_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.