The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-31
THE GREAT REJANE
Famous French Actress Now
Playing i'm America.
Created Original Character in
Title Role of =" ZaZa."
THINKS OF THE LESSON
Says Such Plays Do Good and
Not Harm.
But "SOciety Dramas" Skater
Belief in Ideals.

Nine. Rejane is the type of the
Parisienne as she exists at home rath-
er than as she is understood abroad,
and Parisiennes will say there could
| hardly be a more perfect one. She
adores her children, talks with charm
/ ing ease and frankness spiced with
humor, and is outspoken in her likes
and dislikes. Her talent for dress
amounts to genius. 1t rules her, and
| she can never tell how she will inter
pref part until she has decided what
| she will wear in it.
II always design my costumes" she
said when interviewed recently. land I
always try to have them look fresh,
but not new. The secret of good
dressing is to have your dresses fitted
to just that point where the freedom
of every movement is retained"
She herself is a living illustration of
that rule. 1t is difficult to imagine
what would happen to Nine. Rejane if
she were unable to gesticulate, for she
talks with her hands and arms quite as
rapidly and almost as intelIigently as
is an art, and a very charming one at
that. There is a gesture for every
sentence, and it is always appropriate.
She never strikes a false note in move
ment, and at the same time she moves
about but little.
81 try to avoid the present custom
or frantfcally running about the stage"
she continued. Lack of repose on the
stage is a fragrant shortening among
actresses of today. The idea of con-
stantly breaking up the picture is only
custom, an inh erited one, and sense
less at that, it seems to me. 1 prefer
to keep the picture unshattered as
long as possible and 1 hope Americans
will agree with me-"
This she emphasized with roguish
smile-a deft turning up of the corner
Of hNT~ \ .s1xl
chievous glance and a cooking of the
head to one side. She has red golden
hair, liquid brown eyes, a nose that is
prettily pert and a face of almost child
ish roundneSS and Softness.
why do 1 do so frequently appear
in plays that are termed immoral?'' she
repeated in answer to a question. BE
cause that's the kind the authors write
for me. L am obliged to take what 1
can get. It's not that I like to act
those parts. Oh, dear, MOI I would
much rather act the part of a respect
able woman.
Il do believe that pure plays would
be quite as successful as the impure
if the authors would only write them.
Naturally there are many things of an
indelicate nature that it is necessary
for the author to touch upon to make
the play true to life. It would be ri
diculous to tell nursery tales to audi
enceS of grown men and women. But I
do believe that open vice, when shown
on the stage, works much less harm
to the public than the yelled wicked
ness and sin that is the motive of the
modern drawing room problem play.
Young girls can see a ZaZa, a Sapho or
Camille and not be contaminated.
These characters are admittedly fallen
women with whom a young girl would
never come in actual contact. Their
sin is so brazen and fragrant that it is
revolving. There is no temptation to
copy. Then, too, If the play is true
rt0S9n ALWAYS
of her wrong-doing and strong moral
lesson is taught.
ION the other hand, the hidden inn
moralities of society when set forth on
these society plays the young girl has
the veil lifted for her, and the wicked
ness going on around her every day is
1uringly pointed out. She is told the
which she should not know. 1t ruins
her ideals and skaters her belief in
virtue and right living.
but 1 do believe an era of cleaner
plays is at hand. None will welcome it
more heartily than I. For my part, I
have just arranged for a new play that
is an absolutely pure love story. There
is a financial advantage to the giving
of a moral play, too, as it draws an
audience from a much larger circle. In
many countrieS-France, for instance
only married people can with propriety
go to the majority of plays that are
"
tanned that a clean play is more profit
able than an unclean one, and am be-
coming more and more convinced of
that belief every day.
do you approve of the American
custom of allowing young girls freedom
that would be considered compromising
in France?"
s'Oh, I like the American method
much the best The American girls ed
ucation is her protection
Then the talk drifted again to the
stage. and Nine. Rejane said:
lit is one of my stage convictions
that the cast of a play should never be
altered. I also believe that the star
should not be surrounded by flashlights.
but by constellation. I also try to
sink my own identity. 1t is nonsense
to say that I must always be Rejane.
To say that I can only play one per-
son is as much as to say that an artist
who has always painted trees cannot
paint a head"
AS Nine. Rejane chartered with
graceful gesture of hand and arm it
was difficult to tell where her charm is
greatest-on the stage or in her salon,
where long-stemmed roses scent the air
and tables are Uttered with fans, col
lecting of which is her only fad.
COMING TO THE THEATER.
Something in Brief About the Theat-
ricaI Bookings Next Week.