New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-24
MAKING A RECORD
Academy Of MusiC's Leading
Actress Has Passed 900th
Performance.

Although primarily Priscilla Knowles
amazing work at the Academy OF Music Is
worth recording for its own sake. II is also
valuable as a cheering object lesson TO
those Of us who sometimes fancy ourselves
overworked For this indefatigable young
actress. who nearly three weeks go passed
her eO0th consecutive performance at the
Academy, is now working hopefully 10
reach the I, 0o0th mark without break, and
thus capture the worlds record for stock
acting.
Should II not be quite clear what record
OF this kind means, II might be well TO ca
plain that the present Academy Of Music
stock company began its career at that
house during the last week of August, 1910.
and from that time until now has given
two performances a day Sunday excepted.
without a holiday or break of any KIM.
Miss Knowles is the only member OF the
company who has not through Illness Or
for any reason whatever missed single
performance. And withal she is light Of
step, bonnie of manner, with steady voice
and apparently steady nerves. Here Is at
least one person of whom the atrocities OF
New York life, with its demands for pleas
ure ard other things, have no. maze VIC
tim.
The Academy's actress, whose wonderful!
energy and achievements are beginning 10
be nolsed about I'm theatre districts further
! uptown. has been Obliged to make daily
schedule for herself, and follow II faith.
fully She described II herself recently IN
, her big dressing room at the historic old
| Academy, and although she was hurryng
with last touches TO her costume for the
third act OF The Sporting Duchess" she
described her merciless routine in a voice
! that sounded as though she liked ii.
! Il have to get up in the morning al
! about 7:S," she explained, airily. and
after my bath take few exercises in my
room. ! often walk down to the theatre TO
rehearsal as I am fond of walking and get
very little other opportunity.
Rehearsal OF the following weeks play
begins every morning at a little before 10
and lasts until after L. Then there is han
or three-quarters OF an hour for lunch.
! have to be here in my dressing room be-
fore 100 to get ready for the matinee
! Between the afternoon and night per-
! formances have an hour for dinner Tie
! rest of the time is spent here In my dress
! ing room, taking off and putting on make
! up"
When is playtme-that is, holiday ana
rest time?" she was asked.
| Sunday afternoon and evening replied
! Miss Knowles as though she would like
! 10 know how any one could ask for a long
er or more satisfactory loaing time sum
day morning Of course, We rehearse.
And these precious half holidays are
spent sleeping"
| "Oh, nv, no: not at all. cried the Wig
orous young woman as she placed hsr
| Gainsborougk connection upon her puny
red curls. 81 come down here TO the SUM-
dav night concerts nearly always, and the
| afternoons | usually spend walking
As a preparation for the physical labon
OF stock acting in New York, Miss KNOWLES
has travelled the country over pid!'"s
everywhere, from coast to coast
Il think | have played in every state 70
the Union" she said, misty, as though
any other place and time except JUST ns,e
and now were unreal Il have piaSen
San Francisco, too, and Portland Inc
the climate of the West coast II is neA~
tiful and Interchangeable. But somehow
I like It in the East best. | am from fhl'
adelpha, you know
Philadelphia! The irony Of her coming
10 New York and breaking a hurry recora
here!
Priscilla Knowles has a genuinely cnarm-
ing way OF speaking. She has soft-toheu
| voice and great clarity OF enuncla'ion'
which makes It possible to hear her WIN
ease everywhere in the big auditorium =.
the Academy. And her acting has un'
same fluent quality as her voice. IL NUS
he the easiest thing in the world TOT h.l
10 sail onto the stage from the Wings "
toss off her words In jest or 10 rhe''o"
them down for tragedy, 10 throw ph'a.'
over her expressive shoulder to the auu'
ence which sits out there in the oarhn1s
tensely attentive 10 her slightest move
looks very easy.
Miss Knowles says that the WorA "
leading woman requires no acuhs'
THE parts are all alike" she decla's
thereby recalling the words OF u D.
uho saws that a.! a woman has 70 ~
order 10 take leading parts In the us"as
society play is merely to be pretty
know how to dress we'll and to kno" hoe..
ing ebout acting. But there are excePuv".
MICS Knowles is successful as iea'''s
woman. yet she does know how to act
81 am ambitious to play on Broaows s.s
responded Miss Knowles wnen "a
whittier all this exertion Of hers was
,..a her. II am not at all anxious 10 De-
come a star and appear in the oro'hI.
NAV" she went on with disparaslns
,ress,on. IT want character parts iha'
! IL what am working toward
And II II is true that the varied work .,
stock company turns OUT cspaO r,d
versatile actors. Miss KNOWLES .or,.
make her mark in charscterisauon Cur
day, for already she has played o's'
hundred parts!