The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-31
RICHARD" POOR PLAY.
Keene Says It Is, and Those
Who Saw Him
Are Ready to Take His Word
for It.
Mr. Keene Says He Tells All Stage
Struck People to Go on the Stage
It is the Only Way to Cure
Them of the Frenzy.

| 'Since the 9th day of last August I
have received letters from over 800
stage struck young men and women, -
said Thomas Keene, the tragedian, to
a Journal reporter yesterday. 81 kept
count up to 800 I have saved them all,
and when get home I shall hang them
all upon the walls. Novel kind of wall
papering, isn't it?''
did you answer any of them?''
"Oh, yes, I always answer all my
mail. 1 told them all 60 upon the
| stage. How you are to get there, 1
can't tell you They might as we'll be
| on the stage as not, for they are no
good while they're stage struck The
reason they all want to act is because
they think it is a life of ease. OF the
800 who wrote to me probably 100 would
work. How many of these 100 would
achieve success? Even Sunday, when
scarcely ever see people, received
calls from three girls in Kansas City
who wanted to act
What do you think of Millions pros
pects?" John E. Milton is Harry Sui
Ivan, formerly a Washburn student.
John will do well. He will make
good, what we call "a genteel villain
He hasn't the heroism for other parts
1 think the best thing for a young man
TO 90 VINO Willis " 81 1uIO AIS PAOA
sion is to start in classic drama, and
there get his foundation and after
that go to something else.''
Acting has long since become work to
Mr.. Keene. He is 55 years old and has
been on the stage "a years. He has ir-
regular features, his nose being prom
inent and rather of the shape of GOV
McKinley'S. He has great facial eX-
preston in talking, not however, as
the result of enthusiasm in what he is
saying, but as he uses it in his acting
He raises his eyebrows, makes dramatic
pauses in the middle of his sentences
and withal acts even in his converse
ton. Mr.. Keene'S sonorouS voice
which he likes SO well to exploit upon
the stage, startles one talking to him
if he chances to break into a laugh
''Oooh- hoo hoo hoo-ha" 1t is worse
than Svengali'S.
IT don't like acting any more" said
the tragedian. Il would retire if I
had the wealth. I have been wanting
to retire for the last three years, but
they have, instead of adding to my
store, rather Clipped off from it,
DO you attribute this to lack of
taste for classic drama?"
mo, bad times; general bad times
throughout the country. Every few
years the cry goes up that the public
taste is degenerating in regard to thea
tres. There's nothing in it. Why they
used to set up this cry even in Shake
speare's time. Hamlet says of the play
ers, How chances it they travel-Are
they so followed?' as when he was in
the city. They had the dancing wo-
men in those times, too, for Hamlet
says of Polonius, He's for a jig or he
sleeps The classic drama will always
please at least some class of theatre
goers. AS long as there are thinking
people it will have its following.
Il have no favorite plays" said
Keene in answer to a question When
1 get the harness on then that part is
my favorite. If a man can't enthuSe
over a part when he gets his harness
on" and the actor gave a look of de-
spair.
do you like Richard HIP"
Richard has been a good friend of
mine, and I'll not go back on him now