The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-14
Otis Skinner Lays Aside His
Famous Stage Sword.
Star Declares Plays of Old Order
Are Dead.
MODERN LIFE PIECES.
Says New Theatre Is Success
and Aids Authors.
Real Writers in Demand With
All Producing Managers.

He nestled deep down in his gray
| bathrobe. crossed his arms over his
| chest. gave his chin a sort of upward
push, looked about him and said: I
am cold. It looks like just ''cawn't''
keep warm in these "dwessing
rooms"
1t was Otis Skinner taking He
had just come off the stage at the
conclusion of the last act of Your
Humble Servant and between appIi-
cations of cold cream. warm water,
powder and other facial what-nots
found time to interview a State Jour
nal man. He did the interviewing. The
writer does not know that Mr.. Skinner
ever hobnobbed with WI Ting Fang.
the Chinese sage who represented the
court of the Dragon at Washington
for so many years, but he certainly
has Minister Wu's habit of Interview
ing reporters.
He wanted to know all about To-
peka. you see I don't remember
when I was here last" he said, IT
never bother my mind with such
things. 1 do not know much about
any city except New York. I play
SO very many"
ut seems strange to see you with
out your sword" ventured the State
Journal man.
Strange, strange replied the star.
Why, / am very, very happy to be
without it. 1t no longer annoyS me-
why sir, do you know I used to leave
my bed at night dreaming about that
piece of steel? I would take it in
my hand and watch for my cue to
go on. Then my man would hear me
thought that 1 have left it behind de-
lights me-
But your success in plays of the
old order. L
Human Life Today.
MY success, my success. I know,
l know. But the old order vehicle
has gone forever. People want some
sents human life today. Theater-
goers are tired of seeing the dry bones
of the dead of other ages ratified be-
fore them. What do they care about
how many pinches of snuff this king
or that prince took two hundred years
ago? Why, nothing. But they do de-
sire to know and understand some
thing about their own time and life.
They are living and they demand liv-
ing plays. Not slush or strained stor-
les, but just ordinary life pictures of
the slums of societyof all classes and
these are the only Kind of plays sue,
ceeding nowadays.
Just you have look at Broadway.
What are they doing there? Why play
after play has been put on and taken
off since this season opened. Failures.
failures, failures. Nothing but rank
failures. And why? The answer tits
simple as a c. Because the story
they told did not strike the right chord
and because the actors were dressed
puppets, not characters"
The New I9aeater.
'~The new theater-'' gasped the re-
porter.
"a lot of very, very mean things
have been said about the new theater,
but it is all right. Folks say tits not
operated rightly but IT'S. I understand
those at the head of it read every play
sent to them and if they find one worth
producing they produce it. The stage
is in a very serious condition today.
Trash, trash. trash. We have a sea
Of trash but very. very few real plays.
1t used to be that a man with a real
play hunted and hunted for a pro-
Queer. Today tits different The pro
Queer is hunting and hunting for the
man with the real piece. If some of
them do not find one very soon they'll
bankrupt There are hundreds of
trash writer's but the play writer's
are few and far between. The man who
today could write three human plays
could become a millionaire in six
months"
'sYour Humble Servant"
A good house greeted Otis Skinner
and an excellent supporting company
at the Grand Saturday night. to wit
ness "Your Humble Servant" The
vehicle Mr.. Skinner is using this year
tells the story of the stage-a story of
love and sacrifice-of an actor who
name in flaming letters in a great city
as a star. The acting was up to Mr..
SINNERS only Standard-the best. The |
work of Mr.. Skinner was excellent