The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-12-13
DRAMA BETTER THAN EVER
OTIS SKINNER HAS NO USE FOR
CALAMITY HOWL.
FRENCH ARE LONG ON rEcHNlc
In Opinion Of Celebrated Actor Amer
lean Playwrishts Can Learn Much
From Them-Mr. Skinner Appears In
"The Honor OF the Family"

From Them-Mr. Skinner Appears In
"The Honor OF the Family"
When Adam and Eve sat In their
tree in paradise" declared Otis Skin
ner In Sioux City interview, and
watched their primitive drama, doubt
less n censorious critic was perched
in an opposite tree box, croaking aoout
the decay Of the stage ".. HHr
The defendant of modern drama,
whose experience includes acting
knowledge OF the "old masters ar
rived in Sioux City from Omaha and
was on the verge of luncheon when
he was seen at the West hotel. In
spite of this fact and its indication of
hunger, the actor, who believes In the
present and the future, had time to
scoff at calamity howlers OF all kinds.
"This talk about the retrogression
OF the American stake Is foolish" said
Mr.. skinner you have only to read
back and think OF the plays which
were in vogue and given by our great
actors decade ago to realize this
fact. why Fitch, Thomas and these
men Of whom censors of the press
write so scathingly are putting out
better stuff than was dreamed of in
those days. The American drama is
climbing up, not sliding down."
AS Mr.. Skinner has given his at
tention for several seasons to the pro-
duction of French made plays, his
declaration that 1t was pleasure to
play in play of French workmanship
because 1t is so well made was founded
on experience.
81 hope the American writer's are
learning the lesson of technic from
their French contemporaries, for they
certainly have a lesson to learn" he
said.
This actor who climbed up from the
pinnacle OF being matinee hero TO
the higher artistry of serious work is
In real life handsome, quiet man
nered man. The gray in his closely
clipped hair, which has a decided ten
tency to curl, adds to the distinction
of his appearance. He speaks quietly
and concisely his words being those
of thinker, not one who talks at ram
dom.
Mr.. Skinner spoke with pleasure OF
the season which he and Ada Rehan
played Petruchio and Katherine In
"The Tanning of the Shrew," mention
ing Il as a season of "lots OF fun
However, he disclaimed any serious
intention of returning to Shakespear-
can plays in the near future.
81 intend to do 1t sometime" he
said, las we all intend to do the things
we would like to do. look forward
TO It as pleasure of the future, re-
Turning to an old stamping ground.
It is that for me- you know, stamp
ing ground which holds memories OF
nv work with Booth and Barrett and
others"
The pause between the names. as
we'll as the tone with which the names
were given, told of the color OF these
memories.
The "reminiscences of Mr.. Skinner
when he takes time to write them, VIII
be an interesting review OF an I'M
portant page in American stage MS
tory, His professional debut was
made in philadelphia thirty years ago
this month Later he played with the
famous Walnut Street Theater Stock
company, and with 1t played IN sup.
mort of all the visiting stars, many Vi
whose names shed a brightness over
the mage of American stage history
He took important roles at BOOM
theater, the Boston theater ana WIFI
Lawrence Barrett and was member
of the famous DAILY company when
made the historic tour of European
cities, playing London, PARIS ana Der
lin. He was leading man with Nine
Modieska from 1892 to 1895, and since
then has been starring, the romantic
drama having large place in MS pro
gram until his entrance into the
French made play. Last year lh'
Duel" which pictures the struggle De
tween the church and agnosticism, wa:
his vehicle and aroused widespread III
terest and discussion.
Delighted with Walker Whiteside
work in THE Claim of Blood AM
satisfied that this talented actor \
about to come into his own, Mrs, u
w. Pollard and Miss Carol Pollar'
have returned from Minneapolis, wher'
according to the Sioux City Journa
they saw Mr.. Whiteside, who has beei
out only about week SO lar III
season. .. ...
Miss Pollard, who formerly was
member of Mr.. Whiteside's compan!
says his present support is prooapi
the best he has ever had. Miss Car
Blandick, who is known in Sioux Cit
as a capable actress, is his leadin
woman. Leslie Kenyon, an Enghs
player of note. also is one OF the prii
cipal members of the, company M
Whiteside has the part of strugglln
s.a;oo Ac matter of fact, I'm