Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-14
BARRETT FORESAW
MRS. FISKE'S ART

1T is interesting to note in connection
with Mrs. Fiske's appearance here
n in "Rosmersholm" at the Belasco
theater June 90 that her aility TO inter-
pref Ibsen roles was predlcteu years
ago by the late Lawrence Barrett, VINO,
at q time when Mrs Fiske, then MINNIE
Madden, was regarded by the pubic
solely as light Coincidence, saw IN ner
the talents, the intellectual grasp, tine
technical excellence and the great ORA
matte insight that the interpreter OF
Ibsen must possess.
1t was Barrett who advised Mrs.
Fiske, then hardly more than child,
to study the serious drama, and more
especially the PLAYS of Ibsen, for which
he believed her admirably fitted. lie
predicted that in such roles lay her way
to success, and outlined In general
way the future that Mrs. Fiske has now
attained
such a prediction, IL made 10 public
at that time, would have been regarded
incredulously, but how unerring was
Barrett's judgment and foresight subse-
quent events have proved.
It was as Nora in "A Dolls House
that Mrs. Fiske returned to the stage
after several years. absence, to win by
single performance place in the
foremost rank of English speaking ac-
tresses. The qualities that Barrett had
discerned, even before she herself
realized them, were there and the sue
cess that Barrett had predicted was
hers This performance of "A Dolls
House for charity matinee was the
means of bringing Mrs. Fiske perman-
emily before the public again, return
that has given us Tess. Becky Sharp,
Magda, Cyprienne. Gilberta, Leah
Kleschna, Cynthia Karslake and other
roles In which her art has been made
manifest.
In "Hedda Gabler' Mrs. Fiske had
her second Ibsen role, and once again
her success was great. In "Rosmers-
holm," her third Ibsen play, she has
as Rebecca West character differing
widely from either Nora or Hedda, but
strikingly dramatic and interesting.
Fuller Mellish
Fuller Mellish, one of the members of
the Manhattan company supporting
Mrs. Fiske, is the only son OF Rose LIE
Clercq, in her time the most celebrated
grande dame of the English stage, and
is a nephew Of Carlotta and Charles
LIE Clercq. He began his proiessional
career as a member Of Edwin Booths
company during Booths second visit
to England. Early in his career he was
also a member of the Kendalls' COM
pany and for ten years was leading
Juvenile of company at the Vaude-
Vile theater, London.
In addition to his engagement with
Booth, Mr.. Mellish has been fortunate
in having supported other of the great
actors OF the times. For eight years
he acted in Sir Henry Irving's company.
playing in many of his most notable
productions and originating parts In
1.-THE Story of Waterloo" 1.-THE Medi-
cine Man" and MADAME San Gene"
in which he played Napoleon for twelve
weeks during Mr.. Irving's first long ILL
ness.
Mr.. Mellish's first appearance in
America were with Irving, whom he
supported on two of his tours. When
Mary Anderson played "a Winters
Tale" in England, Mr.. Mellish appeared
as Florizel. He was two seasons with
Beerbohm Tree at the Haymarket He
revisited America with Martin Harvey
and has since remained here.
Among his American appearances
have been those In ULYSSES" THE
Dictator" with Mrs. Patrick Campbell
in "The Sorceress." with Annie Russell
| In Jimmy the Carrier" with Richard
Mansfield in various roles, and with
Viola Allen in "Cymbeline" as Iachimo,
and in Twelfth Night" as Sir Tony
Belch. In Mrs. Fiske's production of
'Rosmersholm" Mr.. Mellish plays the
character of Rector Knoll.