The Washington times., 1903-04-05
Six Great Actors.
A Selection According to Es-
tablished Standards Of En-
inent Thespians Who Come
to Washington. :. :: :. =

Henry Irving.
Richard Mansfield
Edward 8, Willard.
Sarah Bernhard
EIeanore Duse.
Minnie Maddern Fiske.
No one could be more surprised at
This list than The Times itself. That
it should contain three women: that it
should include only two Americans:
that after careful consideration it should
exclude such actors as Joseph Jefer-
son, Gabrielle Rejane. Edward II.
Sothern Ada Rehan, Aaude Adams.
Otis skinner, and Helena Modjeska-
these results are all most unexpected.
The list as originally written down in
cluded Mr.. Jefferson instead of Mr.
Willard and three or four names before
that OF Mrs. Fiske
To justify this OF any other selection
Is presumably an impossible task As
Mr. LaFarge said in his letter on the
twelve greatest paintings in the world
every such selection is largely mat
ter OF individual preference. But his
choice among paintings was based on
reasons sufficient to his own mind. and
The Times feels it TO be not presump-
tuous 10 claim as much for its selection
among actors
Rather q full discussion of the va
Tiety of standards evolved by such an
undertaking as this was presented N
these columns last Sunday This can
now be TecaDitulated far enough to in
dicate- That neither intellect nor force
is sufficient gauge of histrionic abil-
iJy. That mere mfmetic capability. the
most palpabIe characteristic OF all act
ing, is only minor element in the
equipment Of great actors That, being
possessed of intellect. force. and
mimetie ability. the influence of the
actor must yet be decisively and effec-
lively exerted toward The upIift and
development OF the stage Il is accord
ing to these standards, many-stded and
interviewer as they are. that this seIec-
tion has been made
A Veteran OF Youthful Energy.
Mr. Irving's name is first.
He is ROW one o. the veterans of the
English speaking stage His power Is
still as great as that of any younger
contemporary His present aenicva-
ness. rank him as one OF the foremost
leaders OF modern theatrical affairs. He
Is at once great as a scholar, . stage
manager. a producing manager and an
actor
But in the popular judgment his emf
nence rests largely on the achievements
OF earlier years. He is said 10 have
enacted fifty roles. and ia no small num-
her Of these ne attained a plane which
he occupies even today alone. He is
now the best ~Shylock" on the stage
His Hamlet was rtvsied only by that
OF Edwin Booth. "A'Becket-' and Louis
XT'-nota6le plays both-are peculiarly
his own.
Nor does age wither or custom stale
his infinite variety. He mas recently
given us q wonderful imPersonau0n Of
RobesPierre. and he IS now to add 10 his
long Ifst OF characters that Of Dante.
His dement's are marked They are
exclusively the consequence of forCefuI
character For the purposes Of the
stage ii Is unfortunate but true that
complete mobility. entire seIE-immoIa-
ton II the creation Of new personali-
ties. is never united with sufficient force
TO make these ncvg characters tHauen-
tiaI. affecting creations. SO it is that
Mr. Irviag much-discussed mannerisns
prevail in his every characterization IT
they could be avoided, his acting would
be weII-uigE perfect. With them it is
arerIfestatton CT q high forIa OF genius
Henry Irving's Younger Counterpart.
KIr. Mansfield is Mr. IrviuE,s younger
counterpart. As Mr IRVING is scholarly,
50 Is be. As slr. Irving 3 forceful, so
is he As Stage manager and a pro
ducing manager He takes station with
the eminent EagIiAhman. As an aete-
he has been seen in America in twenty
three roles in nineteen years. and fifteen
@ tEem are thoroughly Identified with
his fame-Bar0n Chevriai Prince Karl
Or JeKyI and Sir Hyde, Beau BTummeL
C-rano de BrTserac. Henry y. Monsieur
Beaucaire. Napoleon Bonaparte. shy
lock. and the leading roles in The Dew
us Disciple The First Violin
Arms and the Man Richard III"
Don Juan and Julius Caesar"
His present triumph rests upon a
woBderful union OF hstrionic ability
the skill ol the manager. and serious
purpose. No actor now alive views
she stage with $50 clear an eye. 50 firm
IN ambition 70 serve il TO the best of
his ability. and such an abundant equip
ment 10 make his service valuable.
Even his faults are like those of AIr.
Irving ManneFlsms creep into his
enactments InsidiousIy. Popular judg-
merit assuredIy would be that h. IS the
same yesterday today and forever. OF
late moreover be has added 10 this in
s5stenee Of personality a method Of
eIoeu1IoH gnieh aIsturbs sadly he IL
huston every good actor aims 10 create.
These GadIts shine the brighter be
eaus5 they are spots on a very clear
surface Rut his contributions 10 the
stage are iuaneasurably great IS they
ere so man Of intelligence can view
hen, ssnzibly and not rejoice that cir
eunstancea gave him TO the American
stage
Character and Talent United,
Mr Willard, whose name is almost a
desperate choice from half dozen old
ana young men, is probably the nearest
approach &c the perfect union OF per