The San Francisco call., 1909-01-25
Mr.. Sothern Discusses
Mr.. HotaIing S Criticism
l. SorHERN American actor

L IL American actor ana
purveyor Of the best in contempo-
L. raneous drama. doesn't think much
of Richard HOtaling's criticism of his
performance in Hamlet as given in
full in yesterday mornings Call.
He protests fine affection for his
critic, the millienaiwe act~~ ~~T
sincere regard for his Judgment, but
says it is difficult to reply To tne-cluO-
mans critique because IT doesn't say
anything.
L love conflict" said Sothern yes
terday, and / enjoy a fair fight; but
to have conflict there must be a clash
of judgment and a divergence of
opinion. That is TO say. there must be
some opinion to fight. So far as
can see Mr.. Hotahng hasn't expressed
any opinion.
We actors" continued Sothern.
ARE like the niSger at the circus who
sticks his black pate through hole
IN a canvas and lodges the balls that
are SHE'D at him. You people pay
for the ammunition and it's up 10 us
TO dodge. Luckily, were not always
hit | do not mind criticism Even
If man merely says l failed TO inn
press hint is something to kn0yv
that you have failed In this case
feel certain that when Mr. Hotaling
says my Hamlet did not move his
emotions he means it very sincerely.
So I'm bound to conclude there must
be something the matter with me
or with him-for Hamlet is one OF the
most emotional roles ever conceived
by mortal man. There is every shade
of feeling that human being could
experience in that part. and to have
failed to touch an auditors heart is
evidence that something is wrong
either with the actor or auditor. In
this particular case I am cOnsoled by
the thought that most of my hearers
acknowledge by silence and attention
and by other visible evidence that
they are emotionally affected
In my rash youth" continued SOth-
ern, Il used TO write letters to the
press and engage in tits without num-
ber I'm older now, and so I'm
cooler. 1 read eagerly all criticism
about my work. Out of much of it l
gain some good. even, as 1 said, if the
critic merely tells me l was ineffec-
tive and doesn't tell me where the
fault was
1T isn't given to every man to be
able to express his thoughts clearly.
Many are only able to say, There's
something the matter with that act,
but l don't exactly know what it is
If the actor is wise he Will investi-
gate such statement, for it may be
that he will be able to discover for
himself what's the matter.
Il agree with all Mr. Hotaling has
to say about the properties of criti-
cism. but it is rarely encountered in
the form he suggests. Naturally the
best criticism comes from the men,
bers of my own craft-frOm actors.
Innumerab BILE times an old hand at
stage business Will point out a weak
ness here or a lack there. He will
see it because he is craftsman and
it is his business as well as his art.
Few critics attain this perfection, Just
as few actors attain the critics ability
to write. / read a stupid story in q
newspaper. / know it's stupid. but I
can not tell just wherein it does not
conform TO the principles of good jour
nalism A trained newspaperman can
tell in a minute what the trouble is.
That's because it is his business and
he has devoted all his time TO it, So
the valuable aids to an actor more
frequently come from his fellow play
ers-from those who are actors. That
seems to be reasonable enough
Isn't it?
However. I must say again that I
am always alert to. read criticism of
my work from every source and have
prohted by it in many ways. I do
not know what TO make of Mr.. HOtal-
ing's statement that an older Hamlet
than Mr.. SOthern Dy attempting TO
give greater moral weakness would
have done so at the expression of
youth L did not know that moral
weakness was any more the property
of youth than age. However. it is
only minor matter.
''Do not misunderstood me about
this. 1 am pleased to think that Mr..
Hotaling has seen my Hamlet and
that, while it did not stir him emo
tionaIly. it was worth his while for
the evidence he was good enough to
say he found of my serious endeavOr.'
am also pleased that he liked
Miss Virginia Hammond's portrayal
of Ophelia. / am bound to admire Mr..
Hotaling's devotion to good drama. and
/ think it very fine thing indeed for
millionaire to spend some of his
time and abundance of money in act
ing Shakespeare plays"