. Players and plays of the last quarter century; an historical summary of causes and a critical review of conditions as existing in the American theatre at the close of the nineteenth century. vogue, made itimpossible for a subordinate actor to appear ina leading part except at his benefit. The man-ager of the Park Theatre, New York, offeredto bring out the play, but Murdoch could notget his release from the Arch Street Theatre,and the golden opportunity was lost. Later,Conrad rearranged the work, and it becamefamous when presented by Edwin Forrestunder the name of Jack Cade. After play-ing le
. Players and plays of the last quarter century; an historical summary of causes and a critical review of conditions as existing in the American theatre at the close of the nineteenth century. vogue, made itimpossible for a subordinate actor to appear ina leading part except at his benefit. The man-ager of the Park Theatre, New York, offeredto bring out the play, but Murdoch could notget his release from the Arch Street Theatre,and the golden opportunity was lost. Later,Conrad rearranged the work, and it becamefamous when presented by Edwin Forrestunder the name of Jack Cade. After play-ing leading juveniles with Fanny Kemble atthe Chestnut Street Theatre, Murdoch wasthe home star in F. C. Wemysss Philadelphiaand Pittsburg companies, and then, after ayear at the Tremont Theatre, Boston, thestage-manager of the Chestnut Street Theatre,Philadelphia. The season of 1840-41 foundhim again in Boston as the stage-manager ofthe National Theatre, where he had chargeof the first production in that city of Bouci-caults London Assurance. After severalyears of retirement and stud3^ Murdoch re-turned to the sta;:2;e in October, 1845, actingHamlet for the first time, the engagement y^- -. JAMES EDWAKD MURDOCK I Murdoch, Davenport, Barrett 133 being played at the Park Theatre, NewYork. The succeeding fifteen years proved to bethe most important ones of his career. In1856 he visited England, appearing at theHaymarket, London, in such comedy parts asyoung Mirabel in The Inconstant, CharlesSurface, Alfred Evelyn, Rover in Wild Oats,Don Felix in The Wonder, and Vapid in The Dramatist. In Liverpool he playedHamlet successfully. During the war Mur-doch devoted himself as absolutely to hiscountry as any soldier in the field. He gavereadings in all the cities of the North, in thesoldiers hospitals, in the camps of the army —wherever there was money needed, or faintingcourage to be cheered. The last years of life were spent in lecturing, and inteaching elocution. When Murdoch
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