New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-01

SERIOUS MARIE. DRESSLER
Famous Coincidence Leaves Fun-Making Behind When
She Goes Home-Discusscs the Stage as a
Savior of Mems Reason.

! With such 4 setting, how could the
famous Marie Dressler fun ever have an
inning II didn't. Although the call
lasted nearly an hour. if Mrs. Dalton
once said anything funny II escaped the
poor interyiewer's notice i'm his frantic
efforts to maintain his end OF converse
ton that lowered chiefly around modern
conditions in grand opera.
II love 10 make people laugh in the
stre" Miss DRESSER did finally vouchsIfc.
probably in pity for the disappointment
OF the dszed interviewer. but it is hard
work To be funny. aud reserve my fun
ma king for the 'foundrY'-in other words,
tor the theatre There isn't any ono who
can he funny all the time, and when the
actor enters the theatre he Is going to
his husiness-a serious one to him.
yet there are people who expect TO
roar the minute they SEQ YOU, who think
YOU ought 10 be scream all the time
That is one penalty OF reputation As a
comedian Why. only the other day ]
was invited TO the home of some vell-to-
do and otherwise seemingly sensible PEG
pic. and when ! Was introduced 1T "ds
like this:
This is Miss DRESSER Then. turning
10 me. my hostess said, Now say some
thing funny.
Imagine any one with Sood sense ma
Ing a demand like that!
II thoroughly enjoy amusing people IN
an audience. although | always go VII"
weight of responsibility on my shou'-
dcrs People need to be made 10 idus"'
and il is no easy thing 10 make theni' c.
nociallv if the author Of the piece mas
given YOU little to ne funny with. Ana
after all. as I have always said. 1t is the
MAY which is the thing in the emo
And. speaking of plays. ! do wish some
ono would write me fairy story Inc
nublic that goes to the theatre ho"duaH
has brains. and is no longer satisfied WIN
tho oId-fasbioned slap-stick sort OF STUN
hot IL has been given. BY that | don
moan that il isn't amused by some one
doing silly stunt but there must DC
some sort Of reason for the stunt
THAT is where fairy stories have theli
appeal. l think every one at heart likes
the old tales of Mother Goose ana similar
adventures-feels that they have a sort
of substantial foundation in our make-upS'
n q nlaver in such a piece does some
fling absurd it is in keeping with the
NAV. and even if woman is caIeu u
stand on her head in such a play the
neople will say: Poor thing she hau 10
do that. The witches made her
THAT is the sort Of thing that gives en-
tertainment TO the theatregoers' ana tha'
Is what they need In New York ana IN
every city and town in the country the
theatre is something that the public can
cot along without We are rushed huf-
,ied worried. We have 10 90 somewhere
for relaxation and the theatre gives the
mental rest we need. provided II IS en-
tertaining and amusing. When 1t Is II
is savior of our sanity.
"Why. ! am firmly convinced that inc
world couldn't get along to-day WITHOUT
tho theatre. have thought about the
matter seriously, and | believe that the
nrorld could do without judges and WIFI
out a whole lot of people that nave peeh
considered necessary. but it is getting 70
the noint more and more where the stage
is Indispensable l hope may I'VE 10 see
Tho dav when all that the stage is ana
does will be appreciated for what II Is
worth and when its people and the condi-
tions in II will become what they ought
10 be. something more worth Whlle III the
general scheme of things.