The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-10-05
NORMAN HACKEI
g AXIS OF Ills PLAY
DISTINGUISHES ACTOR Us SEN
~ REPREsEETA TIVE cF THE
WEST vIRothtlela TODAY:

49,
The distinguished actor, Norman
Racket, arrived in the city this nsorzl-
ing accompanied by his valet and n
large supporting company and is reg
stored at the Hotel ManIey, where a
reporter OF the West yirginfan found
5snows Norman Hackett's distinctive
nigh bred dominating stage type, his
cal self would appeal with infinite
harm, for the actor aus found in his
.partments appeared in natural de-
neanor of democratic good sense,
nodesty and charm Of a cultured cos
nopolitan gentleman. A hearty hand
shake and a pleasant "glad to see
,ou. broke the spell of foFnality and
made the interviewer quite at his ease.
various books and magazines about
betrayed the actors studious nature,
8ghfle box of clear Hayanas aided
not a little in his cordially.
There is nothing of the stilted actor
ike pose about Norman Hackett In
,rfvate life. His personality Is whole
,ome ana frank with an etterveseent
enthusiasm about 1t that wins and
1obds admiration. He is keenly inter
,sted in affairs and people, evidently
vrapt up in his work and views. of
ffe lust sefously enough to be convinc-
pg without taking himself too serious
v for his own good. When the formal
ties of the meeting were over the
,eporter ventured the remak, "Are yon
nv relation to James K. Hackett?'
quick as flash the actor replied with
he humorous squint in his eye, That
wild cost yoi dollar" Which ex-
,, ,ained that he had been asked the
,tereotyped question many times be-
ore. 'sNo, I am not, even though l
NOW him very well and he always
reefs me as brother when we meet,
NV father was captain on the Great
axes for years, so come of sea
airing ancestry and can't account for
nv stage tendencies except that Just
row like little Eva. for they were
e.orn in me, and when was achild /
,sed to go up into an old family gar
.et, build a platform out of empty
i,oxes and perform to an imaginary
udience before even knew that a
heatre existed"
speaking of his present play and
,eason. Mr.. Hackett continued: Il am
delighted over the way the public has
AIKEN my revival of Beau Brummel.
r has been most flattering success,
mite beyond my. expectation which
makes me very happy, for II hah
allied it would nave been a keen DIS
,nnointment, as rshave worked very
nard owe the preparation Of the chaf-
,cters. The fact that it is probably
CLYDE Fttch's greatest play, and that
9ichard mansfield. made his greatest
same in 1t was enough to brighten any
nan from attempting it, SO IN order
n studv the characters first handed
i went to Europe last summer, visited
he ba7,nts of the celebrated Beau
-ecrred a lot Of rare books on the
.,,hiact had my costumes made by
Nathan, of London. This has made
he character real to me and given inc
She historical accuracy and atmos-
nbere SO necessary in the presentation
Of such a complex personality a
-reat many people seem to think
;aeau Brummel man Of fiction but
1aorn that he was a very prominent
character in his day and had most
nnioue interesting career, all OF Which
Mr. Fitch has made faithful picture
~ in the May He was born in IT'S
and died in 1910 at Caen, France. His
career in London as the social favor
tie Of George the Fourth and the great
est arbiter of fashion that ever lived
,yos intensely interesting and left IN
,,nde,ible mark upon the influence 1t
welded. Whatever may be said lot ut
against the man, he was at least a
leader. who compelled the greatest
mon and women in his time to follow
In his path. And by! reason OF ms
pecultar personalities and eccentric
traits he makes an, ideal BACKGROUND
for play, as his nature was complex
IN the extreme, the Interpretation OF
which gives an actor a very vide
range. My manager has royalty sup
ported me by giving me a handsome
nrotluetion and an unusually eapable
conspany. was very fortunate in So
curing the services Of the emtnet stage
director. oscar Eagle, to produce tas
play for me and no expense has peen
SPARED on, the details and artistic nj