The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-06-14


did acting in
Tess OF the D'Urbervilles." that she
would resent being dragged out OF the
character. hguratively speaking. 10 chat
with an interviewer. so the Human In
terrogation Point resolved 10 call upon
Miss MacGregor. the Albee companys
new leading woman. az her apartments
al the Crown | tried 10 decide upon
time when / thought she wouldn't he
busy. but such time is an unknown guam
tity 10 stock company players. as | have
learned, so | chose after the matinee as
being rs good time as any. A rosy
checked maid disappeared with my card
behind a portiere into an adjoining room.
and-a- moment iater=FetHf#eaE bearing
gracious message that Miss NacGregor
would see me I'm few minutes. While
waiting for my hostess. I made a hasty
survey OF the room. II was a cozy little
sitting room. very like the usual hotel
sitting room. Yet there was an air OF
comfort and coziness that was delightful.
Numerous photographs. including a
large ono Of E. II Sothern and Mrs.
Sothern Virginia Harned). affeetonately
autographed. and several other theatrical
celebrities. gave the walls interest as well
as attractiveness: n table upon which
were numerous books. with n bit of paper
in one. the life of Thoreau. indicating that
the reader had been suddenly called from
her book perhaps by rehearsal or an
interviewer an open plano, with several
songs scattered upon A.; n tiny desk in
picturesque disorder; these were the chief
objects of interest / saw i'm the room. and
each gave an insight into the pursuits
outside OF the theatre OF the Albee com
pany's new leading woman. The portieres
parted. and. in a smart silk shirt-waist
suit and natty little polo turban. Miss
MacGregor stood before me- As she
came forward To meet me. the serious
thoughtfulness of her face when in re-
pose was lost I'm the radiant smile. and
her wondrously expressive eyes spoke n
cordial greeting You were going out?'
I inquired mo. had just come I'm from
the theatre" removing her hat. she re-
Piled II rarely go out after the matt
nee especially when playing a role like
Tess It's rather an exacting role. and
/ like to rest between performances.
You like the role?" | asked.
Yes. very much. II IS one Of the most
interesting characters I've ever played
and there Is so much chance for study in
It. When Mr. Lovenberg told me was
to make my first appearance with the
Albee company i'm this role. I was horri-
fed. Naturally, I was very. very
anxious TO have everyone here like me-
and I was afraid that the gloomy nature
OF the play would so oppress them and
that they would so identify me with H.
and that their first impression OF me
would he an unpleasant ono. However.
when I began to study the character, 1t
so fascinated me that ! was glad OF an
opport rtunity To play II. | absorbed every
phase OF the character and threw my
whole heart into the study OF fsthoming
tho way in which girl like Tess would
feel different emotions under similar
conditions When | am on the stage In
that part. just live and feel every bit
OF the character and from the minute I
enter the theatrc-even when am in my
dressing g-room-thcre is nothing in the
world for me hut Tess :.
THAT accounts for your splendid
suhordination OF self in tho play" I said
That's the incest thing that you've
said Of my performance and even broken
hearted Tess is not impervious 10 having
nice things said OF her"
rs that feminine or the profession"
"Oh both. she laughed Miss Mac
Gregor has one OF the most infectious.
spontaneous laughs Imaginable the
kind of laugh one would expect from
such a sweet. low. restful voice.
Doesn't IL tire you dreadfully TO throw
so much genuine feeling into the part "
asked.
"I feel tired after performance, but
never while | am playing Still IL is
much harder TO play a role an entire
season than IL is for one week-that is
unless IL is part like Juliet or Hamlet
which afford endless food for study.
When one has studied a role and gotten
all there is in IT, the task is finished and
If she were 10 go on playing IL for an
entire season IL would he likely TO grow
monotonous.
Acting should not grow monotonous or
else the montony becomes contagious TO
the audience Thai why stock work
is so pleasant. 1t is hard 10 give up n
role one likes AT the end Of the week 10
take up a role one doesn't particularly
care for. but IL prevents monotony. Isn't
It difficult 10 cry spontaneously after hav-
ing played role so many times? II isn't
so difficult 10 cry as II Is TO keep from
crying For instance. I'm the murder
scene in Tess, the tears would spoil the
effect I try to give, vet 50 thoroughly
DO feel the character in that scene that
II is with difficulty that I restrain myself
and express that fearless kind Of emo
ton which is far more affecting than
mere tears"
You like emotional work best?" I
asked. almost confident Of my reply for
when an actress gives such a convincing
performance as that which Miss Mac
Gregor gives at Keith's this week. II Is
liekly that emotional work is her forte
My friends say am best In comedy"
she replied. I'd like 10 have a rollick-
ing good comedy part to play next week
for contrasts are very effective. and |
don't want Providence people 10 asso-
clate me with mournful role like Tess.
There's some chance for comedy I'm my
part next week. hut IL can't exactly be
called a comedy part oh ! like every
kind of part. and I've played everything
I've been on the stage since 7 was a
baby. I'm fact I was born I'm n theatre. My
mother was q on-professional. hut my
father was member of tho company
supporting tho stock stars-quite q GUS
tom IN t~se Gays--such n r. l.. Daven-
port. Charlotte Cushman. Lester Wallack.
Helen and Lucille Western and others OF
fame. The actors of the company having
a now part 10 play every night. found II
absolutely necessary TO have a home I'm
the theatre 1--WE of today I'm stock DO
everything hut cat and sleep IN the thea
trcl. and that IL how | happened 90 bc
horn IN "A thnafrp Amid such an