The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-28
THOMAS E. SHEA TO APPEAR In
THREE PLAYS AT The NEWARK
"a Soldier of the Cross CDR. Jekyll and MIR. HYDE and "The
Bells" Constitute His Next Weeks Repertoire Something
About MIR. Shea'S Graduation Into the H~igh-prCed Theatres.
BY R. M.

- USUALLY it is like pulling oneself up by ones bootsrap or drawing
applause out of a deadhead for In actor long associated with popular
- priced theatres to try to graduate into the better class and obtain a
respectful hearing. No matter whether he has been acting well OF not in
good plays OF bad, The association of his name with houses devoted to blood
thirsty mdodrama is a handicap he must necessarily live and work some
time to overcome. It's a box scat against d gallery admission tina N
manager will everg give him a chance to graduate in the first place but if ne
does
what! go and pay a dollar and a half to see Hamfaticus in Hamlet"
Why. he used to play in the Tentwenty thrt Theatre. He can't be any good
Thus, the casual observer, who suit the action to the word, and either
stays at hon or else pay u his good money to see the latest enormity in
skrless and mirthess musical comedy.
Probably a good many people here n hGeabouts have noted this very
attitude som M or other zinc it became known that Thomas e Shed
classical renayoirom N Newark for wears in houses unzed mainly for thu ex-
pbitation o dramatic blood and thunder.
Yet in the writer's opinion, every who holds this in Mr.. sheas preju.
dice does that actor a distinct injustice. lust for a moment consider what
Mr. Shea has had to encounter. \
Think o stepping before an audience that has lived for week after lurid
weeku upon the "a meat OF melodrqma and trying to Introduce it to drama Of
serious purpot and merit, like "Richeheu" or THE Bells" Even Macbeth"
crude burbsque that passes or comedy in the Theodore Kremcr brand of play.
it, When they hear noble English imelngenty read, they think it is mush
The only thing that srs them up effectively is gun-play OF human chain res
III across bouomlessp pits, Oh some other similar circus stunts Of imposs-
BILE description.
Yet before just such audiences as these Mr.. Shea has been playing for
years, and playing with success too He has had his troubles but tim the end
he has conquered. He has nae them listen. He has vol their respect
He mas taught them that there are more things in acting and the drama
than are dramt of in their philosophy.
An actor who can do that must have some talent. 1t may be that the
necessity of employing broader n bhnter weapons to force the attention
of minds unaccustomed to IN hner things Of he theatre has somewha
roughened his method. But the ability to domtnate al audience by sheer
force must have been developed Is it could hardly have been by experience
before paygoers of a different class.
The writer cannot say from his W knowledge whether Mr. Shea is a
but a few moments each time On both occasions, a bit prejudiced, perhaps,
by surrounding circumstances. he failed to form any fair OF decisive jude-
next week, Mr. sheas work will leone as a revelation Of unknown talent de-
serving to be passed upon with open mind.
MI. sheas choice of a religious drama to introduce himself to his nw pub
lie may have been wise. 1t remains for Monday night to show. We are in
cined o think the selection of" Or Jekyn and Mr. Hyde or 1.-THE Bells would
have been wiser. Religious plays 10 lot appeal strongly to most of usn nova
days especially when they over ground SO thoroughly titled as hat o the
early Christian era ~