The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-04
Theatre GOers Want Plays That
Reveal Real Character.
Humanity Vital to Success of
Actors, Says Crane.
NEW THEATRE MISSES.
Stage Veteran Calls House
''Mere Money Maker"
'sFather and the Boys" Makes
Big Hit Here.
NEW THEATRE MISSES.

ssJust a sort of informal call. Mr..
Crane" said a State Journal report
or as he entered the dressing room OF
the veteran actor after the show at
the Grand last night. The cover
nor as he is called by members OF
his company and host of friends, look
ed up and smiled Take seat! rake
q seati' replied Mr.. Crane as he rub
bed his face with a damp towel IN
an effort to remove his makeup.
do you know" he continued. APP
plying the towel with vigor, this
town is all right. Our audience to-
night was one of the finest have ever
played to. 1t made me feel good when
I saw that sea of heads. An actor
ALWAYS does better work before
large audience that is with him, than
before a small indifferent gathering
And do you know the audience this
night, was with us from the first cur
tain to the final drop? Well, it was
1t grasped the spirit of the piece in an
instant, it understood the hidden
meaning of the lines, Joined in the
comedy phase and made us feel just
as if we were in real life and not upon
the stage. I tell you it was bully
great. We all want to play this town,
soon again.
Mr.. Crane" said the reporter, ''af-
ter your years of service upon the
stage, what would you declare the
most vital essential of acting?'
short crisp sentence, Humanity is
the foundation of stage success"
Humanity Is Vital.
by humanity. I mean the actors
power to leave his real character in
his dressing room-when he is ready
for his cue. the power to go upon the
stage and be absolutely another per-
son. Forgetting everything and ev-
erybody in the real world and being
in fact the character he is playing"
replied Mr.. Crane.
TO illustrate: if a man is playing
Napoleon, he should be a real Ma
poleon, If he is caste as another char
acter, he should be that character. An
actor must do that in order to sue
coed. In short when he goes upon the
stage he must throw away his real
personality and be the part he is play
ing. If 1 were caste as some great
statesman, I should read all I could
about him, learn his style of address,
his manner of walking, the way he
holds his cigar if he smokes-in fact,
every little point in his character. 1t
is the little points that reveal the fin.
iShed actor from the person who
merely speaks lines. . ~.
The American people want finish
ed acting and plays with real living
characters that have heart in
terest-plays that unfold the daily
life of a part of our people-plays
that take particular group of Amer
lean citizens and show them as they
are. No play, no matter how beauti-
full its lines may be, that does not deal
with living issues and is not filled
with real life can be a success in this
day and age.
What do you think of the New
Theater in New York" asked the re-
porter.
New Theater Fails.
II am very much disappointed with
the institution" replied Mr.. Crane.
TT looks like a failure, because the
men who are at the head of it are
not carrying out the purpose for
which it was erected. When the thea
ter was first proposed one hundred
rich New Workers gave $4,000 each /
to build it. At that time it was given
out that unknown authors and actors
would be given chance to show their
merits-in fact it was this promise
that induced those rich friends of the
theater to give their money. Now as
Il matter of fact the promise has not
been kept. An institution which was
built to serve grand object-the up
lift of the stage and the developing of
the American drama-has been turn
ed into mere money maker-a bust
ness house.
duce real plays in because of its large
size. This fact in itself would tend to
greatly injure it I understand that
this summer the structure will be
9Idue i1ucn smaller nope that the
men who are running it will give up
their present style of operation and
keep the promise they made: To give
unknown authors and actors a show"
Father and the Boys
A packed house from gallery to nit
greeted Mr.. Crane and his company at
the Grand last night to witness George
AIDES comedy success, Father and the
Boys" The audience was delighted
with the productions play bubbling
and sparkling with real life human in
terest and comedy that makes the
average theater goer fairly scream
with delight.
Mr. Crane as Lemue1 Morewood. the