The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-08-03

but brought the conversation back 10
jhImseif by asking. You evidently look
forward 10 the role you are 20 play next
week with pleasure?'
Yes. indeed. It's a capital role. Lord
Babberly Fancourt I'm 'Charisy's Aunt
you know OF course. it's purely farcical.
but it's killer as a laugh extractor. I'll
Just revel In playing the part. but ! hate
this dressnaker business. wouldn't
mind II the members OF the company
didn't stand around and guy the life out
OF me-pretending 20 syrnpathize and ad-
wise. but really Kidding me. Beatrice
Miss Ingram-has loaned mo one OF her
skirts, and 1 practice walking around In
II In my room. Just whit until the week
after 'Charlsy's Aunt We play a piece
In which three OF the ladies wear mascu-
line attire. and see 1f--well. Just walt
Come around here some afternoon that
week aud see the fun 1 have with the
girls
"You like comedy roles better than Sc
rious ones?" i asked.
''Yes and no. In comedy roles II Is
much easier 10 get aequninted-to get
near to--one's audience, for everyone,
young or old. loves 10 be made % laugh;
but the comedian is apt 10 be forgotten
almost fas soon as the flaugh has died
out, whereas the actor 'of serious or
heavy dramatic role is remembered. II
he is any good at all
But are not the.rcomedy roles harder
| 10 play than sepfous ones7''
I'm a sense they are, because II Is hard
| 10 tell a funny thing or relate an anus
| ing ineid9nt 10 or ~ tines-or even third
time-with spontaneity. One is apt 10 be
| come mechanical, losfhg JUNCTION as the
Joke grows stale andJioses it's flavor. The
hard /part OF the/eomedy Is to hide the
fact Ffrom ths audience that you have
Gaf IN tua al efN
| stpry before earlier IA the week. How
| ia this hidden from them7 In various
| Ways The personality OF some comedi-
ans helps wonderfully, for they effer-
4 vesce. as II were. Then with others II is
1 merely cut and dried method. To me
there are two kinds OF comedians-thG
! amiabe comedian, who scores by quiet
| naturalnesa, OF which Mr. Byrne or our
| company Is an excellent example, and
| the aggressive comedian. who employ
| tho Attention. sudencel I have q funny
| story 20 tell you manner. The Keynote
OF comedy Is seriousness. No matter how
absurd the role is play II seriously and
| II Is twfce'as funny 20 the audience-as
demonstrated by burlesque what nom
sense Weber and Fields have dealt out
during 'the past few years. and yet how
| hearty1s the laughter which invariably
greetL>them. because Of the fact thar they
plaYfthe most ridiculous things seriously.
TIE line between tho sublime and the
<diculous is very faint. and I believe
/thet in order to play one an actor must
n be able 20 play the other
What kind OF comedian do you call
yourself? That is. what method do you
empioy-the amiable or the Aggressive
IF you haven't discovered II. far be II
from me 10 enlighten you. Deliver me
from the man who calls himself a come
dian. Once IN a while one meets such a
uh has hoe tniA hN ri a
and pelatives that he is a 'comicai rps-
cal = and from rhat time on 20 the end
OF the chapter he makes the life OF his
friends, for they are the only
n ones who will stand for st. unhappy
7 by sprlngng all the old Jokes he can find
or inyenting new ones. Ability as
comedian Is born in one. not acquired,
and I can think Of no more pitiful sight
than man who thinks he is funny and
is not. So please don't quote me say
ing / am a comedian. like comedy
parts better tnan any other kind. for the
reason, maybe. that there is no sound
that pleases an actor more than 10 hear a
ripple OF laughter from his audience-that
4 is, OF course. In everything but serious
scene. You're not going? / depended upon
you 10 help me with the dressmaker.
thought you might persuade her 10 make
the, dress in two pieces, like mans suit
OF clothes is made with trousers and coat.
| instead or one piece as sne Insists. Anr
now you are going to desert me after
I've told you the story OF my life.
TOO. Very well. next week when y"i
turn green with envy Of my stunning
gown, don't ask me for perInisgi IN TO
copy IL, for you just can't"
lis II all your own idea, your own
taste2"
"Well. almost ] suggest, and then tie
dressmalxer and I talk II over together.
But she has curious bad habit 4 6is-
agreeing with everything say and
makes me think she is laughing up her
sleeve at me. Come around next week
and see the results OF our combined
tastes.
I left him waiting patiently for the
tardy and much dreaded dressmaker,
aud few moments afterwards
when returned TO get a pen.
ell had forgotten, ! heard. az softly
stole out of the green room In order not
TO disturb the fitting, Mr.. Nicander con-
fding with timid questioning 10 the
dressmaker. Must IL be really as Long
as this9 You see. I've never worr any
dresses, and l might trip, and.-well al
right But how do you know how big
around the bottom OF the skirt must be
You haven't measured"