New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-07
MR. MANSFIELD'S MEN.
THE ACTOR TALKS ABOUT HIS ALL
WHAT CHARACTERS lie THINKS WORTH POi'-
TEAYING AID HOW HE STRIVES TO
pnRTRAN THEM

TENNItG AND HOW HE STftlN L. "
PORTRAY THEM.
The sublec, OF an actors idcr tihcaion OF himself
with the character which he il playing Is always
a fascinating TO the uninitiated 10 'he II"
itatcd. II is perhaps even more fascinating w
American actor now prominently before the puphc
has gained a more distinct fame by the accuracy
and wide diversity Of his characterizaiions thah
Richard Mansfield He IL just playing Il mum
Der Of his most admired parts In N'w-io rK' ana
has plans for the carly production OF some ne"
historical PLAYS Believing. for these reasons thi'
his views on the subject OF the method ana scope
Of stage impersonation would be OF Interest re-
porter asked Mr. Mansfield TIE other day to "X-
press some Of them for the benefit Of Tribune read
ers with this request he readily complied.
1T is altogether a mistake" said Mr. Mansfield
"fcr any one To imaCne that | an looking es-
pecially FOR eccentric characters that Is To saw
characters that are marked by peculiarities that
are not In the Wholesome line Of nature. While
believe that am quick see the possibilities IN a
type. FOR the purposes OF the stage. want 10 ma
in it elevation OF character or some Kind OF rse-
ful imprcssiveness that counts with an audience
What does any want to see Or. J"kyll ana MI.
HYDE foro Is Il merely because o; my skin In the
transformation? Is II because the interest at
inches to the ba scr man. rather than to tho noblor.
normal one? II Is hecause the whole story be
came far more impressive when It reached the
stage / seek characters OF value Tor my stage
uses. that is an
vet many Of your characters have the most
marked pcculartlcs. even cccentrcities. Does tins
happen without any deliberate design in the seec-
ton OF the plrte?'
.'You cannot we'll have dramatic figure that Is
not accented IN some way. II the stag" were mAd"
Ip of conmonplaccs thor" would be little interest
i'm what was passing on q. 1t Is correct principle
that \ physician in play must look like phy-
scian and not Ike a lawyer or rlc.track gambler
and vice versa: | mean in those outer physical de-
noi~mcuts. tricks and habits that 20 to distinguish
"a b tribe His dress - usually matter Of course
In real rfc there NAY bc variation IN appearance"
Pecularltles that are not generic should be OK
anlncd very carefully before being admitted to
share IN thu actors representation Tn" Use OF any
oliity that counts for some Intelligent purpose Is
thoroughly good art-the best
NOW I'm Captain Blunts,h there absolutely
no reru.iarltle- that could be called personal His
Is very Icin.t, character no lack of strength In
H. he is a sound. wholesome fellow. normal I'm every
wav Th. art Of the actor who knows his art Is
not to be eccentric personally. but To develop and
make plable his voice. to control his walk to guard
against any form % expression or any customary
movement that VIII put into conflict the pub.ic's
ideas OF hin and OF tho character thai he is tryins
% convey T. portray eccentrclt.es II they belong
10 the character is his business a a matter OF
course"
How 10 you apply these principles. Mr. Mans
field. 20 historical characters. to such a character
for example. as Dean Swift which II Is UNDERSTOOD
you have an intention OF playing
-. . -. o. W. Nt,,so,id ro,,'ia1 ION
hoH t'N'h '"'''' MI ''"''''' ''''
what | regard OF the most legitimate objects
Of the stage !, Is not my conception Of the flnc-
ton u "a" stage ana OF actors ina "a" "'' powers
should hc confined things of today. m" portrayal
-, ,.t.,,. ,s A., a. CTS ie t,erfect, nroner and tho
' I,.... 49, 49,. ,r,, .,,.,,..
art Is broad enough 10 'Hp'"'' any H'''''" ''''-
mont I'm thought AMI feeling AMI manners VOL
.r,. ann. ,,I piav that gives IN, up - the ,ates,
t.,, .,i.., h,.,,e.
"'"l'"l "4' "' "' N '
somebody eis" has mad" great success Il SON"
,...t,,t,r fi,. NJ .h.rt is Z, ~. g~rtt variety.
'" ' 500 - A ,t,.
ana 10 30 thr INf' ~ WEI ~ ~. -. IT,
ih1' they may i'.hH' I'D p,,'-. - - ~
sens. lives today. af wei. ~ Nh9.i'i "' -"
M"uflrr or any o." "t''' "' Wv" ~ ~ l.,,us
W hai l@ Your ~ i.i' ", ,"-, '.' 't ' ,,'i +,
- th hi, ~ ,, ,-,, 81 ,,, ,.kj
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