The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-06-05
lFPONTiI ROW u.s. 27az7.,
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in The Girl I Left Behind Me-
why, that's the leading role ex-
claimed.
"Yes. Wasn't / lucky. ] cams right
from dramatic school. where i won the
Charles Frohman scholarship, ana MT.
Frohman put me IN one OF his companies
20 play that role. was prouder OF that
engagement than any I've ever had.
What kind OF roles do you like best =
II like the stirring dramatic roles-ones
that give opportunity for strong dramatic
acting. The namby- -panby, weepy her
oines exasperate me terribly lhen
like a good comedy role. In fact, IKE
about everything that is human or act
Able, TO coin a word"
What is your method in stock-to fol-
low the hne laid out by the woman who
may have played the role originally or to
give it an entirely original creation?'
Original, by all means. I'm always
glad when we produce I'm stock a play that
I've never seen, for then I'm not hampered
by the conception of the originator or the
role. Originality and brain are what win
recognition In the theatrical sphere. unless
one is a mere imitator. You've no idea,
unless you've tried IT, how dreadful IL IL
TO have stage director who insists upon
| your playing a role in certain stipu-
lated way. If you are told TO read a
! line In a certain way. whether or not
that way appeals 10 you, IL makes one
stilted and self-oonscious and the role be-
comes so many speeches instead OF a
character. I'm very glad that isn't Mr..
Webster's way. He helps us with con-
ceptions II we need them, but he never
| forces US TO use his way II we have a
! way OF our own. But it's hard for the
! stock player in this way. The public
may have seen the original production OF
| a play and the parts may have been
| played according TO the Interpretation OF
the originauors. Then. IL stock players
have a different Interpretation. no matter
IL the second understanding OF the role
may be as good, or better, than the first.
IL is never considered So The first Inn
preston is always the strongest and
hardest to erase"
''Do you find Providence audiences as
cold as they are famous q almost said
notorious) for being?'
mo. indeed. On the contrary, / find
| them wonderfully sympathetic. Just see
the. way they greeted us on our opening
| night, when many OF US were strangers
| to them. And they're wonderfully intel
| ligent. I'd far rather have the sympa-
thetic attention which they give us than
| applause. And they've been charming To
me personally. My mail every morning
| contains a great many letters, from peo-
| pie whom / do not at all know, with en-
| couraging words of appreciation. And so
| many of them have asked me TO lunch
| cons and dinners that haven't been able
| TO accept. / really want to meet them
| all, but this work keeps me so busy every
| day and night that / haven't the time.
| However, I'll have an opportunity at my
| reception next Tuesday afternoon, when
Miss Reimer is going TO introduce me TO
everyone who comes. Hope you'll be
| among my guests on that afternoon"
| 1t was almost time for the next act,
] and Clorinda Wildairs was ready for the
| fete given in her honor In the rose gar
| den so I reluctantly took my leave, car
| rying away with me bright smile which
seemed 10 centre around the beautiful big
| eyes of the already popular leading wo-
| man, and a cordial hand-clasp from her
mother who, though she had said very
| little during the interview, had spoken
whole volumes of devotion to her daugh-
| ter with her eyes. POLLY PRlM