A life sketch of Richard Mansfield, the great actor, contains the
following account of his first success on the stage:
A noted actor had been offered the part but shrank from it,
and finally absolutely refused to take it. Mansfield saw its
possibilities and was in a fever of eagerness to get it. In the
distress and pressure of the situation the manager reluctantly
gave it to him. Then the young man began to prepare for the
part. He studied everything which would throw light on the
character. He interviewed people, visited the haunts of such men
as the character represented, and he rehearsed and rehearsed
until his eyes gleamed and his whole being was on fire. When he
came on the stage for his first act the people were indifferent,
not even paying attention to the play, but talking and laughing.
Soon a hush fell upon them. They were spellbound. When the
curtain fell there was a roar of applause which shook the
building, and at the close of the play the audience went out
dazed. Richard Mansfield was never to go hungry again. At a
bound he had leapt from the dust to the top of the ladder. It
makes one’s heart leap just to read about it.
(2485)
=Preparation, Thorough=--See THOROUGHNESS IN PREPARATION.