Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-15
DRAMA

ly prevailing sentiment that presidential
election year is bad, the outlook is even
most prosperous ever known for attractions
of merit in any line. / am confident that
with real cool weather and the consequent
influx into the city, the Academy will not
people who Will want to see my entertain
ments. l want the artists on the stage to
be the magnet which will draw people to
the Academy. Everything possible will be
done to make the performances attractive.
and they will be kept clean and refined, so
that the most sensitive person could find
nothing to object to. SO confident am
OF the greatness of the season we have
just entered upon that / have secured and
will present at our theaters every foreign
act OF any worth whatsoever"
Creston Clarke, who is a descendant and
relative of the monarchs of the stage and
believes firmly in the higher traditions of
his art, dissents strongly from the view
that the new order of things which enables
an actor to learn one part thoroughly and
play 1t for a whole season, makes better
actors than the old. Speaking recently on
this topic he said:
Il do not believe the actor who plays the
same part night after night gets out the
best that is in him. The essence of the
actors art Is self-effacement, or rather the
gift to hold in allegiance his own indivd-
uality for the time he projects that of an
authors brain before the physical and men
tai vision of his auditors. Now, when a
man plays one character one night and has
to play another the next, he IS bound TO
lay aside the first one and enter into the
following one. which may DE wholly differ
ent This compels an activity of the mind
which Is lacking where a player masters
one part. and after little familiarity falls
| into mechanical attitude toward it. a1al
to fire, brilliance or soul. l 10 not wish to
be understood as disparaging the work
which many of the most accomplished peo-
pie In our profession who play only one
piece a season perform-men like Mr.
Crane Mr.. Drew, Mr. Sotheron, Mr.. Miller
and others. and women like Miss Allen.
Miss Adams, Miss Arthur and their fellow
workers. They give splendid and beautiful
performances and are capable Of the high
est things but / want simply to protest
against what 1 believe to he a fallacious
proposition, namely, that the one part &c
tor Is better than the repertoire PLAYER.
Dramatic history has not shown it, and L
do not believe the future will prove it,
Corse Payton, an actor-manager. Who
does not bother much about critics so long
| as business is good, recently opened "Corse
Paytons Theater' in Brooklyn the price for
best seats being 80 cents. Mr.. Payton him.
self plays the leading parts in the opening
BILL THE Girl L Left Behind Me-" Be
tween the first and second act he Introduced
his singing and dancing speciality, and be-
tween the third and fourth act made the
following speech:
Ladies and gentlemen, l am glad to see
such a large and appreciative audience on
hand this evening, and L hope to see ycu all
here next week. l don't know what you
think of this company, but L think it's
great. 1t has netted me $100.000, and I've
spent 100000 of it right here in this house.
OF course l expect to get ii back; in fact,
We will stay here until we do get it back.
Next week we put on The Prodigal Daugh~
,,,;tI
think of it, thirty actors for thirty centsi
A cent apiece for actors; cheapest bargain
you ever heard Of l want to gain your
friendship and patronage. I the only
cents, and I'm proud of it. Don, forget
to come next week"