New-York tribune., 1909-12-13


was observation-disclosures to your song"
1T is very good OF you to come. DO sit
down Won't YOU have cigarette?
brought them over from England I won't
vouch for their excellence"
Miss Tempest's eyes sparkled with youth
although she confessed to a son twenty
years old. She overf1owed with good spir
its. which were contagious.
You are here this time TO play 'Penel-
ope'." said the reporter. Does It seem
good 10 be back again.
Yes; I love TO come 10 New York You
have always been so good to me here. IL
Is one thing after another-lUncheens. teas.
dinners. theatre parties. bridge. But I get
no time for sleep. Do your women ever
Sleep"
TELLS ABOUT APENELoPE."
"oh, yes: in the daytime. They get I'D for
p m breakfast. like Lockes 'septimus. -
How very interesting. I love Sept
mus Don't YOU
Yes; but how about Penelope"
"Oh, 'PenelOpe'-I have almost forgotten
IT, have had such long holiday. But 7
shall open in IL At the Lyceum Theatre on
Monday, and do 50 hope New York will
like It. It's a very clever little play-Ons
Of Somerset Maugham's. you know"
What is the story?''
'Oh, Penelope is a young married woman,
perfectly devoted to her husband. but she
shows il too much. and he tires OF her He
becomes Interested in another woman. and
his wife instead Of resentiuz il, tries TO
bring them together as much as possible in
order that he may tire Of the other
woman"
A bit like Bsrrie's What Every Woman
Knows is il not?''
Yes. quite 50. Wen. the result IL the
man actually does tire OF the other woman,
sees his mistake and repents. In the mean
time the wife has learned her lesson, and
simple little play, but very clever. All OF
Mr.. Maugham's plays are"
''He is brilliant young man. is r- uot?''
Yes. very. I often wondered how he
learned so much about women. 7 asked
him one day. Do you know what he said?"
NO. What did he ssy?''
Why he said. I-I-I-Iearned about
women by reading the fashion papers"
Your play was popular In London. 7
understand"
Yes. have been appearing in London
since January. I have also been touring
the smaller cities-Msuchester. Birming-
ham, and all those places. Quite an un-
usual thing for me- And she shrugged her
shoulders az the thoughts cf the experience.
DO YOU know. I wonder how New York
will take my play. The people have always
been very kind 10 me here. even the first
time I came. That was years ago in The
Red Husssr-' How well I remember
was singing in comic opera then II was in
the summer time. And oh, how hot - was
The people had never heard Of me. | came
out on the stage and there was silence
perfect silence Oh. how dreadful il was,
But after my first song they clapped and
shouted. and rose in their chairs, and gave
me such a reception as I shall never forget
And ever since then-wcll. you know what
the result has been."
do YOU think New York audiences are
fair In their treatment OF actors unknown
TO them
''Yes. very much 50. They take actors
for what they are worth. and they don't
care whether they are beautiful or not. pro-
yided they can act or sing. In England
the first thing they ask IS Is she beauti-
full? Here YOU are more like the French
YOU want art. And I like the way YOU
show disapproval: YOU leave the theatre.
In England they rustic the feet and hiss
and that sort of thing"
do YOU always have your audience with
you?'
NO. not at first"
''HOw can YOU tell"
From coughing. restlessuess and the
like
MEETING HOSTILE AUDIENCES
What do you do them"
Il change my method. II I can't get
hold OF people one way I try another 1t
Is all question OF personality. There's a
sort Of magnetism that is established be-
tween the successful actor and the audi
ence- can tell in moment whether I
have il or not"
DO YOU always play Penelope in the
same way
NO. Ny lines are always the same. OF
course, but the wa I say them depends
on how feel If ! am in a jolly mood
emphasize the humorous. II l am seri-
Gus I play upca the intellectual side II
IS the same ith an actor as il is With a
sinscr--he Gpes as he feels. Oh. it is a
great art. And I tell you I am deeply
grateful for the hold that have on the
public The letters that l receive and
the things that people say make me be-
lieve that the theatre has a high place in
the life OF a nation"
win the National Shakespeare Theatre
be established IN England"
oh. I'm afraid II won't"
Why
There isn't interest enough. The people
seem 20 have the theatres that they want
II Is pity. however. that We can't have a
national theatre: other countries have"
With a toss OF the head and twinkle Of
the eye the little woman said: But there
are serious subjects for such a little play
I do hope. however that you viii come 10