The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-03

about the Albee Stock company Is the
hearty, even enthusiasts endorsement
each member gives the other. This has
been so from the very first company
which bore that name, and we OF the
theatrical public, reading OF the petty
jeaio,isdes and auarreings OF other Thes-
plans. wonder and marvel at the perfect
harmony and good fellowship which ex-
lists in so genuine manner among
these popular players at Keith's In my
frequent Journeys behind the scenes
at Keith's I have observed this and II
has been one OF the chief factors In
making my chats with those clever people
10 pleasant.
Mr. Nicander Is a tremendous favor1te
with his fellow players. and his recent
illness brought woe to the Albee COM
pany camp. While the clever little ac-
tor was Ill. his apartments at the Mar
ragansett were filled with flowers and
sick room dafnties. and his recovery was
hailed with genuine delight by everyone
Naturally wanted TO probe the secret
OF this great popularity, and the other
afternoon between one of the acts WAS
able TO have a brief chat with him, ana
discovered the "whyfor" IL lies IN MS
unassuming modest good mature. his
boyfsh cordiality tinged with dignity,
and his quiet Difference to those with
whom he comes in contact and the SIN
cere interest in his work which places
that before everything else. 1t Is this
which has won him the esteem and az
lection OF the Albee company members.
When I had voiced my desire TO have a
talk with Mr.. Nicander, Manager Loven-
berg shook his head doGbtfully and ex-
pressed a belief that ] would he unable
10 get him TO talk about himself.
frankly confided Mr.. I.ovenberg's doubt
twithout adding that ] shared I'D TO Mr.
Nicander, in the hope that he would help
me disprove II.
"rd really very gladly talk about my
self TO you he said seriously 'if there
were only something of interest To say.
My professional career has been written
UP in the local papers that there Is moth
ing left unsaid. and as for myself-wny.
Inn no different from anyone else. Ihere
is always n feeling among those .out
front that we of the profession are diner
emily nodded. This liz due. no doubt, 10
the glamour which the roles We enact
throw over US. obscuring 10 some extent
our own commonplace personalities. But
We all eat sleep and, In general sense,
live exactly sh n. II snSn snsor an SSfor 6 on T
hours here ut the theatre you know from
observation and our time out OF the
whSs ossr Is sIE folks s wss ear
ride. some reading. letter writing and
study, and In my particular case, daily
nap OF about an hour between the mau,
nee and evening performances When Y
say study. | don't mean To give the iden,
which II SO prevalent. Of cold water appli-
cations on heads and resulting state
OF collapse from frantic memorizing of
parts In between frequent performances
and rehearsals. This side Of theatrical
life IL usually overdrawn. In most In
stances, study comes easy TO an actor,
and n half or three-uuarters of an hour
study each day is usually sufficient 10
master q part. This. " course must be
accomplished by a systematic care of
one's health and an interest which gives
pleasure in ones work
III the work were as hard as Is some
times asserted. would so many people
cling 10 it7 This is particularly true OF
the ladies--if the work were so very Ia
borious. they would not he physically
strong strong enough to endure endure IT, The {. main Sonn
without. is discretion. or. In other words.
common sense" He paused n moment
rehectively. and to2s ., advantage Ivan Of the
for weeks past been asking me 20 inter
view YOU will I'm afraid. he somewhat
surprised 10 hear YOU. who are usually
seriously" And yet" he replied. even
comedy IL serious. ] know that sounds
paradoxical. but YOU haven't any idea
TOW rnuCn lnouknN anu ttIF " AHhfr w
play comedy part. My method in com
edy roles ~ 10 play them verv seriously.
The more serious an actor portrays n fool
| the funnier he ls. and the more inclined
are the audience 20 laugh. III he plays
funnily the audience think. oh. he knows
he's funny and then the actor ceases 20
| be funny and the laughs are frozen.
In that respect comedy Is harder 10
/ portray than emotional work. In emo
tionai work the actor must have some
/ temperament and some knowledge of the
4 little tricks and devices for getting ef-
fects. but the comedian 20 win laugh
must be as serious as an owl. In different
| ways. according TO the role. but always
serious. I have played a varied line of
parts that have been considered excep-
fional In . young man. ranging from
emotional boys parts. with which began
10 old men Characterization musical
comedy 20 stock light comedy and ind
the one which requires the most serious
thought. strange az u may seem. II my
present line. like comedy work i'm
menseiy. When make my entrance upon