DOGS AS ACTORS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 545, 26 February 1913, Page 7

DOGS AS ACTORS.

Dogs, like human beings, have in I heir time played many parts < n the stage of life. And in none have many of them been so succeseful as n the roles of actors. Though it is known that dogs took part in theatric:. 1 performances in Shakespeare's Lime, and even before that, there is, unfortunately, no reliable record of such performances. It may be (says Miss Margaret Chute, writing in the 'lllustrated Kennel News") that m these days "dog actors" were not considered of sufficient importance to merit the preservation of their neraes and deeds, for it is not unt'l the beginning of the nineteenth :entury that we .find a definite record of a dog's histrionic efforts. In 1813, at the Old Surrey Theatre, a play was produced entitled "Llewellyn, Prince of Wales, and the Dog Gelert. 1 ' The dog on this occasion was the "star," for the whole play centred round him —had there been no dog there could have i>e?n io play. We are not told the breed Df this sagacious animal, but of lis success there is not a niia'ii-'W :>f doubt. From the appearance of 3elert in 1813 to that of Pl.ugo—a liminutive Yorkshire terrier--in L9OB, there has not been one dog :>n the stage who has not proved an ornament and an attraction. Indeed, in several cases a four-.egged performer has made the greattst success in*a play, drawing hundreds Df people night after night l.y the magnetism of his inarticulate art. In 1814 "The Dog of Montargis " yas produced at Covent G'riden Theatre. It wa# written round a ;rue incident in which a man was nurdered in the Forest of l>ondv, ind the murderer tracked by N means •>i this dog. One day this dog sudlenly sprang at the throat of a na* and almost killed him, whereipon tha wretch, terror-stricken, conessed he was the murderer. This iramatic incident formed the basis jf the play, and everything depended ipon the cleverness of the dog. He vas called Dragon, and }iis acting .vas so marvellous that the play ichieved a remarkable success, runling for thirty-nine performances—ruly a stupendous run I A RECORD IN TRAVELLING. Lion, a wonderful St. Bernard, jlayed in "Hans the Boatman," at Terry's Theatre. He afterwards went .wice round the world, playing in ;he principal cities of India. Aus:ralia, Japan, and South Africa, on >ne occasion travelling from Sydney ,o Chicago via London without. a ;reak —17,150 miles—for which \ pcrcrmance he holds a record among logey actors. He was everyone's avourite ; in New York he became a public hero through saving n child rom drowning, and altogether was .he dearest dog imaginable. But le had other claims to consideration or his father was Bayardthe. cliam>ion St. Bernard, he himself being •egistered at the Kennel Club' as though always known as Lion.

In "Hans the Boatman" this great log was the attraction of the play ; lis- master became blind and parted rom his wife, and the dog was t ! 'e neans of reuniting them iif a "toileting scene, which never failed to move ;hc audience to tears. Lion used o stroll quietly to the wings every nvht and sfand waiting for his cue. •Vhc-n the time came,he always went >n without a word from anyone, ind played his part like a true ar:iste. His utter rejection whea his naster recovered his sight in the )lay, and he, like Othello, found his jeeupation gone, was most piti'Zul. .n more recent years a clever little forkshire terrier appeared in "My iVife," at the Haymarket Theatre. This tiny creature was an unfailing iource of delight to playgoers and jlayers,, his cunning wickedness beng an everlasting joy. In the first ict a daologue (?) took place between one of the actors and the log, who lay placidly on a table md appeared to understand everything that was said. UNREHEARSED INCIDENTS. '

One of the cleverest dogs that- ever iascinated an audience was Binkie, :he fox-terrier in "The Light that bailed." His master was Mr. Aubrey Smith, who was so admirable as Torpenhow in the play ; and Mr. Smith, who has had dogs of his awn for twenty-five years, says that Binkie was the most human, intelligent, plucky, affectionate dog he bad ever known. He quickly learnt to shut doors and fetch slippers, taught himself to extinguish a lighted match, and was quite a professional at hide and seek, never failing to find the ball, even H it was ;oncealed behind the picture or at the bottom of the coal-scuttle. • His first appearance was not an overwhelming success owing to an accident, for which he was not to AftaT rohoarsirnr snlendidlV

ae made his entrance on the first night quite correctly, when Mr. Smith turned to speak to someone, and accidently hit Binkie on the aose with his stick. The dog naturally concluded he was wrong, and an abrupt exit. On another occasion he knew bis mistress was behind the scenes, and made a hurried and unrehearsed departurethrough the fireplace. Bobby's Beat is a clever sheeplog, who recently appeared at the Adelphi with Mr. Martin Harvey in "The Last Heir," making a great success. Bobby dearly loved hia part, and when "overture and beginners" were called each night, an exciting struggle took place to prevent him rushing on before his cue. These are but a few of the many talented dogs who have won histrionic laurels.