Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1896-03-04
AYersatIls Actor.

Thomas Keen, vhCse coming to Patton's opera hous to play 'Rleh- ard III' next G,' sday Eht, awakens the nc. plessurable al,ici- pations in the linds of those who remember his former achievements, has had a most interesting career. Although he IS known as a tragedian exclusively, and is known by no other work to the younger gen sra- ton of play gOers, the older heads and longer memories know better. and they possess 8 lively admiration for the wonderful versatility that has been shown b. this actor during his busy career. There Is no branch of the drama in lich ME. KeeRe has not played with distinction and success. Com edy. burlssIue, panto- mime-wha.~-er could be asked of an actor, as appeared 1T. Mir. Keene, ai iShung his way up the botto.. UGGS of the ladder, found hir,s . JLs leading man of Woods MIseul. il New York, in the days vhe.l lat organization was one of the rCst important in the Atlantic Co., metropolis, and in fact. m the vt ie country. That was in the dsys W en star travelled alone aud brougt. his plays with him, while the theatre furnished the company to st pport him. The leading man of such a company found himself compelled to play in every branch of the drama, or If he could not, he had tp stay out of the cast, and found his usefulness cur tailed. MT. Keene vas never out of the bill. for no I alter what the play, who the star, or what the line of the work required of him, be was able to meet all demands After wards be went to San Francisco, and was a favorite member of that remarkable compsny which played at the old California theatre when John McCulloug7 was dramatic arbiter of the Pac ic Coast. Here his wonderful veI eIsatility was fully displayed, and he stood high in 3 cOterie of actors of which San Francisco was particularly and justly proud. 1t is recalled that he was a splendid 'Herzog" in the Black Crook" that the work of the pantalooned clown was not beneath his making 1t a bowling success with the gallery, and that he was 8 particularly fine Iago. l. Is also recalled that he alternated the roles of Brutus, Cassius and Antony with Mccullough and Booth; but more dazzling success came to him when he appeared as leading man of Eugene Tompkins grand pFoduc- ton of Zola's Drink" q play that was made successful solely through his genius in depicting the drunken sot, who figures az the leading char scter. Immediately afterwards, and as a direct result of his splendid work in Drink Mir. Keene began to star, selecting Shakespeare's Richard III" as the vehicle of his talents. From that point his career is known by a. Es Immediately challenged atte, iCI ' the changes which he introduced into the acting version of the great tragedy, and by the convincing qualities, and the unhsgging energy and overmaster ing virility of his assumption of the role. And although at first some critics demurred, he has long since won over the general verdict to his side in the matter of his interpre- tation of this play. Since then MT. Keene has taken up other plays, but he has devoted bis attention entirely to the classic and Shakes pearean drama, and with such dis tinguiShed success, that it is not strange ths; h.s earlier triumphs in other fields ave been forgotten, and his wonI syful versatility become in large par. . memory.