Chapter II: Act III: Burke + Jefferson + ending suggested by Shakespeare’s

“King Lear.”

But, however the credit is distributed, Jefferson alone made the play as it lives in the memories of those who saw it. It grew by what it fed on, by accretions of rich imagination. Often times, Jefferson was scored for his glorification of the drunkard. He and Boucicault were continually discussing how best to circumvent the disagreeable aspects of _Rip’s_ character. Even Winter and J. Rankin Towse are inclined to frown at the reprobate, especially by the side of Jefferson’s interpretation of _Bob Acres_ or of _Caleb Plummer_. There is no doubt that, in their collaboration, Boucicault and Jefferson had many arguments about “Rip.” Boucicault has left a record of the encounters:

“Let us return to 1865,” he wrote. “Jefferson was anxious to
appear in London. All his pieces had been played there. The
managers would not give him an appearance unless he could offer
them a new play. He had a piece called ‘Rip Van Winkle’, but when
submitted for their perusal, they rejected it. Still he was so
desirous of playing _Rip_ that I took down Washington Irving’s
story and read it over. It was hopelessly undramatic. ‘Joe’, I
said, ‘this old sot is not a pleasant figure. He lacks romance. I
dare say you made a fine sketch of the old beast, but there is no
interest in him. He may be picturesque, but he is not dramatic. I
would prefer to start him in a play as a young scamp, thoughtless,
gay, just such a curly-head, good-humoured fellow as all the
village girls would love, and the children and dogs would run
after’. Jefferson threw up his hands in despair. It was totally
opposed to his artistic preconception. But I insisted, and he
reluctantly conceded. Well, I wrote the play as he plays it now.
It was not much of a literary production, and it was with some
apology that it was handed to him. He read it, and when he met me,
I said: ‘It is a poor thing, Joe’. ‘Well’, he replied, ‘it is good
enough for me’. It was produced. Three or four weeks afterward he
called on me, and his first words were: ‘You were right about
making _Rip_ a young man. Now I could not conceive and play him in
any other shape’.”

When finished, the manuscript was read to Ben Webster, the manager of the Haymarket Theatre, London, and to Charles Reade, the collaborator, with Boucicault, in so many plays. Then the company heard it, after which Jefferson proceeded to study it, literally living and breathing the part. Many are the humourous records of the play as preserved in the Jefferson “Autobiography” and in the three books on Jefferson by Winter Frances Wilson and Euphemia Jefferson.

On the evening of September 4, 1865, at the London Adelphi, the play was given. Accounts of current impressions are extant by Pascoe and Oxenford. It was not seen in New York until September 3, 1866, when it began a run at the Olympic, and it did not reach Boston until May 3, 1869. From the very first, it was destined to be Jefferson’s most popular r�le. His royalties, as time progressed, were fabulous, or rather his profits, for actor, manager, and author were all rolled into one. He deserted a large repertory of parts as the years passed and his strength declined. But to the very end he never deserted _Rip_. At his death the play passed to his son, Thomas. The Jefferson version has been published with an interpretative introduction by him.

When it was first given, the play was scored for the apparent padding of the piece in order to keep Jefferson longer on the stage. The supernatural elements could not hoodwink the critics, but, as Jefferson added humanity to the part, and created a poetic, lovable character, the play was greatly strengthened. In fact Jefferson was the play. His was a classic embodiment, preserved in its essential details in contemporary criticism and vivid pictures.

OF

Mrs. SHARPE AND HER LAST APPEARANCE, prior to her departure for the South--on which occasion

Mr. Hackett Has kindly consented to perform. -------------------------------- On Wednesday Evening, Oct. 18

Will be produced, 1st time in America, the Tragedy in 5 acts, of

THE BRIDAL

_As altered from a Tragedy of Beaumont & Fletcher, by_ WILLIAM MACREADY _and_ SHERIDAN KNOWLES, _and now performing in London with great applause._

Areanus, (King of Rhodes) Mr. Richings Melantius Fredericks Amintor Mason Lysippus (brother to the King) Wells Diphibus, (brother of Melantius & Evadne) Nexsom Cleon, Garland Caltranex, (Kinsman o to Aspasia,) Wheatley Archas (Keeper of the Prison) Bedford Strato, Isherwood Diagoras, Johnson Assassin King Dion Gallott

Nobles, Guards, &c

EVADNE (Wife of Amintor ) MRS. SHARPE Aspasia (formerly betrothed to Amintor) Mrs. Richardson Antiphole, Pritchard Olympias Conway Dula Durie Cleanthe Miss Bedford

Ladies, &c. &c. --------------------------------------------------------

--IN ACT 2--

A GREEK PAS DE DEUX,

WILL BE DANCED

By MR. & MRS. CHECKENI.

