New-York tribune., 1912-02-25
LYN HARDING IN SLUMS
Actor Learned How to Play
Bill Skies by Haunting
, Lambeth Walk.

In this country strange as IL may seem,
the stage traditions that cover the makeup,
the business" or byplay and the reading
of lines of the characters OF Charles Dick
ens's "oliver Twist arc much more firmly
rooted than they are in England. This Is
readily accounted for by the fact that the
play has q far more extensive history
here than in the land OF IT'S oompo-
sltion, Because Of its attack on the poor
laws and the workhouse system, the per-
formance Of the play in London was pro-
hbited for almost thirty'years no produc-
tions being made between 1S40 and the
Oxenford version, in 1868. Prior to that
time the American stage had enjoyed the
Nancys OF Charlotte Cushman. Mrs Jones,
Matilda Heron, Rose Eytnge, Lucille West.
ern and many others. the Fagln Of Wallack
and the Bill Skies Of Davenport During
the last thirty years in England, as here.
the play has not been staged as frequently
as in the twenty years preceding. though
Irving listed Bill among his early parts.
Consequently the English actor in the play
enjoys a greater freedom from the shackles
of tradition than would the old school actor
here.
For this reason Lyn Harding, the mas
sively built young man who enacted the
part Of Bill Skies in Trees London produc-
ton Of the Comyns Carr version, In 1905,
and who will again assume the role in the
Dickens centenary celebration production
Of the same version AZ the New Amsterdam
Theatre tomorrow has practically Te-cre-
ated the part. He procured ab his ma
terial first hand. His general appearance
4 Of narnad
Millson. a man so ferocious that while in
the dock he attempted to kill the judge that
pronounced sentence upon him. Mr.. Hard
ing's voice and method in this part are the
result OF observations made in Lambeth
Walk, a portion Of London known as the
haunt of criminals. He told the interviewer
Of the way he had to brbe q fos-voiced
fellow to show him how Bill Skies ought to
expectorate lie took the breath away from
another able bodied citizen by offering him
five shllings for IN old clay pipe As soon
as the latter had a chance 10 recover his
composure he offered 10 find a dozen better.
cleaner pipes nj the same price Mr.. Hard
ing thinks that the only reason his pock-
cts were not looted a dozen times over was
that it is against the ethics OF the pro-
fession TO rob madman
When Mr Hardings engagement for the
part OF BIZ Sikes in this special cast re-
vival was announced r. B Tilton. who
had been connected with the American
stage during the so-cdlled 'palmy days"
offered to send him +. l.. Dayenports
old Bill Skies costume. This MIR Harding
promised 10 wear if it would 6t but IL
proved too small by half. so he has set
to work TO duplicate the costume he wore
in the London production. Assembling
this costume in Itself was an unusual
piece of work The coat was made of
furniture plush and the wa!stcoat OF car
pet From these to his oaken cudseL
every detail OF his makeup has been given
careful consideration, and. though Hard
ing hi nself is physically tremendous, his
Bill is more bulky still, for his entire
body is generously padded. Even his
head under the wig he wears has been
enlarged by pads 40 as to give the buliet'
! head effect so common to certain type
| of English criminal In London the type
! was thought so realistically drawn that
many believed that MIR Harding, in his
/ off-stage moments must be the same sort
| of brute and rufTlsn as his Bill.
1T grew 10 he most unpleasant Mr.
| Harding said. for could go nowhere
/ without finding those who we're ready to
associate me with ny part The dog
! had was a wonder. and I had taught him
to cover at a single harsh word. but he
,and I were really the hest of pals.
J Imagine my surprise. then, when one
morning delegation from the animal soci-