The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-09-17

49, II anyone bnoulu
happen to question
it-else how could he be so fine in his
favorite irish plays?
DO | like Irish plays? Don't You
think | ought tor he asked in Yankee
fashion. When I asked him if he did,
he said. i've been playing Irish roles
for fifteen years, and have never tired
OF them. The Irish character, with its
quick changes of mood and thought,
its sentimentality and its romanticism
its light and its shade. is full of pos
sibilities for the actor. Irish history is
full of incidents hat would make plays
in themselves. Playwrights have hard
ly begun't to cover the ground
you believe in the future of the
Irish play?'
Decidedly. I do. I'm not exactly
Irish myself, but I'm mighty fond Of
Irishmen. While | was abroad. no
matter where l went, | met them, and
we always had a handshake and a
chat. They're my good friends. all of
them. the Irishmen at home and
abroad
DO you find European audiences
very different from American" /
asked
Not In spirit; but in appearance they
are quite different. In Europe the
women dress a great deal more elabo-
rately for the theatre han here. They
would hardly think of appearing in a
high-necked dress. In America Il
woman in a shlrtwaist and skirt will
be seen sitting beside one in n silk
gown and an opera cloak"
And do you like the elaborate style
better?'
well, 1t serves to make the theatre
more beautiful. But what | care for
most is the friendliness of my audi
ences. l like to feel that they really like
my acting, and that they like me, too.
That's what helps an actor to ring true
when he's playing"
Mack Glad to Come TO Newark.
Then came the inevitable question,
How do you like Newark audiences"
Newark is all right. I've lots of
friends in this town. But as an audi
ence l cannot see that it differs from
a high-class, cultured audience in n
city. Well-bred Americans are pretty
much alike everywhere. I'm always
glad to come to Newark, for I'm sure
of a welcome"
II suppose you were glad to get on
American soil again, after being away
for so long,"
Indeed 1 was. The old home looked
good to me. And during the few weeks
I've been playing I've met with recep-
tons that battered me, to say the least.
I'm glad I'm here"
$50 am l." and Mr.. Mack and |
grinned at each other as cordially as II
l was an Irish girl he'd met in Aus
traIia.
Whether he's Irish or not, he sings
THE Wearing of the Green as if his
heart was away off in the "ould coun-
thry." Have you heard him? He says
that right in England they made the
greatest kind of a fuss over "Arrah-
Na-Pogue," and that time n again
he was encored for his rendition of
The Wearing of the Green His ar
rangement of that plaintive, stirring
ballad is most effective. The time of
the play Is placed during those days
when turmoil and rebellion in Ireland
were liveliest. Anyone caught singing
that song or wearing the shamrock
was doomed to die. Andrew Mack, as
shaun the Post" during the ceiebra-
ton of his wedding day, sings with
the colleens and gossoons The Wear
ing of the Green" while a sentry
stands guard to give warming if
"sojers'' approach, Shaun sings to an
accompaniment of melodious humming.
AS the spirit of the song stirs him his
voice swells loud and clear, to be per-
emptorily softened when the guards
SSH" is heard. Then the notes are
soft and sweet. A thrill goes straight
to the heart of those who listen.
What England Did to Him.
THAT got them in England, all
right" declared Mack. You'd hardly
believe it, would you? They're a funny
lot over there. Insisted on my wearing
my hair q certain way, with a lock
falling over my manly brow, a la Ma
poleon. Sure, 1 did it. just to please
EN-"
Maybe I'll have a great surprise
for you next year." said he. "I'm
thinking seriously of appearing in a
'cockney plye.' with the accent spread
thickly all oven every act. Perhaps
you think l can't 10 it. Think again.
you like English plays?"
Some OF them. Just now I've a
feeling for the cockney accent, and
I'm anxious to try it. Walt till you
see me. or rather hear me-" and Mack
gave an impish grin that said plainly
that no matter how grown-up he might
look. he was as much Of a bye as
ever.
Andrew Mack is deservedly popular
with members of his every
one of whom Is his tc command. Faith,
and they love him. every one. An in
cident that occurred last night showed
why they like him SO much. Miss
Mary Nash, his leading woman, has
been working very hard, and after a
trying scene, she tainted. Quicker than
the rest, Nj ok rushed to her side, car
ried her to her dressing-room, admin
istered r~estoratives. and escaped be-
fore h had time to thank him. Things
of this sort have helped to make An