The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-07
Theatrical Gossip

He Is as youthful today in the aims
| and ambitions as when he first set
foot upon the stage. Yet here is a
man who has created seventeen char
acters, and has played Hamlet more
than one thousand times. and now,
having, he believes, laid the ground
calmly to modern drama and says he
will make that his life work. For
the first time he Is essaying such a
role, and he has not one regret for the
classic or romantic plays.
Walker Whiteside is of the medium
height, yet his physical being i'm
presses one with the idea of consider
able reserve force. Quiet and calm
eyed, he looks the man whom no
amount of labor in prospect could
terrify. The type that would reply,
when told an apparently impossible
task was in prospect: When shall
we begin?"
II went upon the stage before 7
was 49," said Mr.. Whiteside in a re-
cent newspaper interview. For
years before that 1 had thought and
dreamed of what 1 might do If given
the opportunity. 1t was in Chicago,
years ago, that I first met Irving, and
I sat in the gallery night after night
and studied him. Then quietly,
appealed to his manager and I was
given an opportunity to act as super
numerary and get closer to the great
man and to study him at first hand,
and from another angle of view In
detained, and then I got together a
little company and went out to play
Hamlet 1t looks odd now when I
think Of the seriousness of it all. 1t
had Its effect, however, in fitting me
for better things, and then had the
chance to go to New York and play
there at the Union Square theater. I
did Hamlet, of course, and the time
was not all Ill spent. From that
went about the country playing where
I might, and next I essayed Richard
III. One may look back at those
early years and smile a little, but 1t
has all had it's effect in the building
of what may call my character. In
the latter days I became more con-
hdent and essayed 'Richelieu.' Next
IL, turned naturally to shyloek as my
tion for time, and then came
'Othello,' and I played both parts
there. Time and again I have return
ed to those characters and I am fond
or them still, very fond, and 1 have
not done with them. Gradually
turned to the romantic drama. After
exhausting my list of classic and ro-
mantle plays. I decided to end my
try what I could do in really modern
play and modern part. 1 wanted a
larger field for my efforts and reach
ing this conclusion I naturally turned
Co.. the big firm of New York man
ayers, for Mr.. Tyler has tried for
years to persuade me to give such
talent as I may possess full oppor-
tunity. Now I feel that am living
a different life. There are plans and
efforts in my behalf, and constant ac-
ton, and hence constant hope and in
creased stimulation. For instance,
have but recently returned from q
hurried trip to London to look over
new and impressive play which Mr. |
Beerbohm Tree has recently put on.
and the American rights Of which Mr.. |
Tyler has recently secured. Mr.. Hugh |
Ford, the Liebler & Co. general stage
was sent with me. and at Mr.. !
T,y1er's personal request Mr.. Tree gave |,
a special. performance of the play in |
Dublin, for our benefit. The trip
across the water and the run over to |
Dublin consumed but three weeks.
That was going some, was 1t not? But |
things. you know. That is one reason
why I have increased hope for the ]
future nowadays"
A wife. who to save her husbands |
life. poses in the nude for a painting, |
and who is grievously misunderstood |
therefore, is the central figure in "a |
Modern Lady Godiva," the drama |
with which Amelia Bingham will be |