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Show Hi I jt iLVvW: "111 I I 1 1 1 rr. r TOSifi953 Sweatnam May Star. Willis Sweutnam Is, to nil Intents and purposes, tho stnr of "The County Chalrmnn." In New York tho Ado piece has been heartily welcomed, but every rcvlowcr has hinged on tho success suc-cess of Swentnnm. Now Willis, who. though no longer young. Is still nmbltlous. Is talking of the further advancement of the negro character In tho contemporaneous drama. "Tho American negro Is an institution institu-tion nil our own." ho argues. "The negro on tho other side hnBn't tho characteristics of our Southern brand. Wo brought tho negro hero nnd ho Is hero to stny. "Wo aro more or less familiar with him. So why not get fun out of him for stage purposes, Just ns much ns Weber and Fields nnd other comedians extract fun from our Teutonic friends. It's there, and I believe Uroadway folk nro highly Interested In the dnrky from a histrionic standpoint. "It's tho ono type of character yofi mny recall with which Broadway has not more than hnd Its fill. Irish come dians and Dutch comedians havo been as provalent on Uroadway us get-rlch-quick schomoH. Romantic plays with Impossible Knglishmcu and ridiculous Frenchmen, to say nothing of tho comic com-ic opera Londoner nnd Parisian, aro with us always. Wo'vo had Chinese plnys nnd Jnpaneso operas galore, but cxcoptlng the engagement of Williams and Wnlkor at tho Now York theater, how many black-faced characters do you seo? "I havo had several offors to star within a fortnight," admitted tho comedian, "and sovoral plays havo' been submitted to mo in tills connec tion. The principal role In each is that of a negro. I am seriously considering con-sidering tho mnttcr, although, of course, I havo nlso to consider my existing ex-isting contract." ' Foy Wisdom. Ono of ICddlo Foy's scenes In "Mr. niuobeard" Is played with a comedy elephant. Ono evening last week tho comedian's son, nged 12, was calling upon papa at tho theater, and was permitted per-mitted to stand In tho wings, that ho might enjoy his pnront'H clowning. Tho young man laughed uproariously throughout tho scone, nnd the stago manager good-naturedly observed: "Your father Is a pretty funnv man, Isn't ho?" Tho hid becnuio gravo of rounto-nnnco rounto-nnnco nt onco. "I was laughing at tho olcphnut," ho replied. Too Much! Joo Cawthorno has iniulo as big n hit in the titio rolo 01 tho now Urury I.nno oxtravaganzn, ".Mother Cooso," ns ho did in "Tho Sloping Ileauty and tho Dtast." In which ho played tho part of tho Dutch nurse. Mother Oooso comes on tho stage In on sceno urcssed for n fox hunt. Sh( rides n make-bollevo horse, nnd alto-dismounting alto-dismounting puts him through hit mces. Tho old lady dilates upon thi wuudcrlui wisdom of the animal, nnfl tells how good ho Is at arithmetic, "How old aro you?" sho asks. Tho horse taps tho stage threo times with ono hoof. "How old Is this trick?" asks the dnme. Tho horso begins to dance, nn1 brings down all of his hoofs with o merry tnttoo. "How old Is Ann?" Is the next ques tlon, nnd tho animal topples over anr dies. Stood Up for Her Mother. A well-known romantic actor, whosi wife Is not on tho stage, but has suf f.clcnt knowledge 01 It to help bin greatly ln his work, was rehearsing I violent scene nt home. Striding ii ami down the room In a fury, h poured out a ton cut of denunclntlor upon his wife, who stood, mnnuscrlp' In hand, prompting him, when he slipped In his lines. In n comer ol the room sat little Oracle In her rocking rock-ing chair. She had heard rehearsals bclorc, hut this sceno became so realistic real-istic that she could stand It no moro; so up she Jumped and cried out In treble wrath: "l'apa, you mustn't speak that way to mamma. She works hard for yon a.! day." They had to begin It all over, after having properly explained tho situation situa-tion to Irate Oracle. Composers Explain. Tho "dnsh-lt-off" literary genius, who llnds thnt he Is often Inspired to write in the middle of the night, Jumps into his lounging robe anil plunges into proso poems or verso on the instant, finds his match In the light-music composers of tho day. Alfred (. ltobyn says ho wroto a good deal of tho music of "Tho Ynnkeo Consul" sitting on tne rear platform of tho last car In an express train between be-tween Boston nnd Chicago. Tho click-oty-cllck of tho wheels on tho rail Joints furnished him tho rhythmic thomo for some novel effects. Composer Com-poser Luders, when he wns thinking out the score or the "Prince of I'llsen," got his Idea for the violet song whllo ho wns at luncheon in a dining car traveling .otween lloston nnd Now York. Ho hutriodly Jotted down tho notes of the song on n bill of faro, and grow bo Interested In it that ho forgot to tip tho waiter. Greenroom Gossip. II. Iteoves Smith will soon bo seen In a now play called "Captain Clay." . Adelo Lano has withdrawn from tho "F.bon Holden" company ns leading lead-ing woman. Maurice Drow has closed a fourteen wcoks' engagement with Edward liar-rlgnn liar-rlgnn In "Under Cover." Udwnrd Trautman has roturned from abroad to becomo musical dlroct-or dlroct-or of Viola Allen's company. It Is possible that Miss St. Georgo Hussoy will star noxt season In a piece especially written for her. Joo Knno Is now playing tho pnrt of Herr Oobubler with Henry W. Sav-ago's Sav-ago's "Yankee Consul" company. Francis Conlan, supportliiB Mario Wnlnwright, ns Malvollo, in "Twolfth Night," has mndo a flno study of Viola's famous stownrd. Androw Mack will retire from tho cast of "My Lady Molly," as ho thinks tho part assigned him unworthy of him. Richard Cnrroll has .boon en-gngod en-gngod to piny his pnrt. Vesta Tllloy will ho tho star. , " "CW . - - |