The Washington herald., 1906-12-30
AN INTERESTING CHAT
WITH GUY STANDING
By MARIE B. SCHRADER.
By MARIE B. SCHRADER.

For years Guy Standing has been con-
sidered one of the best and most desirable
young leading men on the stage He has
always been much in demand since his
debut in this country on account Of a rare
combination of qualities seldom found in
the same actor. He is handsome in such
a fashion that he can adapt himself either
TO the role Of hero or villain, or to the
world-wise friend of the matron. her hus-
band. son. or daughter. Indeed, Mr..
Standing has that versatility of DISPOSE
ton which makes him equally at home in
any Of these roles and he plays ali with
convincing sincerity. The public approves
him, no matter what his choice Of part.
He has been known to play the dashing
young officer Of the British army one
week and the equity old man nursing a
faded romance the next, and the sudden
change from youth 10 age was not met
with torrent Of protests such as is usu-
ally the reward of the leading man who
attempts TO step aside from his eternal
self in various costumes and become some
one else. Those who have not had the
pleasure Of seeing Mr.. Standing in other
than deb0nair roles will find IL difficult
70 believe that he gracefully departs from
himself, but such is the case. for I have
watched and marveled at his work. Fancy
John Drew being permitted to lose sight
of John Drew. It would be too much of
a shock 10 the general public. AIr. Stand
ing should feel thankful that he has SO
much liberty, for, with handsome face,
a perfectly proportional and well-devel-
Oped figure, he possesses the sense of
knowing good tailor when he meets
one.
Mr.. Standing has given us a number Of
acting triumphs in his career, and Of late
he has been adding to the list His per-
Torrance in The Duel caused managers
10 seek his talent as d star, and at the
beginning Of the present season he went
forth as A Society Policeman" which,
however, failed to score a success, al
though Mr.. Standing himself made a hit.
Then his managers placed him at the
head Of The Love Route" in which he
played John Ashby. whose duty il is 10
see that a railroad is carried across the
land belonging to the girl he loves. Mr..
Standing gave an excellent Interpretation
OF the part and looked very picturesque
in his cowboy costume. Odette Tyler was
the heroine and it seemed too funny TO
find these two playing together when each
had striven so hard last summer for su-
premacy in the stock-company eompeti-
ton in Washington.
found Mr., Standing in his dressing
room at the Lincoln Square Theater.
where THE Love Route was playing an
extended engagement. and it was Miss
Tyler herself who introduced US. I found
him very sincere in his manner and ut
teTly unaffected.
It's strange how things come about,
isn't it?" said MI. Standing. Only a few
months ago Miss Tyler and I We're rivals.
and here We are making love to each
other. In the last act where I am con-
valescing from wound Miss Tyler feeds
me with a spoon. and I am entirely at her
mercy. Then she has her chance to say
things about our respective stock COM
panies. and I am obliged 10 smile sweetly
and can't answer one word.
There is a possibility of my having
another company in Washington during
the coming spring and summer, although
I am as yet undecided Ny managers, the
Shubert brothers have asked me 10 form
such an organization for the BelascO The
ater."
why did you select your present line
of work, Mr.. Standing"
I suppose you mean to inquire why /
do not play in Shakespeare. Now. / am
going TO make d complete confession. BY
nature, I am a lazy man. Yes, that's the
only way 10 describe my dislike for a
struggle with things which do not come
TO me easily. Natural parts appeal to
me, and the stilted eloCUtiOnary ones do
not Imagine any one trying to be nat
ural IN Shakespeare 1 never attempted
TO figure in "A Shakespearean play but
once, and that once was sufficient for me.
] played Laertes in Hamlet with Henry
Miller. II occurred on the Pacific Coast,
and thank heaven that it did. for as
Laertes, I was a joke My performance
was a farce, and 1 had sense enough to
know it.
THAT was my first and last association
with the poetic drama. 1 admire Ibsen
and his followers very much. for they
provide parts which are the essence OF
naturalncss. 1 am soon TO have my first
opportunity in an Ibsen play, for as lead
ing man for Miss Lena Ashwell I shall
play in When We Dead Awake and
The Master Builder There are a few
roles which 1 have played in what We
might call the usual type of drama-foT
both IbSen and Shakespeare are unusual
which appealed TO me deeply. My part in
The Duel is sincerely appreciated by
me, although I did not like it so we'll AT
first on account of the man being 50
blasphemous- 1 now prefer il to all
others. Then ! liked the colonel in The
Second in Command Sir Daniel Cartar-
ret in Mrs. Danes Defense has always
been a favorite Of mine. After all is said
and done. good parts make good actors
Bad parts VIII ruin the best actors"
At this moment an ugly little dog with
an honest face and wiry, white hair, ran
into the room and jumped Familiarity into
Mr.. Standings arms.
Now, now, Biddy, don't be so affec-
tomato" he demonstrated.
Where did YOU happen To-
Il know exactly what you mean tC
say. IL is TO ask where I found such a
plain, little dog. She makes up for heI
ugliness in goodness Of heart and in
faithfulness. She is an Irish terrier and
has a fine pedigree. I happened one day
10 stroll into the Bide-A-Wee Home for
Friendless Animals, and there I saw Bid.
dy, whom l afteTWaTd named after the
Bide-A-Wee. She rubbed her little cold
nd zu-Ia a.