The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-07
AND H TOPICS.
MINNIE MADDERN FIskE ON PLAYs,
PLAYERS, AND ACTING.

tainingly on almost every imaginable subject
except one. That one Is herself. She looks
bored when people ask hor what she does with
herself Off the stage. She has not conlded to
the press what she eats for breakfast, and wild
horses couldn't drag from her the customary
personal condolences OF theatrical people. All of
which seems very strange indeed to the profess
sional interviewer, and develops in her a ten
dency simply to sit and stare at Mrs. Fiskc,
merely taking care not to lot her eyes pop alto
gcthor out OF her head.
Mrs. Fiske Is always interesting. Just at
present she has the added advantage of inter
preting tho character OF another interesting
woman, Tess OF tho D'Urbervillcs. Mrs. Ffske
seems to find Tess much more interesting. as q
subject Of conversation, than herself. She was
quite willing TO talk about Mr.. Hardy's heroine
the other morning, as she ate n IL o'clock
breakfast.
"Oh. you don't want me to talk about myself"
She protested. You don't want to know when
1 get up In the morning which you may think
you know, anyway. But am not always 30 late
"a to-day. / am nm carly riser. but this morning
! am very tired"
This was crumb OF information No. 1.
I'm talk about Tess. but I don't believe In
personalities. THE Sun isn't given to exploiting
people in that way, I know, butch, I do know
something I will tell you"
The interviewer face frightened.
Its about Tess"
Then she went on again.
"When l thought OF playing the part OF course
realized that l was not, physically, Tess, and
that / never could be. ] couldn't make myself
over. / simply had to put all that aside. The
conception OF the character, however. was pos.
siblc. did not regard Tess as most people did.
She was u pure girl, not a bad one"
but when she returns"
"To Aiec2 Yes, I know the common objec-
ton. But Tess was stupid. Stupid She was
not intellectual; she did not think things out"
but the critics say that you are intellectual"
She made a gesture OF protest.
THAT is the word we arc trying TO avoid! ]
wish l could escape II. I've been called every
thing-intelloctual, psychological, everything
except u chemist. ] expect some one will call
me a chemist soon. But about Tess. l want to
tell you something interesting
joyful moment
81 have just received a letter from Mr.. Hardy
in which he outlines his conception OF the char.
actor OF Tess. and, to my genuine delight, 1t cor.
responds exactly with my own idea"
Crumb OF information No. 9.
There is one thing I would really like to
say" resumed Mrs. Fske eagerly, and the In.
tervicwer began to think that the wheels were
actually started. 81 would like to say a word
OF commentator for my company, which. by it's
faithful work-you don't like that y with
quick comprehension. I'm sorry" with a sigh
OF disappointment. "wcll. may ] say some
thing about Julia Narrowed"
Would you mind saying something about
Minnie Madden Fiskc by way OF changer
but I want to say how glad I am to know OF
Miss Marlowc's success. l have never seen her,
but /"
Have you ever seen Dusei"
you know you have been said to be like her r.
"Scs. but I don't really know how that can
be, except that we both believe in truth"
(Which do you like better; Bernhardt or
well, I don't like to make comparison, but
l suppose i am u degenerate and l really belong
to what ia called the new school, though II is as
old as the ages"
Then it Is Duse ..
he who can give the best Interpretation OF the
greatest roles. ! have never seen Bernhardt In
one i OF the there fErs%' r. To'S only 'I Sao a" so dps10e on ,S Ss
stage now that belonged TO the race OF giants
who could play the great roles. That is Mime.
But were those interpretation full of the
Yes, for beauty IL truth. Not realism, per.
but we are getting dreadfully snarlcd up"
Welcome sign! The interviewer made haste TO
get down to everyday facts.
Where do you live when you arc not in New
Mrs' Fiskc half closed her eyes and blinkcd
the lids rapidly according TO n habit OF hers.
II should like TO live in the country y she said
diplomatically, with emphasis on the "lke."
Another fiat failure!
IL wanted TO speak Of"
"Who is II this time T. demanded the foiled
interviewer. Tho situation began To be amusing.
Why" said Mrs. Fiskc apologctlcaliy. II
did, want to say something about Nine. Mod
'esSSa' b Sai never mind, u,,, oou,
show him in" said the actress, NO, don't
go! rs Mr., stoddard, and he probably wants
Mr.. LoriIner Stoddard, who wrote the version
familiar Thespien cast Of feature. He did not
want 10 talk about calcium lights, but about
esting. Mrs; tiske promptly ruled out from pub
l%ication.. Finally, shaking. her finger at Mr..
Slotdard, she turned to the interviewer, and
What do you think that man doesi Why,
hand. He watches you for q. few minutes and
then ,criobls, serih6le, scribble he makes notes
notes are about somebody else, but you never
,@0h. dear wha! have l done nowr and be;
gin gg,ts,, ny TO % eli sE% min, my gown to find out If
"Ididnt know yon could see me. explained
more. ! wouldn't be able to see u foot across
~ sec everything" said Mrs. Fiskc: every
thing! I never actually look at the audience.
| bil stt ' y Nv 'NAiN lhhhi ihttN' cDuitAlli'H
/ find u peculiarly sympathetic one. / remem.
her when | WIS playing LA Femme dc Claude
last year in Chicago, Nine. Calv6 was in the
house one day. 1t was II delight TO play to her.
She has such n responsive, truly artistic temper.
anent. One could feel her heart beating across
the footlights. Tho first night OF 'Tcss' l had
another kind OF experience" Mrs, Fisko be.
gan TO laugh NJ the recollection.
In one of the boxes was n party of very thin,
scvero-looking women. They began TO scowl
very early In the play, and continued TO scowl
until the very end. They had taken a dislike 10
mo and to Tess, and 10 the whole thing, and
they preserved an uncompromisinga attitude and
an expression OF cold disapproyal. II I had not
tekenit humoronsly, ], would have, been very
discouraging. A cold and critical audience
always cheats itself. You cannot help feeling
the temper OF the house, and you cannot do your
best work"
Has, the play been cut down since the first
might T.
quickencd, You know, n play Is like music.
Tou can almost boat time to IL with u baton. A
certain act must have n certain tempo and per.
hnps the next one must have an entirely differ
ont movement. Some OF the scenes are pitched
In n different key from others. Even tho voices
change, being higher In ono scene than in an
other. 1t Is IA most interesting thing. so is tho
whole science Of stage managing. 1t interests
me even more than acting"
do ynn ever shed rcnl tears In playingf'