The times., 1899-04-09

hopes, and ambitions, of course. but l do
not feel that the time has come TO make
them public Meanwhile-well, l am glad
10 have met you. Good evening.
''Tany, Tary. my heart is broken. sob
bed Alfred Hickman on the stage and MIR
Frawley turned TO some OF the hands who
were waiting in the wings.
Strike" he called.
John E. Kellerd said good morning
when he met The Times man in his dress
ing room an hour later. The rehearsal
had been finished and from various like
apartments came the sound Of laughter and
Jest. Mr.. Kellerd removed his long black
whiskers and his putty nose.
In points of makeup / think that /
have the advantage of Mr.. Lackaye for
Svengali,' he said. Wilton was much too
stout for the role and he knew IT. He
was obliged to cover his cheeks with hair
and to lengthen his face with lines in or
der to procure the desired effect, and even
then it was not perfect. Mr.. Laekaye's
Syengali was robust and powerful. | weigh
more than / should myself. but I'm very
tall and with the aid OF high heels and
loRg-tailed coat manage to seem lean and
lank. My face needs little oyerhauling. my
very hair being uncovered by wig. / be-
lieye that look and | certainly try to act
lhe part of the humble littlesouled cur
VINO bowed to and laughed al the pig dog
Engleesh' to their faces and plotted against
them behind their backs. l was given only
a week in which to rehearse the part and
have not had things just the way | wanted
them always, but still / am proud of my
characterization.
THE role of Svengali has been called
fat one. l: is true that half the strength
OF the portrayal is due to the author. Per-
haps no actor could be wholly bad in il,
and yet good actor can make the pub
lie realize its power as never before.
Scenes like that in which is shown the
death CT the musician are easy to those
who can do them, but TO most people they
are impossible. Their effect when they
are well done is indescrihable. part of
that sort is desirable TO an able player,
because il gives him opportunities to show
merit possessed by few But even as a bit
of physical labor such a scene is hard. II
brings out power ard intelligence, restraint
and reason, care and cleyerness.
by the way, / am to have a chance to
show my versatility next year. I have
been engaged to be sub-starred with
Madame MoGjeska, and shall be seen in
every leading male character in her long
repertoire line OF inpessonstions rang
ing from Leontes in The Winters Tals' TO
Orlando in AS You Like 1t There is
every reason to expect great success, and
] look forward TO the experience with
pleasure"
By this time Svengali had become john
j. Kelierd in entirety. The actor pu. on
his hat and coat and strobe into the street,
his huge frame looming above that of his
companion like that of a protecting giant
a fcrlorn clock struck three. The re-
hearsal and the interview had lasted until
almost daybreak.
Says Lydia Barry: Il know that it has
come to be the fashion to declare that the
reputation of a relative hurts the payer
who is struggling for SUCCESS on his or her
own merits. Despite this l am willing to
proclaim that the fame of father CO
brother or husband is great aid. Those
who held William Barry in affectionate re-
gard are likely to see me with charitable
eyes. and, while they may think of me as
the daughter of the comedian, IL ! prove
myself worthy it will not be long before
they viii make their reminiscence run
And she is a child of William Barry
Seriously, think the idea that the wear
ing Of willows thrusts aside the laurel all
nonsense. Or at any rate / am willing to
take chances"
AT dinner the other day William Inger-
soil remarked. Il put no faith in the dis
tinction made between the actors of
'palny' times and those OF the present.
Schools of stage work have always been
the same, except for slight notifications,
and no one has much reason to think
otherwise John L. Stoddard once said
that the immigrants OF different countries
were different, but that a gentleman was a
gentleman the world over. So ho,d that
the meritIess players of distinct periods
may have varied in their methods, but that
the better class has always adhered to the
same ideals. Because the relics OF the
clden time We know now choose TO rant
and rave While impersonating most foIk
imagine that the earlier school TAUGHT
noise. And yet Edgar Davenport, Lester
Wallack. James Hackett, and ether men OF
that ilk were most refined in their manners
and STYLES.
Art has alw9ys progressed toward ma
ture. The blank verse and stilted con-
struetion of the last few centuries made
the trend OF thought go TO the artificial,
but still the real had its advocates.
Shakespeare made Hamlet warn the D az
ers against mouthing their lines as some
DO. Then We must remember that customs
and ms-Gers change. That which was real
and true sixty years ago may be false and
unnatural today. This / believe accounts
for the supposed differences in schooIs-a
difference that can be explained away IL
one takes pains to sit and argue the mat
ter out with himself"
Mary Van Buren, of the Frawley Com
pany. impresses one as an intellectual.
rather than strong minded, woman. Her
views are clear cut and decided: she speaks
frankly, sometimes even bluntly When
Times man sought an interview the 9TH
eT afternoon he was impressed with the
straightforward honesty of the actress. In
response TO leading enquiry, Miss Van
Buren said: Whom do / consider the four
leading American players? Well. that is
good deal OF a problem. Naturally. / am
inclined TO class Mr.. Willard among the
very greatest, if We may consider him an
adopted citizen of this country Then, OF
course, there is Mr. Mansfield, whose char
acteriZations cover such an extensive field
30 carefully that one cannot but recognize
his true merit. In this enumeration
must not pass the dear old dean of the
stage. Joseph Jefferson, and / believe tina;
] will make Nat Goodwin the last of m,
quartette- Who are the four cleverest wo-
men? Now. that question is a puzzline
one. indeed.
There are more than four great Ameri
can artists OF my own sex. First, / woulG
select Julia Aarlowe, always charming. b.
II in tragedy or comedy. Then, Mrs Fisk,
has won for herself an imperishable nam,
by her marvellous impersonations and thai
despite physical limitations. Few better
pieces OF work are seen than was that o
Julia Arthur in a Lady of Quality while
other master bits eltitle her TO a place
in this band Of ours. II is rather difficult
TO decide upon the last of the number
Blanche Bates is a maryelously versatil,