BEHIND THE FOOTLIGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1751, 13 June 1885, Page 25

BEHIND THE FOOTLIGHTS.

The Actbe3se3 of To tui'.

Miss Fortescue.

No books are more fascinating than are those which deal with the romance of the stage. To the people of everyday — even to that goodygoody section of them who abjure tbe playhouse witb as much unction as they bear false witness against their neighbour — che world of the theatre is a world of wonder and mystery. Ita inhabitants are a race by thernselvoa. They lead other lives, they are regulated by another coda of laws, than are the commonplace, not very interesting folk one jostles ia the streets, the folk whoso chief epd and aim h to buy in the cbeapeßt market and sell in the dearest one. Strange stones regarding tho players filter every now and then into the circle of outer barbarians by whom they are surrounded. Now we bear tales of their wild improvidence, now of their keen jealousy, now of their largej ear ted kindness. All th< ir distinguishing i.raite, all their doings and sayings, are on an exaggerated scale. Thay live, ao to speak, in the superlative raooJ. And even when the players, leaving tbeir own charmed circle, mix among the children of Philistia, they contrive to supply matter for wonderment and admiration. An atmosphere of romance clings to them still, One becomeß Duchess of St. Albans, -tnd another Lady Becher. The career begun behind tbe foot lights is continued in the sphere which is known in a general way, as that of " leal life." Of all recent stage romances, nono aa approached, in the matter of piquant interest, that which concerns itsolf witb tho lady known as Mits Foitsscue. Something like a couple of years ago the whisper went tho rounds that tbe son and heir of Earl Cairna was about to take unto himself a wife, and that, mirabile dictu, this waa a member of the company at the Savoy Theatre. At first the story was soouted with derision, especially in those circles which lay claim to tbe possession of early and exolusivo information on all subjects of " Booiety " interest. Had not his Lordxhip been Chancellor of England ? Was be not, in matters ecclesiastical, of tho strictest sect of the Pharisees? Before' long, however, the whisper was repeated, and by-and bye it grew into a substantial statement, and was not only Bpoken in corners, but was proclaimed aloud from tbe house tops 0 So widely, indeed, did it spread, that there is no necessity to reproduce, to day, the well worn history. In tha end, as everybody knows, Miss Fortesnue was jilted by her aristocratic admirer. For this jilting she recovered a magnificent sum by way of damageß, and what was a further reparation to her wounded feelings, spontaneous testimony was paid by E<ul Cairna to her intelligence and worth. Probably this result suited both parties, but, however this may be, ifc certainly formed a by no means unfitting termination to what was beyond all question one of the most telling personal episodes of the recent history of tha stage. Subsequent to tbe close of tho legal proceedings between Miss Fortescue and the Cairns family, our heroine returned to the glare of tbe footlights. She took a leading part when " Our Boys " was revived by Mr James at tho London Strand Theatre, playing with an abundance of grace, although her style waa rather too superficial to satisfy tha more exacting, especially of tbe older Bort of playgoera. Miss Forteocue, however, was by no moans satisfied with hor appearances in " Our Boys." She had already made a " society " success, but she panted after an artistic success aa well. Of late months, therefore, she has given herself up to the Etudy of Galatea, tho hocoine of Mr W. S, Gilbort's famous mythological comedy. For the representation of " the woman who was a statue," Miss Fortescue has manifestly many advantages, Her face and form are such as an artist might grow enthusiastic over. She possesses a considerable acquaintance with the stage. And — most important of all for such a part at least as that of Galatea — Mian Fortescue has tbe manner of a cultivated gentlewoman.