--------------------------------------------------------

After which, the Drama of

_Rip Van Winkle!_

_Or--A Legend of the Catskill Mountains._]

_RIP VAN WINKLE, a North River Dutchman_ _Mr. HACKETT_ Derrick Van Tassel, the Burgomaster Mr. Clarke Nichols Vedder, a Farmer, Isherwood Brom Van Brunt, a Schoolmaster, Fisher Rory Van Clump, Landlord of George 3d Tavern, Wells Henderick Hudson, Capt. of the Spirit Crew of the Dutch discovery ship ’Half Moon’ Hayden Richard Juet, his Mate, Dirk Quackenboss, Dutchmen, Spirit Crew, &c. Dame Van Winkle, Rip’s Scolding Wife, Mrs. Wheatley Alice, Rip’s Sister, Chippindale

Between the first and Second Acts a period of Twenty Years is supposed to elapse.

RIP VAN WINKLE, the Sleeper, now a Stranger in his Native Village, MR. HACKETT Herman Van Tassel, Son of the late Burgomaster Contracted to Gertrude, Mr. Wheatley Abram Higginbottomm, late Brom Van Brunt Fisher Bradford, in love with Gertrude Richings Perseverance Peashell, Landlord of Washington Hotel Povey Hiram } Yankee Wits King Ebeneezer, } Wells Young Rip Van Winkle, Bancker District Judge Nexsom Gertrude Van Winkle, contracted to Herman Miss E. Turnbull Dame Van Winkle, formerly Alice Van Winkle Chippindale

--------------------------------------------- *A Double Hornpipe by Mast & Miss Wells.* ---------------------------------------------

To conclude with, The FIRST ACT of the Farce of the

_Kentuckian_

Or--A Trip to New-York.

*Nimrod Wildfire,* *Mr. Hackett* Mr. Freeman Mr. Clarke Percival, Wheatley Pompey, Povey Tradesman, Gallott Mrs. Luminary, Mrs. Wheatley Mrs. Freeman Vernon Mary, Durie Servant, Conway Caroline Miss Turnbull

-------------------------------------------- _Thursday--Third Night of the Engagement of_

*MISS TREE*

LOM,
Miss Tree

And, ANIMAL MAGNETISM.

---------------------------------------------------- Friday and Saturday Evenings MISS TREE will perform. ---------------------------------------------------- ]

RIP VAN WINKLE

_A LEGEND OF THE CATSKILLS_

A ROMANTIC DRAMA IN TWO ACTS

ADAPTED FROM WASHINGTON IRVING’S SKETCH BOOK

_By_ CHARLES BURKE

[It is common knowledge that “Rip Van Winkle,” as a play, was a general mixture of several versions when it finally reached the hands of Joseph Jefferson. From Kerr to Burke, from Burke to Boucicault, from Boucicault to Jefferson was the progress. The changes made by Burke in the Kerr version are so interesting, and the similarities are so close, that the Editor has thought it might be useful to make an annotated comparison of the two. This has been done, with the result that the reader is given two plays in one. The title-page of the Kerr acting edition runs as follows: “Rip Van Winkle; A Legend of Sleepy Hollow. A Romantic Drama in Two Acts. Adapted from Washington Irving’s Sketch-Book by John Kerr, Author of ‘Therese’, ‘Presumptive Guilt’, ‘Wandering Boys’, ‘Michael and Christine’, ‘Drench’d and Dried’, ‘Robert Bruce’, &c., &c. With Some Alterations, by Thomas Hailes Lacy. Theatrical Publisher. London.” The Burke version, used here as a basis, follows the acting text, without stage positions, published by Samuel French. An opera on the subject of “Rip Van Winkle,” the libretto written by Wainwright, was presented at Niblo’s Garden, New York, by the Pyne and Harrison Troupe, Thursday, September 27, 1855. There was given, during the season of 1919–20, by the Chicago Opera Association, “Rip Van Winkle: A Folk Opera,” with music by Reginald de Kovan and libretto by Percy Mackaye, the score to be published by G. Schirmer. New York.]

CAST OF CHARACTERS

First performed at the West London Theatre (under the management of Mr. Beverley).

