The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-02

Now. What is it you want?" asked
Mr. Willard in the cordial way which
mccnt it could be had whether il was
a million dollars or a pass for two.
My new play? Well. despite the fact
that it is entirely different from any
thing I nave ever played, I like the
character Of Jossan quite as much as
any of the others. with the exception Of
David Garrick. David is very near
being my favorite. l am sorry not to
have played The Cardinal here. but
there were reasons why something
should be left out OF the repertoire this
week. You see. we only put on The
Optimist' last week in Philadelphia, and
il takes at least a fortnight to get
Hay into good running order. For that
reason we have given The Optimist
more often than we should have had
the play been out longer. No, I shall
not put Il on in London, for SIT Charles
Wyndham holds the English rights
However. I have the English and Amer
lean rights TO the two plays yet un-
written by Alfred Capus. and it may be
uat I shall present them when l come
over season after next. / shall not be
~ 4 ANNA Etdl- an also uUQtT tCu-
tract to produce new play by stephen
Pl ilips-that is. IL the plays turn out as
Mr.. Philips and / hope it will.
1t seems that a story has gained
credence that Mr.. Barrie wrote The
Little Minister for me. That is not so.
He wrote a play which was intended for
ne. but. strange as it may seem. after
he Got into the story the feminine inter
est was so strong that it would work out
no other way than as woman's play.
-hc piece was called The Wedding
Guest and was not a success. Had the
leading male role been one which suited
Elc / should have played II anyhow and
had the fun o. fighting my adversary on
'ier own ground.
Tho characters l am now playing are
all different and I enjoy the change OF
bill very much more than If played
the same piece throughout the entire
season. The fact that each character
presents a new personality is not. to
me. one that should be a matter Of so
much consideration. What 1 mean is.
that 1t seems to me impossible to play
any two OF them alike. 49,, ..-...
In my conception of them I cannot
see how any two Of them even walk
alike II is a study. Of course. but one
must study a character in order to PLAY
1t. and why not study IL correctly and
thoroughly 1 cannot conceive where the
satisfaction would be in playing il 9TH
erwise. Excepting Garrick. 1 believe l
like them all the same and FULLY enjoy
representing them. I get into each.
and there I want to stay Until the play
is ended
Il have always been averse to taking
curtain calls when they require an ac-
tor to step oGt or hrs part. and the FACT
that was forceff 10 pJic7 aside JOSIAH tti1e
other night in the midst of an effective
scene was certainly not to my liking The
people ia front who were disturbing the
performance did what whole audiences
have failed 10 do. l do not want to know
who they were. but il was very much
against my will that l was forced 10
speak 10 them. You know. in England
that would never be tolerated. The au-
dience there would have quoted them
long before it would have become nee
essary for an actor to do so. SIN We
must all expect innovations now and
then. and tho unpleasant ones are Just
as sure to come as the others OF --
D.-I1J