New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-10
'MALL|NER OR ACTRESS?
Kate CarIyon Says Profession
Is Chosen Unfortunately.

People used to go on the stage only be-
cause they felt driven to it from within.
Now they choose the profession from
list of possibilities after weighing up the
advantages of each. The finger of destiny
no longer points the way. These are the
PHILOSOPHERS of Kate Cariyon, who plays
with such capital humor and keen under
standing the part of Mrs. Gilbey IN
"Fannys First Play" at the Comedy The-
atre.
Miss Ca.'yon belongs 10 the old school
Many playgoers hereabouts nave seen her
during her four seasons with Foroes-hoD-
ertson in THE Passing of the Third FLOOR
Back" But that was not gala WORK -or
Miss Carlyon. There was too much same
ross for her I'm playing the same part Tor
,our successive seasons. Before that she
had played with the celebrated j. -
r,ole for seventeen years. every niue
white a differentiated completely diner-
ont-part.
The art OF acting really does CONSIST
&, adapting yourself to the part ana 10.
-, having the part adapted to you sa'u
Miss Carlyon, as she sat at ease III nei
droesing room before the matinee 'he
-. dov Being chosen for a part
hecouse nature has made you the type III
,,,,rror and appearance that the part
II, Tor js 10 reduce acting from art 10
,.,,,,,arics and is practically TO make
',,-,o,,,,,a of the actor. In the long run
this method Of casting plays 10 SUMO
hayo \ serious effect on the stage.
some people think that the choosiie
- reody.made types is done oi'E )"
,.,,,,.,ca They are mistaken. IL II a'so
-, q, england. But there still is u'i-
&c. between American ana EMS 40"
In America the plays are given
~ o,.o,,, of individuals. English actors
"y company. Here, it seems 10
mo there is not much team WORK. 'ho"e
have seen some very brilliant iho'''uu"'
acting ,..i,,,as
.,rho sccret Of team work is sometimes
10 ,acrlfice For the good OF the picture
a. whole you must often give up '"o
., rho stage yourself, even II you
80 tho chief figure, and If lou are
-. character there are mdiViduai
,,aI,ts Won could make but must retrhh
49,, making in order not to distract from
49,, main poInt and so unbalance the play
sometimes you must be content 10 De al
attentive listener lost in the background
.,rd NOT listen restlessly moving all ABOUT
the stage. ;,
.you see 7 feel I could'be a stage d.
rector and produce team work IN no urhe
nv simply Insisting on having the actors
NAV into each others hands in these
small ways
Would It pc an interesting experiment
sone time to put the directing OF stage
into the hands of such an experienced
and mellow player as Kate Carlyon' ana
Iet her Tor him) work out the IDEAS
learned through a long career under va
rIous actor-managers, and through IN
runnnr,ble successful and unsuccessful
stogc experiments? The opinions Of SUCH
nlavers. though it is customary TO dis
count them, have more than passing
value.
The rise of the producer as
separate branch OF the art was one OF the
things decried by the woman VINO is
pIavin. altogether her own conception oil
the unique character. Mrs. Gilhey
"ln American productions she went
an there is too much producer and not
enough actor. 1t would be quite mad
dcning. | am sure. 10 be rehearsed Dy
opc Of these autocrats. Every little move
must be dictated BY him. So far, fortu-
pately for me, / have never been sub
iact.d TO one of them Mr. Forbes-RoD
srteon. i'm conducting rehearsals, ofteh
advises and suggests. But his company
always respects his experience as an
ector. admres his genius and regards him
as a mastei. They are glad TO sit at
his feet and hear what he has TO say.
Take Mr.. Shaw as another director OF
rebaarsals He leaves the Interpretation
entirely 10 the actor. II IL suits him he
savs nothing. If 1t does not he gives
hint of what different idea he would Ike
TO see brought out He, in fact, Is not 4
manager but a critic at rehearsal. After
the scene is all finished he makes COM
ments on the effects produced. He has
excellent judgment and is so kind in man
ner that his companies are only too anX-
ious to take his suggestions.
There are not many like him In this
way. The day of the independent actor
seems TO be passing. He is becoming sub
scrvient to the producer, and | think 1t a
pity. No wonder people go on the stage
without having the slightest talent for