamillius, in “The Wintar’s Tale,” when she was eight, and before slio was ‘,‘sweet seventeen,” the age of Miss Marie Lolir, she played more parts than most modern actresses play in a lifetime.

Miss Terry's sister Kate made her first appearance when she was seven, her niece, Beatrice, when she was ten, and her niece, Mlmuo, when she was three. Miss Marion Torry playew Ophelia when s'ho was seventeen, and mado her first appearance in London in the same year with Mr. Henry Nevillo at the Olympic Theatre. Mrs Kendal made her first appear,anco at tho Marylobono Theatre when she was four, and slio played Ophelia at tiho Hnymarkct Theatre when she was sixetoen. Another actress whoso fame is associated with tho Haymarket, Miss Winnifrod Emery, made heir first appearance on the ebag 0 in “The GreenBushes” in Liverpool when slio was eight, and gained her first London success at .tho Imperial when sho was seventeen. Miss Bateman, tho famous impersonator of “Leali,” first appeared on the stago when she was five, and when she was eight was brought itoLondon by the Lute P. T. Barmnn to appear iii a series of Shakespearean revivals. Her .sister, Miss Virginia Bateman, was fifteen when sho an,a<lo her first appearance at tho -Lyceum in 1871. Mrs Dion Boueieault, on her day a very famous actress, imado her stago debut when sho was ton, and lier daughter. Miss Nina Boueieault, when sho was fifteen.

Lady Bancroft, after many years’ experience as a. child actress in tho provinces, made her first London appearance ait. the Lyceum when she was sixteen, playing tho part of the boy Henri in “Belphegor.” Mrs Charles Calvert, wlio is now performing with Mr Tree in “A Woman of No Importance,” has boon acting since she was six. (Miss Fanny Coleman began her stago career when she was seventeen, and Miiss Carlotta Addison first appea red when a very young girl at Doncaster, and acted with Irving at St. Jiamo’s Theatre when she was sov o nteon. Mrs John Wood began to act when she. was eight. ‘Maw Lydia Thomson appeared as a. daiiCer when sho was sixteen, and that most accomplished comedienne, Miss Fanny Brough, played an Manchester in a pantomino written by her uncle when she was fifteen, and at the same early age, with tho versatility of a real actress, performed Ophelia to the Hamlet of tho late Barry Sutherland. Miss Constance Collier began her .theatrical career when she was a more child. iMiss Annie Hughes had her first part when she was fifteen, and Miss Elaine Terris made her first appearance at the Hay market —it is curious how often the lTayanarkot appeal's in these records —-when sho was sixeteen.

Miss Esmo .Beriuger first played when sho was thirteen, and her sister, Miss Vera Beringer, when she was nine. Mies Kate Rorko made her first, appearance at the Court Theatre when she was twelve. Coming to tho musical stago, one finds the same evidence of precocity among tlio ladies who' have achieved success. (Miss Florence St John began delighting itho public when she was fourteen. Miss Ada Reeve, another member of a theatrical family, appeared before tbo miblic when she was six, and when she was fourteen was an acknowledged music-ball Miss Vesta Tilley began still earlier. Her stago career started when she .was three, and when she was six she first appeared in men’s clothes, and was advertised as tho “Pocket Sims Reeves.” Miss Louie Freear was so young when she began her stage life that slio was known as “Baby Freear.” Miss Kitty Loftus first appeared when slio was twelve, and Miss Evjo Green began as a dancer when she was fourteen. iMiss Sybil Ariindalo bad a part in a Drury Lane pantomime when she was seven. Miss Mario Daiiirton appeared before the public when sho was twelve, Miss. P.hyllis Dare when she was nine, and her sister, Miss Zona Dare, when she was three years old. Mdlq Adeline Geiiee appeared at the principal theatre in Copenhagen before she was seventeen.

In America one finds many examples of these early beginnings. Miss Maud Adams, who is perhaps the most successful of all Mr. Frobnian’s many “stars,” first appeared on the stage when she was a baby of ■wino months old, tho play having the suggestive title of “The Lost Child,” and slio was an accepted public favourite when she was sixteen. Miss Julia Marlow made her first appearance in a iuveirile production of “H.M.S. Pinafore” when she was twelve. Miss Maud Fealy first played when she was three, Miss Ada Behan when dlio was fourteen, and Miss Clara Morris when she was thirteen. iMiss Cissio Loftus, who has in recent years achieved fame in America as an actress, appeared at tho Oxford Musicliall as a mimic when she was sixteen.

Tho famous French actress, Mdme. Jane Hading, made her first appearance oil tho stage as a doll in a play called “Le Bossu” when sho was three, and Mdme Sarah Bernhardt acted at the. Comedio Francaise when she was eighteen.