New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-19
CHATS ABOUT ACTING
Mrs. Teresa Maxwell. Conovr
Discusses Her Art.

Mrs Teresa MAXWELL Onover mad T.
New York debut at The New Theatre h.
Monday night i'm George PASSIONS couns,
"Nobody's Daughter" Although for nm.
time she has been one Of the most CONS.
tent members Of the Comedy Club. 4.
taken part in many theatrical nert.,-
ances in aid OF charity and has acted MA
some of the best known stars on tour. a.
has never before appeared in a re9s,.
play at any New York theatre. Her ma,
recent professional engagement was vn
Nine Nazimova. in Ibsen's Little Eydr
and other plays. Mrs. Conover was asks,
by the writer how she happened 10 h
playing at The New Theatre.
II believe that nothing ever 'happens.
she replied. MY chance TO play a, n.
New Theatre came to me because Mr. RoA
ert Milton, who staged 'Nobody's Dasxs.
ter saw me a few years ago at the Pa,
Hotel in The Deacon" a one-act play n
Henry Arthur Jones. II was perform
ance given In aid OF charity. Mr.. Mll,r
apparently remembered my work. b
when the question came up at The Nsr
Theatre as to the selection OF an actrey
for the part Of Mrs. Frampton. Mr.. Ml,e
suggested my name. Mr.. Ames asked n. !
TO play the part on ten days notice. I ss
cepted.
Ordinarily. OF course. | like to hagI
more time In which TO prepare myself An
there are naturally. several things that
wish to change in the acting OF my pan
I think I understand Mrs. Torrens, bu,
am not certain that l always convey mr.
meaning to the audience. ] Ike 10 FED
perfectly natural when / am playing
part. do not act: | cannot. ! form 4
definite understanding OF a character and
then l do exactly as ] think she would Do
under all circumstances. II I feel that
what / am doing is In any way forced o.
unnatural or theatrical I know that an
not doing my best. AS for completely sub
merging ones self In character and not
realizing the presence OF an audience, I
know nothing Of that But / do know that
for the time being I must not be myself.
but the character that am representing
"As 10 method, / believe in simpltfea-
tion-the elimination Of everything that
unessential The things simply done are
always the most effective. The natural
tendency is TO overdo, to put on the pant
with too big a brush. Some one has sad
that I did not rise to the occasion In ts
emotional scene in the third act Of 10
body's Daughter The situation did not DE-
mand It. The woman was not capable u
great emotion. For twenty years she bad
denied her daughter mothers love. aa
she had kept from her husband the secret
OF the child's birth. When her husoss.
discovered her guilt her emotion proceed1
from the feeling Of having been found out
Nothing more. How could she expires
great feeling?"
Mrs. Conover emphasized her remarks b.
gestures. Her hands were eloquent sc1s
one has said that she expresses more via
them than any other American actress n
the third act of "Nobody's Daughtr''
when Frampton is leading up TO the tlS
covery Of his wifes guilt. Mrs. conoyr
handles her necklace as II she were lister.
ing with the fingers. Later, when the A.
cusation comes. she reaches out behind hs
to be sure that Colonel Torrens. who share
her guilt, Is near This was beautifully
done. Mrs. Conover said that she was IN.
conscious OF Il.
My hands are large" she said. laugh.
ingly. perhaps she meant that her fingers
were long and tapering). II used TO think
that hands were awkward, that they were
always in the way. and were made to 81,
upon. But learned that one can express
much with them. However. am as III
conscious of what l am doing with my
hands while I am acting as OF the fact
that / am breathing or that my heart
beating"
Mrs. Conover is delighted with The Nev
Theatre. Everybody is so kind TO me-
she said. And every one seems to be %
happy there. i think IL is quite remark
BILE that such an esprit du corps shouk
have been developed in a short time"
How do you like the revolving stage
she was asked
Every much. indeed" Mrs. COnoys n
piled. "But the waits are so short-yin
the exception OF the long intermisson-thn
IL Is very difficult to make the changes
costume. was expected TO make con-
plete change In four minutes. Only CON-
muter could do that, and don't commute
Mrs. Conover like other gentle folk, "
quired her first desire TO be a professonh
actress by her participation In ams!s~
theatricals. But unlike the great ma%'
ity, she began at the head Of compau'
When THE Purple Lady" was about 70
produced some years ago she went 70 !"
managers Office and asked for part in
manager must have been impressed ""'
Mrs. Conoyer-she was Miss Teresa MAJ
we'll then-for he offered her the ieac'@
part in the second company al sSO wesa
rather a good salary for beginner ~.
hearsals were started. and Mrs Cono''
did so we'll that she was given the e'aA.
part in the first company. which Eau.
successful tour OF the larger cities % W
country. 49,
Mrs. Conoyer has delicious sense oi
NOR She can conceive OF no greater ""
fortune than losing il. II has Dee,
mascot during long, tiresome tours
night stands And now that she y
again such an incident as breaxuoss
a taxicab on the way back from inc
tire at midnight Is seen only In the 10"
a Joke. 49,
There is very proud man al Inc ~.
Theatre every night. lie IS John J.,
over. Mrs Conover's husband, a.
fers 10 himself now He watches M's ~.
overs every word and action, every ss IA
and expression. with appreciation =.
then he discusses 1t all with her ai''
plav. lie saws IL ia because he loves ~
matte art He is an amateur as'o' .s
mean talent. but any one with nan =. LA
can see that there is something pefs0"''
this devotion
STAGE NOTES.