The San Francisco call., 1909-02-28
PRANK-MOV
~ WALTER, ANTHONY 6

COME one asked George Ade why
he purchased a farm IN Indiana.
-oh, said the modern Aesop.
'.just TO refer TO-"
But Frank Moulan really wants TO
be a farmer Noulan is the new coined
Ian at the Princess. He starts on his
grin making duties. tomorrow night
ana Harry Campbell, who secured him
Tor Manager Loverich's musical comedy
house. says that Moulan rs the goods
He sure is funny Of the stage He has
a twinkling wit which promises well
Tor the lines he is TO throw over the
toonights TO catch our laughs.
asked Mr.. Moulan the other day
what variety Of comedy work he most
preferred; straight. or character. He
said he'd rather be a farmer. Per
haps, he said. you folks who come 10
fhe Princess next week viii think 1
should be a farmer. There's only wor-
~ GA the lot Of the city fellow. I'm for
natures heart. On the level; I'm not
5oking AS a child disclosed the tenn
permanent OF a farmer. I was a very
sooHeful kid. and the weather never
like clouds on a hillside vineyard. But
ny folks thought I had soulful voice
and sent me away TO New York after
leaving 1t 10 the neighbors. who came
70 hear me sing. They agreed that 1
should be sent TO New York. They
didn't seem in fact 10 care where was.
sent so long as il was away. So 1
went 10 New York and sang for the
manager of the Apollo. And that's
how ] came TO be an actor and not
farmer. I was a long time developing
ily bump OF hUmor. though. II l have
one now. Il is because have been
forced 10 ii. one thing that helped me
was the thought that my folks be
lieVed 1 had a grand opera voice, and I
landed IN topical songs 1 can smile
~ that thought 10 this day and IL keeps
ne sweet tempered and mellow. But
I'd rather gaze into the calm eyes Of
a saCkful Of my own potatoes, or do
truck gardening or develop my wind
and character chasing chickens or any
thing In fact that the quiet OF farm
life entails. than perspire behind paint
and inside Of a suit that don't Mt me
trying TO earn a living by making
folks laugh. It's a strenuous life, let
me tell YOU. and I perfectly agree with
Margaret Illington-keep OF the stage,
girls. It's no place for the develop
17ent of those finer qualities OF char
Zacter that husking corn OF darning
socks nurtures and encourages.
o .
.lfIF you ask me what I think makes
a comedian I would say that facil-
1fy: OF dialect is one Of the prlnci-
PAL gifts. The ability. to initiate a Ger
man. an Englishman, an Irishman.
Ecotchman and so on is. a great help
70 success in comedy. Not that a dia-
lect is tntrinsically funny. but IL you.
want to appreciate the value Of a good
dialect. just retelT a dialect story and
leave out the dialect. You'll leave out
the laugh too.
s.Tsre done nearly every kind OF q
comedy part from the youngest boy 10
the Oldest man. but I've not done much
dialect work. sti9l 1 find IT comes easy
10. me and my role in The Founders,
which is the first piece we play here,
fnrolves a dialect ] wanted 10 play
for. my: first appearance THE Sultan OF
Suiu. in which 7 was the original funny
lnan. but there was some difficulty
. bout getting the play and so IT win
have 10 fellow later We Will do il
here. though, in q. short while That
is-my best part. / think.
- s'One OF the first things ever played
was Gaspard IN The Chimes OF Nor
-lnandy.' That was a long time ago
and Twas pretty young, but managed
10 make UP for the old codger in
= fairly presentabIe style Ny mother
came TO see the show with a friend OF
ipine She asked him TO guess how
old. the man was who played Gaspard.
iOh about 4s wears old. said he He
didn't. know me and I thought that was
fairly good character acting
8 . o .
-kRuTHEN you consider" Moulan
M went. on how much is written
w .absouf the. stage and stage
leople sou must wonder at the ig-
.qranoe Of literate people. and at their
lack Of knowledge concerning the most
essential facts OF the stage This is
trlFe story. every word OF it.
When 7 was playing in New York I
usually shared in the same place-in
the same barber shop. I mean. Ny bar
Der got TO know me and he used TO like
10 talk about the stage I: encouraged
him Tor the Joy OF hearing his
weird views. I turned him loose on
Shakespeare one day. Have yon read
many of bis piays2 I asked. Sure
laVeso. he said. rubbing the lather in
vi fgorously. I suppose I've read about
.everythfng he has written unless he's
published something within the last
:. few mon this
II told him another time about NO
-Telli, the great italian actor who was
then playing ShyIock In. New York.
The. barber was Italian and so felt
much Interest and later told me he had
heard 'NoFeIH- The critics in town had
been pFsising the Italian tragedian
highly but I imagine my barber hadn't
read much criticism. Said he. Novelli