Omaha daily bee., 1893-10-15
TRAGEDIAN KEENE.
interviewed Upon the subject of Plays AM,
Players of Modern Times.

IihScTH III NtoueTh INT
Thomas w. Keene, the tragedian, was in
terviewed at the Willard hotel, while in the
city recently. MIR. Keene expressed his views
freely upon plays and players.
what do you think is the prevailing pub
lie taste in the line of anusemcnts!" asked
the reporter.
COMEDY and plays up to date take the
best. But there is always "A class of people,
belonging of course to the most refined and
educated element, that appreciates Shake
spearian plays and will always come to
see them. 1t seems to me that there is a
new growth of admirers every seven years.
DO | like my profession& Yes, | think it the
noblest of all. 1t is u happy life and a pleas
ure to II tragedian to look back upon his
hours of study and the work he has accom-
%plished."
MIR. keene, are not actors the most
quickly forgotten OF all artistsa" was asked.
Yes, you may be right, it requires hard
work TO reach an eminence in the world of
dramatic art. But harder work still is
necessary to retain it. Like unto grasping a
rope of sand it filters so easily through
the hand"
When he spoke of the death of Lawrence
Barrett and the great public loss caused
thereby, a look OF sadness came to Keene's
face and words of praise fell from his lips.
Barrett was a noble. conscientious man,
beloved by those who knew him best. His
friendship was not quickly won, but once
given it was life long, said the actor.
"What do you think Of Henry Irving's
modern Hamlet and Shylock as he is now
presenting these two characters, not rs be-
longing to the seventeenth century, but to
the ninetoenth"
"Why, | do not think 1t correct at all" re-
piled the trageuian. when he plays them as
modern roles they are false to the surround
ings, and believe Shakespearean characters
should be played as they were written. How
ever, | have not seen Irving, though / wish
I to think | might learn something to my ad-
vantage"
II have never been an imitator, and have
always been original and will ever remain
so. Above all | do not wish to become me-
chanical and ] consclentiously strive against
it. | have played Richard III. LOO times
and now ! try to play 1t different every time,
IL | can. | mean, of course, in little changes
OF position and expression, guided at the
time by my own feelings. Once While in
Louisville, XIV, Henry Watterson witnessed
the performance. The first night ] played
he sat perfectly still, no applause from him,
The next day his paper did not notice me. /
said to myself, what have l done to Offend
Mr.. WattersonW
THE next night he came to see me again
in the same bill, Richard III, After the
curtain fell on.the last act he came TO my
dressing room and said, Tom, you fairly
paralyzed me last night, | could not even
think" h result was Il handsome tribute
from the famous Kentucky orator in the
form of IN editorial, ending with 'The com
ing man IS mere, ne is keene.
Nj Keene, some people think that you
make up Richard Ill. too handsome in the
face. / always supposed he was hideous, ~
venturcd the reporter.
"Oh, no, you are mistaken in that, al
though authorities 90 not agree on the ques-
ton. Shakespeare says that he was halt
and misshapen,' though q handsome face is
inferred. When | first essayed the role |
said to myself, Am | To play Richard of his
tory or Richard Of Shakespeare? ] deciued
-. 49, go 80 sI.. 4 H.
him attractive of face, and, Struggling his
shoulders suggestively, halt and misshapen.
The thought came to me then that this may
be the real explanation Of his power oven
women. We all know the fascination of n
beautiful face, and that much is forgiven in
the possessor OF one. The duke of Glouces-
ter certainly had some mystic charm where.
with to mould the minds of women widowed
By his cruel schemes"
Referring to NJ. Constant Coquelin and
Nine, Jane Hadlng, Mr., keene said ''They
are both fine in their acting, CoqUelin de,
penus upon art alone, and makes no pre-
tense of inspiration, or of emotion outside OF
the correct places for those elements. HIS
artistic skill Is ~consummate and his work
fine as silken threads, the result of the
teachings of the French school,.
ELLEN Terry is u splendid actress and
Irving is TO be congratulated on his fine sup
port"
MIR. Keene, what Is your ~favorite charac.
L W. fhS sf'aN'H
well, / really have none" he answered
i'll a meditative way though l think | dc
my best and most subtle work in Hamlet
[ played il here last year, and you know
told you l do not like to fall into a single
groove of acting, so | make it a point L
change often.
why dom | play Romeoi 1 think | an
too feshy, nov Romeo. you know, should
grow thin under much anxiety and love.
leav the role to younger men. | think il
beautiful play. But / must have a little res
and | take il when we put on that play, be
cause our young people do it really fine
especially the balcony scene"
Now, Willie,' said his teacher, as schoo
opened, you may recite your geography les
son. Where is Afghanistann
Willie hesitatrd a moment.
Don't you know ~ asked the teacher.
YES; I've got it in my head somewhere
but ! can't lay my brain on it just this min
Ute" Willie replied.
go ON, you red-headed thing; ! wont
play With you any more. l might get burnt. ,
10, no, you Won't. You're too green Il
burn"