The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-05-08
KEENE, THE TRAGEDIAN.
An Interesting Interview with his
Manager, W. R. Hayden.
A Comparison Between Kesne and
COntemporaneous Tragedians.
The Decay of Legitimate Acting
and the Present Revival.

Keene's success has exceeded my
most sanguine anticipations, re
isponded Mr.. w. R. Hayden, the
manager of the great tragedian, il
response to a question put to him
yesterday by the reporter. Yes, 81
ne continued, and don't think that
Tom Keene ever dreamt of stepping
at once into the position now held
by tragedians who have struggled
for ten and fifteen years for it.
RepOrter-He is the youngest ira
gic actor on the American stage
Hayden-He is.
You speak of Keene suddenly
leaping into popularity, said the
reporter. How long has it taken
other actors to reach his popularity.
H.-Well, unless a man is gifted
with true dramatic genius, it will
take him years of steady work in
the great roles of the drama before
he can be counted upon as a sure
card to draw in every city he goes
to. There is not an actor or an
actress on the American stage who
may be counted upon to draw in
every city from Philadelphia to San
Francisco, and from Chicago to New
Orleans. Clara Morris used to be
able to do this; but unhappily for
the stage, her constant ill-health
has deteriorated her drawing pow!
ers.
R.-Do you believe that Keene
will be able to draw in every city he
touches? HIN regard to that, l
cannot say more than that 1 believe
he will. If the past be any indica-
ton of the future, l should say
there isn't the shadow of a |
doubt but ne will, for in
every city yet visited, from |
5he day he opened in Chicago to the |
he has drawn packed houses
md created an impression greater |
han that ever created by an actor |
II his first season, in my experience.
R.-DO you think Keene is as
great an actor now as he ever will be ?
d.-NO, sir; Mr.. Keene for some .
ears has been one of the closest
Students on the American stage. He
S constantly studying now; he can
better his conceptions and refine his
and it is only by constant
tudy, by care and WatctfulneSs on
he part of an actor, combined with
that he can acquire that
rtistic perfection which captivates
he most critical. Since he began the
eaSOn he has wonderfully i'm
rOved in the finish of his
When he attains
hat highest polish, combined with
is extraordinary force and dramatic
re, he will be admitted to be the
reateSt actor of his time.
R.-NOt even excepting Edwin
Booth or Henry Irving? He'd
vim Booth will always have admir- =
rs. Keene is now admitted to be
econd only to that actor. In regard :
0 Henry Irving, Keene is a far :
actor, although he may not
e as great a hunter after QuiXotic
OveltieS in reading. Mr.. Irving is
II actor who l am afraid would
ever be a success in this country.
lie is fine in characters which fit his ,
eculiarities-Strong character parts.
Managers of legitimate COM
anIeS, said the reporter, tell me of
he great difficulty in securing
eOple capable of playing in the
reat difficulty experienced by every r
tandard dramas.
There is great difficulty expert {
need by every legitimate manager,
eplied Mr.. Hayden. II is almost
to get three or four
God companies together in the
United States to-day.
R.-What is the reason? II. The !,
eaSon is very simple. Legitimate !
rama has, for the last fifteen years, !
cen almost baniShed from the !
tage, and the actors have so be-
ONE accustomed to walking around
he stage in swallow-tail coats and
antalOOns, and to utter COM
lon-place dialogue, that when
GU put them into dOub-
1t and hose, and put a sword
4 their hands, they feel like fish :
ut of water, and seem almost in j
apable of graSpin the vigorous t
inguage of the masters. e
R.-Will this difficulty become in
Ime greater, or will it diminish? {
Ii am sure it will diminish. The
God sense of the American people {
Iithin the past season or two has {
evolted at what we have been sur
cited with - the unhealthy emo 8
lonal drama-and play-gOers are l.
apidly returning to more substan-
Ial and more wholesome food. AS {
he demand increases for legitimate :
ctors the supply will be increased.