The Washington herald., 1908-03-22

an amusing curtain speech. IN which he
relates with sundry variations his expert
ence IN trying TO get a fOothOld as an
actor. This speech has become as much
source OF enjoyment to the large audi
ences which gather ar the Kniekerbocker
as the character he plays IN the piece.
On tnat self-Same stage. he declares. he
rshearsed industrioUsly several weeks in
preparation for a small part in which he
hoped to earn an honex; living. His hopes
were shattered when At the end Of that
time the manager informed him that it
was tnought the play could be produced
without him. ThereuDOn ne accepted a
part at - a week with John Drew. 1T
was a light comedy part" he explains.
IN which l was required 70 carry two
candles on the stage" In this strain ne
rattles on sometimes for fifteen minutes.
while the audience laughs and applauds
70 the echo He shows that he Is a charm
ing fellow. as well as a clever performer,
VINO takes success philosOphically
had an entertaining chat with Prof
Hermann Anders Kruger. OF the Royal
Technological School OF Hanover, who IS
one OF the highest authorities on drama
and literature in Germany. and is here
to deliver series Of lectures az Har-
ward. Yale. Columbia. and other uni
versities, on the drama and related sub
Jects. as Ludwig Fulda. author OF The
Lost Paradise. did last season. DR.
Kruger is the author OF several plays
and a novel that has passed through
eighteen editions Hence some weight
may be attached 70 his theory that the
present-day stage Is suffering from an
excess OF naturalism. and has sunk into
a condition In which colioquialism and
ugly barrenness pass for art The nat
uralism required Of actors. he declared,
has debased them. and accounts for the
fact that personality Is everything. He
predicts a revival of the idealistio ten
dency in the drama, admitting that the
new school viii owe much 70 the influ-
ence OF modern realism. The old tragic
school Is dead. he declared, but a better
drama will develop, which viii combine
the best elements OF both schools. At
present. he said. the poetic dramatists
who are springing up. attach too much
Importance 70 rhetorical flights and verbal
rennements. without adequate vitality OF
dramatic action. and few players can be
found IN any country who are not welded
TO methods Of unlovely naturalism 10 such
an extent as 10 be unfit 20 interpret a
drama with idealistic tendencies. The
American public, he thinks. Yields too
much to the fascination Of pictorial effects
on the stage, which appeal 70 the eve
without making an impression on the
mind. He spoke highly Of Percy Mack
aye as an American dramatist who Is
working in the right direction.
One OF the Frohman theaters in New
York next season will be devoted 70 an
experiment OF developing, training. and
improving actors by q system OF inter
change in the different casts appearing
In different plays simultaneously IN this
city The scheme will be under the d.
Tection OF Otis Skinner. who viii not 20
on tour, but remain in New York the en-
tire year, presenting a continual change
or Dill. The organization is TO be known
as the Repertory Company. Afr. Skinner
will have control OF all the FrohTnan ac-
tors Of less than stellar rank. and play
ers. instead OF playing one part an sea
son. VIII be sent from one company TO.
another. supporting one star this week
and another the next II is not q training
school for amateurs. as Mr.. Skinner ex-
planned. but a school for actors and
actresses or recognized worth 20 foster
In young players that great feXibility.
versatility. and range Of power which
comes with the acting OF many parts.
We also hope" said the promoter. by
thus giving a greater number OF oppor-
tunities. TO develop a greater number of
young actors who can 90 something more
than look their parts -
FRED. F. sCHRADER.