Representative Plays by American Dramatists: 1856-1911: Rip van. Burke Charles

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.

      [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 WINKLEA Legend of the Sleepy HollowCHARACTERSACT I. 1763

      The Spectre Crew of the Mountains, Farmers, &c.

      A Lapse of Twenty Years occurs between the Acts.

Act II. 1783

CAST OF THE CHARACTERS

      ACT II.—1783.—A lapse of twenty years is supposed to occur between the First and Second Acts.

      ACT II.—1783.—A lapse of twenty years is supposed to occur between the First and Second Acts.

      COSTUME

      Rip—First dress:—A deerskin coat and belt, full brown breeches, deerskin gaiters, cap. Second dress:—Same, but much worn and ragged.

      Knickerbocker—First dress:—Brown square cut coat, vest and breeches, shoes and buckles. Second dress:—Black coat, breeches, hose, &c.

      Derric Van Slaus—Square cut coat, full breeches, black silk hose, shoes and buckles—powder.

      Herman—First dress:—Ibid. Second dress:—Black frock coat, tight pants, boots and tassels.

      Vedder }

      Clausen } Dark square cut coats, vests, breeches, &c.

      Rory }

      Gustaffe—Blue jacket, white pants, shoes.

      Seth Slough—Gray coat, striped vest, large gray pants.

      Judge—Full suit of black.

      Young Rip—A dress similar to Rip's first dress.

      Dame—Short gown and quilted petticoat, cap.

      Alice—First dress:—Bodice, with half skirt, figured petticoat. Second dress:—Brown satin bodice and skirt, &c.

      Lorrenna, Act 1—A child.

      Lorrenna, Act 2—White muslin dress, black ribbon belt, &c.

      RIP VAN WINKLE

      ACT I

      SCENE I

      A Village.—House, with a sign of “George III.”—Two or three tables.—Villagers discovered, smoking. Vedder, Knickerbocker, Rory, Clausen at table. Chorus at rise of curtain.

CHORUS

      In our native land, where flows the Rhine,

      In infancy we culled the vine:

      Although we toiled with patient care,

      But