The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-06-20
MR.. SOTHERN OFF THE STAGE.

f. H. Sothern was sitting in the lobby
of the Motel Baltimore, talking about
Hamlet" when a short, feshy man
with his room key dangling from one
hand, walked up and extended the other
hand. The actor arose and shook the
hand. look of inquiry in his face.
Nr Sothern." said the stranger at
once. Il have always wanted to shake
hands with you since that fire in Gin
cinnati. My wife and grown daughter
We're there that night. They told me
all about 1t themselves, when they
came home.
The man paused a moment, expecting
Mr.. Sothern to say something. Mr.. Soth-
ern said nothing and his expression did
not change, but food of color came into
his cheeks. The man was just little
embarrassed by the actors silence. He
continued:
THE people were pretty lucky to get
out as they did. Your actions were very
commendable." Then he stopped abrupt
ly, forcing Mr.. Sothern to say some
thing.
I'VE were all pretty lucky to get out
of that place." said the actor. He sat
down, and the stranger. as he started
to move away. added in a formal way:
Il am glad you are here and I hope
you will have success. l am coming to
see you tonight
Thank you," said Sothern.
For a minute he looked after the
stranger, and said nothing, the color still
in his cheeks. Then he turned as though
the interruption had not occurred and
asked in the stereotyped manner of
man submitting to an interview:
well is there anything more I can
say to you?'
1t was at the fire which burned the
Grand Opera house in Cincinnati last
January that Mr.. Sothern showed that
he has the GOODNESS and presence of mind
of a great general on the field of battle.
When the smoke of the fire first puffed
! up into the auditorium Of the theater,
Mr. Sothern was alone on the stage He
stopped the reading Of his lines to tell
! the audience that there was no danger.
He spoke calmly and without apparent
! emotion. Then he continued the recita-
/! ton of his part while the SNAKE increas-
ed in volume. When the actor saw that
the fire could not be suppressed he di-
rected the audience to rise. The people
did so in an orderly manner and without
an injury to any one. Then Sothern look
ed after his own safety. He lost $4,000
| worth OF property in that fire.
Mr.. Sothern is a very frank. unostenta-
tious man.
II made a mistake" he said, in stick
ing too long to just one line of acting
When I appeared in Hamlet people
wanted to know what I was doing IL
tragedy. They knew me in light com
} edy and in romantic plays. But an &C.
tor is an actor. There Is no reason why
he should be forced to remain always II
one groove. That's the American idea
of it, In Europe the people take diff
ferent position. Coquelfn plays coined,
one night and tragedy the next. There
is no reason why a man who had made
success in light comedy should not make
, success in tragedy. AS soon as haf
succeeded in light comedy I went int
romantic acting. Every actor wants e
play Hamlet Just as you want to writ
something of a high class, but you ma!
not have the time nor opportunity to d.
it. l think an actor should always pla!
a repertoire so that he would not becom
, absolutely identified with one particula
kind of acting. But this country is s.
. great that a man finds that one pla.
: will do for season. l have produces
{ only Hamlet this year. 1t is better.
, course. from a financial point of view t
3 have only one play on the road.
Mr.. Sothern has three plays for mex
g wear. One Of these was written by Law
+ renee Irving and the leading character
n Richard Love!ace, is romantic one An
S other play adopted by Mr.. Sothern
6 Francois Vil,on," written by Justin MI
: Carthy Jr. This is a romantic one ALSO
d The third was written by New Yor
n woman, Florence Williamson, and is IL
Il story of David. In this. Mr.. Sother
d is. of course, David. and the play is 81
l. rious with great deal of tahleaux in
Thus he is going back again into II
u fields Of romance. He intends now
e carry out his theory that an actor IS
~ actor-not a comedian, romantic play
- - or a tragedan. but all of these.