The times., 1898-09-04


search of what he might mentally de-
vo;Ir. came upon Reuben Fax. the clever
Theophilus MontjOy of That Man" Mr..
Fax was sitting stdewise in his chair.
with one leg crossed over the other, and
his hands folded in his lap-an attitude
that must be habitual, since the writer
has never seen pictures of him in any
other. Though by birth a Canadian, he
looks and talks in characteristic Yam
kee way that accounts for the energy
with which he has surmounted obstacles
between himself and success
My career has been rather long one.
said Mr.. Fax. Though il was not until a
few years ago that 1 really began TO be
talked about. That was when / played
the part of Uncle Dick in Alabama and
reached upward more than / ever had
before. Later on l uEderstudied Wilton
Lackaye in 'TriIby.' and played Svengai
myself in an Australian organization. in
which were Edith Crane and other people
of note That company afterward toured
| this country and my impersonation
| seemed 10 satisfy Following came my
| Bishop of Ballaratt in What Happened
! TO Jones' and now here I am with That
| Man l really expect to do a great deal
| in Mr. Palmer's farce. though. glad as I
am of the praise bestowed upon me, 1 do
not feel that have had in the two weeks
given US for rehearsal sufficient time to
| make anything special out of the title
role as yet.
II am not exactly. by the way, what
one would call a quick study. and like
to go about my work carefully I have
two ways of doing this When the role
given me is of a freakish nature. unlike
nything that does exist. l form the ec-
centrieities and peculiarities in my mind
| allowing them to drift in very slowly
Thus, my Monttoy is the result Of mere
4 n
| points of my SvengaH We're taken from
Mr.. Lackaye. though much of it was
| original. but had / gone about 10 create
| the part l should have done it much as
| 1 have tuat Of the jealOusy-arOuser. Por-
! trayalS that are distinctly human / get
| from human sources. taking care TO pick
| out the subject 1 am to copy and taking
| all of his characteristics without mixing
/ them with those of some other man
| Thus, my Uncle Dick was an old darky
whom l discovered on one of the East
| River docks in New York, and with whom
| l spent every minute of my spare time
| during the period given 20 rehearsaIs.
! MANY of my make-ups are obtained in
| the same way In this particular case 1
was forced TO modify the negros rags,
but 1 took to myself many of his wTin-
kles and lines. The peculiarities of pOr-
| trayal suggest things, too, when one
| ing have on the human face. a scant
eyebrow. a crows foot or thin lip may
| have the greatest effect in the world
| the balance in which the rendering of n
| role is judged. The expression given the
| organ of vision is especially effective
| MontjOy has no color about his lids at
| all, for that would have indicated firm
ness and intelligence His lashes and
brows are both scant. SVenSah was
painted black as a stove about his eyes,
| the hue shading impereeptibly TO the skin
tint about his cheek bones. Then his
lashes Were very bushy and the whole
formed such background for the white
of his pupil that, when doing the part, I
could frequently hear people in the front
of the house exclaimiEg, Look at his
| eyes.
Observation is great thing for an
actor. and | try my hes- 20 cultivate IL.
If do succeed I shall lay my success to
that Meanwhile I shall probably con-
tinue with Montioy. and / trust if ever
! come back here in the role that you
will find the changes I shall have made
by that time commendable."