New-York tribune., 1911-04-16
COMEDIES Of MANNERS
A ThinQ of the Past, Says DAME
FrOman.

il furnishes the necessary background IoT
the experiences OF to-day.
With the smell OF roses in the air and
o'clock tea In preparation. Mr.. Frohman'
frock coated gracious in manner and as
younc as he was in the old Lyceum days.
took the signal OF the questioner and
launched his boat into the sea OF polte
comedy.
THE comedy Of manners" said M. From
man 1T does not exist to-day. because
polite society has ceased To he great
factor In the progress of the world. 1t is
the DEVELOPMENT Of the best elements IN
the proletariat. il is democracy, that makes
for progress The clash OF economic con
ditions brings about the conflicts OF life.
What is called polite society is frequently
a coal which they who are not polite seek
TO reach-eithsr they or their families. out
Of these elements our dramas aye made.
Hence We cannot expect our modern
comedies t. teach good manners.
The theme OF the English comedy is
AND ever las been caste The theme Of the
Frsrch drama IS the domestic ,riangle-le
mcnase \ trois The theme of the Ameri-
can drama is money These nree cond:-
tions are ,he three themes in which drama
lists have found their best material The
Enslshman tries TO maintain his heritage
Of arcestry lie holds on 10 it with hrm
grin This is shown in The Lady oi
LYONS" In this country the average op.n-
ION Of a man is based on a knowledge o!
his financial standing No society IS more
exclusive than American society. for. mas
much as wealth is IT'S chief asset those who
are members Of IL are fearful lest they VII!
10 displaced by newcomers who have more
r1rev than they. The Englishman is more
secure lie relies upon the pomp q. prldt
and ancestry. upon blood and manners be
thinks he has little 20 fear from Sociai
climbers"
4 The conversation turned to the gentle
manners Of some Of the actors of the last
generation Mr.. Frohman was reminded
Of the tribute to the famous comedian
William Warren In Henry Austin Clapp
"reminiscences Of a Dramatic Critic :
HIS acting seemed the fine flower II
careful culture. as we'll as the free out
come of large intelligence and native genius
HIS enunciation and pronunciation of Eng
lish were beyond criticism. His Latin was
perfect in it's quantities. His French was
exquisite in intonaiiOn and its accent was
agreeable to Partisan ears. In all detahs
OF costume and makeup he showed the
incest taste and Judgment and the results
Of scholarly pains So Mr.. Warren was a
school and conservatory OF acting in him
self In him Boston had Theatre Fran
Gals. situated on fremont street. as long
Is he lived and played. His man.
ners were the finest | ever saw in man.
Mr Warren's whole style seemai~to
ne faultless. His grace. ease, refinement
perfect modesty. absolute freedom from
affectation. coupled with his swift respon-
siyeness in facial expression and in speech,
made conversation with him a delight and
privilege
Yes" said Mr. Frohman. IAN actors
culture. breeding and manners lend them
selves 10 an incorporation OF part. He
shows what he is more or less IN every
mart that he plays This is especially true
nowadays. which are the days Of types, for
which we managers are often criticised
The natural method Of to-day requires in
an actor a man who without makeup
shall be Of the type which he is TO i'm
personate. OF course. we still have and
must have the character actors
James II Stoddart was one OF these
man of simple. charming and singulariy
gentle character, yet he always played
villanous old men-avaricious, sinister ana
violent. John Gilbert was another OF the
same gentle qualities, yet he played
choleric old men like Sir Anthony Abso-
lutte He always played old men, by the
wsy, even when he was young. Thls was
also true Of ]. B. Blackstone. years ago
manager Of the Haymarket Theatre III
London. and is true Of his son, Rowland
Blackstone. now playing with T.. n. So'h-
ern. w j. lie Moyne, Of the old Lyceum
was still another whose peculiarly viva
qualities OF character always htted MIN
for parts Of middle aged men
There are also. of course, actors who
never play anything but the parts OF
vo,,neisb men. Sir Charles Wyndham is
one Of these. Lester Wallack was an
other-when he left the stage. man OF
seventy. he was still playing the parts OF
Young men John Drew must be hfty-hve
or sixty and he's still playing the romantic
types There is something IN the exuoerant
ouality of character which maintains the
spirit of youth. This is peculiarly true OF
Ellen Terry.
Then there are the young women whose
peculiar qualities Of character lend them
selves 10 the playing Of eccentric roles
MISC Nav Robson is one of these. Miss
Zelda Sears is another. Miss Ethel Hor-
neck. a Young and handsome woman OF the
old Lyceum company. was OF the same type.
The quality Of breeding IL a splendid
asset in an actor but without dramatic N
stinct Il is valueless. The most graceful
and best hammered woman OF society would
appear awkward on the stage. for she has
learned her department at home and at
school for the express purpose of appearing
10 advantage in the drawing room. on the
other hand the most graceful actress Will
often appear 10 little advantage In society. "
III an actress IS lady, however, she
will always appear as such, both on the
stage and in society. will she not?'
eyes. OF course An instance IN point:
Two ladies at a reception in England were
irving 10 identify third Who is she?'
one said 20 the other. Il do not know re-
plfed the other, but she is either a member
OF the royal family or an actress
Some years ago when Nine. Modjeska
WAS playing in Philadelphia. she was the
guest OF honor al a reception after the the
atre. / went 10 her dressing room and
found her making UP for the occasion
somewhat surprised said 10 her: MADAME
is this not something extraordinary? Do
you usually make up when Off the stsge|
"'No. I do not she said But to-day
shall be Judged as an actress and not as a
woman
EDWIN Booth was q gentleman in any
conpany. He also had all the other quail
ties that make a great actor. Mansfield
had some Of them, Barrett had some OF
than Irvine had some OF them, but Booth