The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-24
A CHAT WITH SOTHERN.
The Actors First Experiences In
the Dramatic Profession.


or the stage Edward III. Sothern, the
actor, is just as charming personality
as nc is on the stage There is "A gentle
ness in his manner, magnetism in his
nature, quiet dignity and grace In his
bearing that are sure TO attract and win
admiration. Mr. Sothern is one of the
most artless of men. There Is not the
least bit of affectation about him. III is
gence and sympathy, his aquiline nose and
mouth betoken force of character; his
whole appearance suggests the man who
finds pleasure in his work, and has the
perseverance to persist In it. Even in re-
pose his face Is interesting, but when he
becomes interested in conversation his
features are a delightful study, there is SO
much expression in them and SO much
animation. He is deliberate in speech and
his pronunciation Is marked with slight
English accent that adds to its charms.
lt Is not necessary To inform the theatre
goers of this city that Mr.. Sothern is the
son of his father, Edward A. Sothcrn, who,
while he was alive, was prime favorite
In this country. Many there are that VIII
remember so long as they live the elder
Sothern' $ inimitable impersonation ofLord
Dundreary The son has the same marked
talent for the art histrionic as his dis
tinguished father possessed, and he Is
securing hold upon the affections OF the
American public that nothing can shake.
Before he had fully made up his mind To
adopt the stage as his profession he
thought that nature might have fitted him
10 follow the art pictorial. He smiles sig
nificantly when he thinks of those days
and maintains marked taciturnity
when the talk touches upon the phase of
his mundane experience. But his mana
ger, Daniel Frohman, declares that he
draws elegantly now, albeit 1t is another
kind of drawing that he refers to, and so,
to IA certain extent, the aspirations or his
younger days are gratified.
Il found IL a detriment rather than
help to me In the beginning of my career
TO be the son of father who had achieved
distinction on the stage. 1t was with
great difficulty that could get the foot
hold necessary for u beginning. My
fathers reputation seemed to be a great
obstacle in my pathway. / wrote an
American manager who was one OF his
most devoted friends, asking for bit OF
| assistance in the way of securing an en-
gagement and that gentleman did not
deign to even answer my letter, and when
finally / did secure my opening, my
fathers reputation was hindrance be-
cause my being announced as the son OF
| Il. A. Sothern, L was made conspicuous
! and critical attention was attracted To
| me and III my work was not up to the
| best standard / was sure To be criticised.
at the beginning TO me. The knowledge
| of the fact probably made me nervous and
| ditiident, but that Is an experience that
I in my case was an unavoidable conse-
| quence on my position.
"But what was disagreeable to me at
| the outset OF my career has now been
metamorphosed into one OF its most
| agreeable s.f,aases. Success feTeFses-
view that people take of individuals.
! Now everyone Is ready and eager to say
| something pleas.nt, based on the we'll
known doctrine of heredity. Yes, ones
! art influences ones character tremen-
dously If man Is wrapped up in his
art 1t has much TO do with shaping his
| emotions, dramatic art maturity does
more in shaping mans nature than
| any other because an actor is always en-
gagged in expressing emotions and depict
Ing characters. IL is likely to make one
| emotional and sensitive. An actor must
| be student If he hopes to succeed, and
| the very work that he has to perform has
a tendency to broaden his views of life
| and humanity. An actor, too, Is likely to
| be a charitable man, for his whole life Is
| spent in looking into virtues and weak
nesses; into grand acts and petty ones;
| into sturdy nature and its namby pamby
| opposite BY becoming acquainted with
| those virtues and those defects and adapt
| ing himself TO them in his roles player =
whole range of mental vision becomes
4
| Mr.. T.. ii Sothern, in speaking of his
new play, "An Enemy to the King,
| said:
The romantic drama, you may feel
assured will now enjoy, during the pres
ent revival, "A long popularity.
| 1.-The public is surfeited with the repul-
| siveness of realism and delights in getting
back To the fascinating regions of ro-
| nance. And yet the fact is not difficult
| 20 understand, for the theater should be n
| place of entertainment, where one may for
| get the anxiety and trials of life, and how
may. they be more agrceably whiled away
| than by transporting ones self into the
| fanciful and captivating regions of An
thony Hope and Stanley Wcymany Be
sides, these plays of the romantic period
| of history are of educational value. / do
not know of any better way by which the
| people-young people espccially-may be
| lead into reading history which otherwise
TO many minds might appear dry and un-
interesting.
MIR. Sothern, it may be said for the BEN
eft If his legion of young lady admirers
Is uit as charming of the stage as he is
| on lC. In IAN Enemy To the King the
| strength ef the play Hes in the heart In
terest which Is the dominant note. 1t Is
the human and natural touch that fully
atones for anything extravagant that may
| appear i'm the general incidents OF the
plot II Is this that goes directly home to
the people and gives them sound enjoy
ment in the unfolding. And of all that
passes this is what they remember longest.
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