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Story
November 5, 1877
The Wheeling Daily Register
Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
A young Lawrence Barrett, while in a Detroit theater company, is chosen on short notice to play Cassius in Julius Caesar, memorizes the role overnight, and achieves a breakthrough success recognized in New York.
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LAWRENCE BARRETT'S FIRST HIT.
(From Logan in the New York Dispatch.)
Years ago he was playing an engagement at Detroit, under the management of Amos MacFarland. There was a very young man in the company who, by his careful rendition and excellent conception of subordinate characters, had attracted the attention of the star. The management wanted to produce Julius Caesar, but found it difficult to cast the piece to his satisfaction, there being no one to play the part of Cassius.
"There's no one in my company can do it," he said.
"Oh yes there is," Proctor replied, pointing to the thin youth who was always standing about the wings, eagerly watching the rehearsals.
Calling the young man to him, Mr. Proctor asked:
"Do you think you could study and play Cassius by to-morrow night?"
"I will try sir," simply answered the youthful actor.
He did try. He came to the theatre the next morning to rehearse, letter perfect in the part—an extraordinary feat, it being very difficult to study even a few lines of Shakespeare on short notice.
That young fellow made a wonderful sensation as Cassius, and that he deserved his success New Yorkers will cordially acknowledge.
His name was Lawrence Barrett, and no better representative of 'the lean and hungry Cassius' has ever been seen on the metropolitan stage.
(From Logan in the New York Dispatch.)
Years ago he was playing an engagement at Detroit, under the management of Amos MacFarland. There was a very young man in the company who, by his careful rendition and excellent conception of subordinate characters, had attracted the attention of the star. The management wanted to produce Julius Caesar, but found it difficult to cast the piece to his satisfaction, there being no one to play the part of Cassius.
"There's no one in my company can do it," he said.
"Oh yes there is," Proctor replied, pointing to the thin youth who was always standing about the wings, eagerly watching the rehearsals.
Calling the young man to him, Mr. Proctor asked:
"Do you think you could study and play Cassius by to-morrow night?"
"I will try sir," simply answered the youthful actor.
He did try. He came to the theatre the next morning to rehearse, letter perfect in the part—an extraordinary feat, it being very difficult to study even a few lines of Shakespeare on short notice.
That young fellow made a wonderful sensation as Cassius, and that he deserved his success New Yorkers will cordially acknowledge.
His name was Lawrence Barrett, and no better representative of 'the lean and hungry Cassius' has ever been seen on the metropolitan stage.
What sub-type of article is it?
Biography
Personal Triumph
What themes does it cover?
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
Lawrence Barrett
Cassius
Julius Caesar
Detroit Theater
Actor Breakthrough
Shakespeare Role
What entities or persons were involved?
Lawrence Barrett
Amos Macfarland
Mr. Proctor
Where did it happen?
Detroit
Story Details
Key Persons
Lawrence Barrett
Amos Macfarland
Mr. Proctor
Location
Detroit
Event Date
Years Ago
Story Details
A young Lawrence Barrett in a Detroit theater company impresses the star and is selected by Mr. Proctor to play Cassius in Julius Caesar on short notice; he memorizes the difficult role overnight, rehearses perfectly, and creates a sensation that launches his career, earning acclaim in New York.