RIP VAN WINKLE

A Legend of the Sleepy Hollow.

CHARACTERS

ACT I. 1763

_Original_ _Walnut St. _ _Philadelphia_ DEIDRICH VAN SLAUS Mr. Sanger Mr. Porter HERMAN (his Son) " N. Norton " Read KNICKERBOCKER (a " S. Beverley " J. Jefferson Schoolmaster) RORY VAN CLUMP (a " C. Osborne " Greene Landlord) " Chapman RIP VAN WINKLE " H. BEVERLEY " Hackett NICHOLAS VEDDER " T. Santer " Sefton PETER CLAUSEN " Cogan " James GUSTAVE Master Kerr Miss Anderson DAME VAN WINKLE Mrs. Porter Mrs. B. Stickney ALICE " W. Hall Mrs. S. Chapman LOWENA Miss Kerr Miss Eberle IMP OF THE W. Oxberry, Jun. W. Wells MOUNTAIN

The Spectre Crew of the Mountains, Farmers, &c.
A Lapse of Twenty Years occurs between the Acts.

Act II. 1783.

HERMAN VAN SLAUS Mr. H. Norton Mr. Read SETH KILDERKIN —— —— KNICKERBOCKER " S. Beverley " J. Jefferson NICHOLAS VEDDER " T. Santer " Sefton GUSTAVE —— —— YOUNG RIP —— —— " Chapman RIP VAN WINKLE " H. Beverley " Hackett ALICE VAN Mrs. W. Hall Mrs. S. Chapman KNICKERBOCKER LOWENA Miss Kerr Miss Eberle JACINTHA —— ——

CAST OF THE CHARACTERS

_Bowery_ _Arch Street_ _Theatre_ _Theatre_ _New York_ _Philadelphia_ ACT I—1763 1857 1850 RIP VAN WINKLE (a Mr. F. S. Chanfrau Mr. C. Burke Dutchman) KNICKERBOCKER (a " Whiting " J. L. Baker Schoolmaster) DERRIC VAN SLAUS " Ferdon " Marsh (the Burgomaster) HERMAN VAN SLAUS " Blake " Henkins (his son). NICHOLAS VEDDER " Baker —— (friend to Rip) CLAUSEN " Edson " Bradford RORY VANCLUMP (a " Foster " Worrell Landlord) GUSTAFFE " F. Hodge " Mortimore DAME VAN WINKLE Mrs. Axtel Mrs. Hughs ALICE " Fitzgerald Miss Wood LORRENNA Miss Wallis " E. Jones SWAGGRINO } Mr. Williams Mr. Brown Spirits of the { GAUDERKIN } " Barry " Ray Catskills { ICKEN } " Bennett " Ross {

ACT II.—1783.—_A lapse of twenty years is supposed to occur between_
_the First and Second Acts._

RIP VAN WINKLE Mr. F. S. Chanfrau Mr. C. Burke (the dreamer) HERMAN VAN SLAUS " Blake " Henkins SETH SLOUGH " Denham " J. Jefferson KNICKERBOCKER " Whiting " J. L. Baker THE JUDGE " Pelham " Anderson GUSTAFFE " F. Hodges " Mortimore RIP VAN WINKLE, " Thompson " Stanley JR. FIRST VILLAGER " Bennett " Thomas SECOND VILLAGER " Alkins " Sims ALICE Mrs. Fitzgerald Miss Wood KNICKERBOCKER LORRENNA " J. R. Scott " E. Jones

_Broadway_ _Metropolitan_ _Theatre_ _Theatre_ _New York_ _Buffalo_ ACT I—1763 1855 1857 RIP VAN WINKLE (a Mr. Hackett Mr. F. S. Chanfrau Dutchman) KNICKERBOCKER (a " Norton " B. G. Rogers Schoolmaster) DERRIC VAN SLAUS " McDonall " Ross (the Burgomaster) HERMAN VAN SLAUS —— " Ferrell (his son) NICHOLAS VEDDER " Anderson " Stephens (friend to Rip) CLAUSEN —— " Leak RORY VANCLUMP (a " Price " Boynton Landlord) GUSTAFFE Miss Wood " Kent DAME VAN WINKLE Mrs. Bellamy Miss Wells ALICE " Sylvester Mrs. C. Henri LORRENNA Miss Henry La Petite Sarah SWAGGRINO } Mr. Lamy Mr. Henri Spirits of the { GAUDERKIN } —— " McAuley Catskills { ICKEN } —— " Ferris {