The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-10-21

could. after so many years, maintain their
popularity"
Has the problem play been the vogue
in England that 1t has In this country"
L asked.
Mr.. Irving paused, rested one knee on
chair, leaned over it's back and asked,
"What do you mean by problem play?
If you speak of the sexual question, L
would say that as long as it is good of its
kind the public will applaud it. They don't
care for anything morbid there. Do you
understand what | mean? They don't
want anything gloomy or depressing.
Hopeless subjects written around abnor-
NAL people do not appeal to us. Pathos
touches but never the morbid. No matter
how great a genius man may be, his
morbid play will never be a popular sue
cess in London. That is one reason, be-
lieve, why Ibsen has not been greater
faVorite in England. He has had more
influence upon our dramatsts than on the
public The latter Is slow to comprehend
a drama of another nation. and lbsen is
very local He is extremely Norwegian,
and no nation can be expected to clasp
TO its heart play SO foreign. This ac-
counts for the failure of some English
plays in your country, and vice versa.
1bsen has been an inspiration to English
playwrghts, and he has put them on an
other track but he is not such an idol
with the Masses
Mr.. Irving's Hamlet" was the only one
of recent London performance by promi-
nent actors which was received with gen.
erous praise. His Interpretation has been
pronounced the only one which bears COM
parison with that of Forbes Robertson.
who is in this country considered the ideal
Hamlet. When questioned regarding
possibility of his appearing in America
in this role, Mr.. Irving said:
10, ,,1o 10, LOT
but just how soon l can't say a present.
Naturally this is my favorite Shakes
pearean role just as it is with the major
ity of actors who are students. Hamlet
was my fathers best part, for in it he
achieved his greatest success. He broke
all Shakespearean records for a long run
i'm London when his Hemlet held the
boards for two hundred consecutive
nights. So great was the demand that he
played return engagement of one hun
bred nights The Bells first brought him
fame. and in late years Beckett and Shy
lock have been his greatest roles. | con-
slider Beckett the most beautiful of all his
roles. There was something indescrlbably
beautiful in his Interpretation. He gave
it nobility, spirituality, which left
nothing TO be desired. He used to feel
that part. | have heard him speak of it
with unusual tenderness many, many
times He had peculiar attachment for
it, and | could never imagine anyone else
as Beckett. for father lived him.
81 am anxious to do the Shallespearean
plays-my fathers plays There is some
thing in tradition, after all. ! was well
received in the English provinces. where
my father was dearly loved. and my re-
ception here has been extremely cordial
and fair, with no more comparison than
necessary. The London ordeal will come
after the termination of my American
tour So far l have not felt as nervous
as | might, for everyone has made me
feel quite at home, and not at all like
stranger. | like America, although | have
been here such a short while, and hope
to make yearly trips over. During the
present season | shall offer three of ia
theirs plays, The Lyons Mail The Bells
and Charles the First "
ITO what do you attribute the exodus
of English actors?" | queried.
"To the fact that America offers vast
and new field, one where fresh success
may be attained. making two theatrical
worlds instead of one. Then, too. the
press is very encouraging to the English