The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-04

first act She was saying bic thing
about somebody. 1t was easy 10 nee that Anc
she was looking al me-, so ! thought ! must be H.
give you my word, that woman hoodooed me
| couldn't play her down or get away from her
The public hasn't an idea how much il Is RESPONSE
bic Tor an actors spirits and success Playing
70 some audiences n a positive inspiration, ano
then again one comes up against q crowd MAI
isn't any more responsive than a Jelly fish, The
moment ! step out upon the stage | know What
have To expect It's IN the air. can feel a.
There are times when strokes with a canlels
hair brush Will make their work with a crowd,
and there are times " hen need a trOwel and a
Mhllewasl brush and wish | had Tour hands
There isn't n man or woman IN the profession
who doesn't hate Monday night A. Monday
night audience ~ enough To drive n whole com
Iany To drink. don't know why Is. Perhaps
ITS The effect Of The holy calm they've been
enjoying over Sunday. They're az lively
ana unreasonable rs an assortment Of plaster
casts. The next worst night for stage folk is the
second night, the night after the opening with a
new play, Dull' It's simply deadly. mat
time the fault isn't IN the crowd. but In The actors
The strain II first night hazard Is over ana the
criics have done their worst and every body con
cerned goes to pieces for twenty four hours. A
Saturday afternoon crowd ls what suits ME
On, by the way, the reporter gum
lily, i was gong 10 interview youabout woman 5
sense OF humur." ,
Miss Irwin laughed. Didn't | tell you.
knew there Was an interview on humor concealed
somewhere about you. Well, that remark OF
mine about matnees ought to give you my opinion
about wOmdn'S sense 81 humOr"
That's what thought DO you really mean
that You would rather play Ia women than "
men
"Of coars, would. i~nnl.t,ly rather. My
matinee performance tres ne less than any other
and ! do my very best WORK ~ IT, The women
respond 80 quickly and heartily 10 every shade
Of humor | throw into my ACT and are so sympa.
thetc that ! can just turn myself loose. The old
ladies' are So nice Bless their dear hearts. l do
love Ia make them laugh until they cry.
tive me- "A l,lSp fnll AZ Women and I'll do my hest
work"
IF that is all true. why are there SO many more
clever male comedians than female"
Are there Shrluoked SCeptical for u moment
that's true Well. It's easy 10 explain. Women's
lives are more tragic than mems For one tenth
part Of a second Miss Irwin looked grave, then her
irresistible laugh came Ia the surface again. The
There's tragedy for you, Seriously though, |
meant what said. believe women have keener
sens" 81 the humorous than men, but IL isn't always
m working order, because they have n keener
sense Of the tragic. too. They are more emotional
all around ieelrNerything more intensely than men
be-. They can throw of worry and sorrow and
deep emotion Of every kind and be funny 10 order
as easily HS men can. II isn't because they don't
see the funny things, but because, so often. their
hearts are too full To- make room for humor Men
go raCkinE along and do not feel anything very
deeply, Don't talk e. me about a mans sense
Of humor | never knew a man who realized how
funny men are. | know any number Of women
who see the funny things in women. TIT men
think that women are awfully amusing, That's
one 81 Their stock theories, but they haven't the
ia!nteSt idea that they are even more amusing
No matter how absurd q man may be, other men
take him seriously because he's a man. Now
women think that they themselves are funny and
know that the men are That's where womhn's
sense oi hunlur i broader and kcener than mans
That's my opinion, but there's no use telling II To
the men They haven't enough sense Of humor
To- recognize the truth Of it