The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-11
LONDON GOSSIP.
Interesting Chat with Dion
Boucicault.
HE CRITICISES HIS CRITICS.
What He Thinks About the French and
the English Stage
LONDON. July 90, 1915


about him. but know that host be is bounte-
ously hospituble and that a companion he has few
equals His conversation Is happy mingng OF
French epigram with Irish humor and when he meets
foo worthy OF his steel he Is interesting as one Of
his best comedies. His intellectual appointments"
are complete He keeps his brains so we'll groomcd-
II may DO allowed the cxpression-that their re.
ncxion creates a healthy mo tai friction. AT least
such is tho effect produced upon mo, and II my gossip
is devoted to Boucic,ut don't be surprised. passed
yesterday morning his Regent street study, which
will soon know him moro as he sails for America
OH the Goth of July. Mrs. Boucicaut has decided to
reside hereafter in Konsngton. 1t will be good
to this charming adys transatlantic irclds to learn
that her health much bcttor than it has been since
her great affection, and that she Is beginning to look
like her former sell.
INTERVIEWER.
Alter discussing tho universe with Mr. Boucioault
sa,d:-'Glttcring gcncralitcs arc all very well, but
tell about yourself There is nothing interesting
following the career Of successful artist FIRST OF
course. you were borr-wheng'
HIN December, 1922.
l--werc you educated Tor your present professons
Hx-- No, indeed. Studying nrst with private tutor
then wont 10 the London University and finished my
education Al the Dublin University Mathematics were
my forte, and you behold a civil engineer mdnquG
I-why did you renounce engineering?
HE-For the simple reason that determined to be
dramast
Ibid you inherit your pcnchant Tor the stages
H.-Possbiy. My mothers brothers, George and
Charles barley. both dramatists. George barley
was the Browning OF his day mean by this that no
welt, but without any idea Of stage ELECTS.
think acquired the III will of both my unces by calling
them s'unactable dramatsts."
WHEN ORGAN wRirR
lat what did Won begin O Writes
Hg-At sixteen. My first piece was 'Napoleons Old
Guard" my second the farce OF "a Lover by Proxy"
and IL you need to learn that God helps those who
help themselves take lesson from me. Mathews was
power and TO him submitted the farce. which
he PROMISED to read called him several times
but, OF course, did not succeed getting aui,cncc
Finally caught him dining and was admitted TO hts
presence. "Ah, young man. no said 'you wish to
know my verdict your farce! 1t is promis
ing; IN fact, clever; but can't produce
it at present, Tor my timo is filled
up. However, H you care to leave it I'll see
what can be done hereafter. There good points
Harry Lawlcsa II had part like that in Eve act
play I'd jump at it," Well knew that Matthew'S had
the remotest idea of bringing out my farce, but
saw light in his remark regarding five act play.
went home and began "Loncon Assurance and in six
weeks completed it THIS in March, ls4l. at the
age of eighteen Again went TO Mathews aud showed
hum the comedy. But ordered no comedy" he ex-
e claimed 81 am aware OF that, ! replied;
a part lake Harry Lawless in Eve ACT
comedy you'd jump Att I've written such a charac
Tor you what he cried. do yoa say
my susrestions' "Yes." NJ perseverance, 50 as
EST He read london Assurance accepted IT. and
when read !, 10 the Actors OF Corcos Garden Nine
Vcstris 50 pleased tina, she came 10 re saying.
Whatever may bs the pubic verdict re Jee cure HAT
you have written great comedy
What was the original cassf
Hg->areiy you ought 10 remember II is printed
the book Farfcn, BARLEY, Mathews, Anderson, Har-
,cy, Keeey, Nine. Yes RS, Mrs. Nesbit and Mrs Hum.
I-Then much OF the doe to writing
parts su:ted TO the actors who h.ied ,hems
Hy-ceriainy. studied this imincnse group OF
actors saw wnat they could do. anu nit-d them like
glove
lis this the reason Why you made Grace Harkaway
such a naruby -pamby crcaturey
HE-Ycs; Nine. Vcstris was charming q singer.
She would have been immense IN opera bo,lgs, but
when high comedy she lacked The necessary
qualifications, and gave her MS little 10 DO possible
Then you believe IN f.ripg plays to players rather
than making players Ut into piaysy
HE-Assurcd.y 1 do Two years after the produc-
ton OF ...,ndon Assurance. wrote ''Od Heads and
WINS this same inspiration thut impclicd shakespeare
and Mohcrc Shakespeare the actor wrote for his
actors DO you think Id have written RIP Van
winkie'' but Tor Jefferson Sir Charles Coldsircam
but for Charles Mathews?
WHY NE WENT on THE STAGE
Ibid you 60 upon tho stage you loved IT.
HE-No. became engaged TO an actress ami wen.
upon the stage tcforc married her because thought
II manlier to do so
l-How old we're you?
HE-rhirty.
Then you do no, belong to The school of critics
that think NJ one can succeed on the stage who
not adopt II In chi.dhood?
HE-ihe more cultivated intellect you bring 10 the
stage the better, and education appro ,ch
pction under twenty No child OF mine should 20 upon
| the Stage under twenty-five.
land pray what you consider the absolute
| requisites for bistrionlc success.
HE-f.rst, you must have sense of humor Through
1 NM rgffp ret lfvhf rh SIa.ts,
Pathos rs negative qnaty. Secondly you mus, pos
sess the power OF vocal nhcxion. You must be able to
express shades OF feeling To make IA great actor you
must understand the difference between violence aud
intensity, between buaooncry and comedy. The
OF humor VIII teach you definition OF character
which but complication OF humors You
may teach man the principles oil perspective
ngure you may him how 10 mix his coIors, but
he viii never he painter without The OF art
art We have loads OF actors but few souls, hence
drcary condition OF the English stage. Even
French have lost their soul All that is cft mcchan
ism French actors are powerful IN defamation, but
they no longer touch.
Then II a body has no sense OF humor must he
| give up the idea OF being an actorS
Hs-fcs From that Que quality all the others are
derived. There must be the power OF imitation Tor all
actors are monkeys.
PHYSICAL wEoriaExE>rs NOT NECESSARY.
What are the physical requrcmentsy
| Hx-rhcre are none You may be as tail as sav.ni
as short as Edmdnd kcan. or ugly as Macrcady.
The greatest dramatic genius has rarely been allied
great beauty Rachel was uncommony ugly as girl
Mrs. kcc.cy looked like II monkey. Helen faucit WAS
| by means allur,ng. Sarah Bcrnnardt, whom all
Paris rs gong mad about, Is skeleton She has made
bones fashionable. l should fear touch her lest
should rattle. No. no. Depend upon IL, beauty Is not
a drsmatic necessity. Ii you possess II much the
better Tor you, but don't aclude yourself INTO thinking
that u lakes the place OF the essential qualincatou
Did you study acting before making -FOUR first
appearance?
| hK-No; made my debut without preparation In
May. 1852 on the London stage before the Queen and
the story s
his life from generation to generation by killing virgins
aud sucking their life blood. First he L. Purt,n sol
der 100 years later he Is court physician under
Louis XIV, 100 years later still he jesuit priest
Ny makeup was corpse-likc. pia, cd this one
part most successfully for Two months and then went 10
America You will probably be surprised when tell
you that from 1882 to 1850 acted but years ali.
| lin what r6tess
| HE-Grnadi, Sir Charles Codstrcam, the old