New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-06

II isn't every day that one sees fairies
pass by near enough 10 touch WINE
waiting I'm witch's dressins-room at
that. and then has a real intimate hop-
nobby interview with the witch herself
I'm "a red flannel petticoat Persons who
don't make "a practice OF reading their
programmes when they 90 TO the tleatre
may have seen The Good Little Devil
mo the Republic without ever suspecung
that the witch was not a woman, but
most Now Workers know hy this time
that the part of old Mrs. MacMiohe is
ulaycd hy William Norris. who has Gre
atcd ON the stage as many eccentric chill
dren of his fancy as the Old Woman Who
Lived in 4 Shoe had about her apron
strings. 10 is true. however. that there
are sulI some persons who do not know
all about Mr. Norris. and one OF them
is "a woman vino was a. the theatre the
other day and sat behind Mrs. Norris.
thc actors wife
"Sha made several comments that my
wife overheard said Mr.. Norris. and
when tine witch had beaten a. small boy
and driven him or She exclaimed.
'Oh. dear, / just wish that big dog
would bite that old woman" There is
Do wonderful do- On the play
BY this time Mr. Norris had discncum-
her,d himself of one gown and several
humps belonging exclusively tO Mrs. Mac
Niche. and sat down comfortably ina his
reed nanuel pctt.coat and pantalettes to
have a. comfortable chat.
"Nheu { first started ont 90 act" h.
proceeded, Nelson Whcatcroft said 10
me-. YOUNG man. never be- versatile, Al
ways Doe Yourself So I proceeded 20 take
the opposite view Of stage aims. and I'm
the eighteen years ~ my career / have
always accepted every part offered
Whether J chose my course wisely ]
leave To- the public TO decide. but. If I
chose mwiscly why did Mr. Belasco
select me for the part Of Mrs MacMlche2
An actor who lis not ct all Ike the per-
son he represents may be- successful II
Is Mr. Frohman's opinion that the people
want 20 see you ass YOU are. There was one
actor who had beautiful white hair whom
Mr. Frohman never allowed 10 wear "a
wig. lie said people wanted 10 see the hair.
Mr.. Gillette was quoted in The Tribune
personality. / don't agree with him TO
me acting is characterization and without
Characterization you are not doing much
acting
Speaking of versatility that reminds
me that I turned from Melchizcdek Pin
chas i'm The Children of the Ghetto To
The Burgomaster' closed with that in
the middle of the summer and came right
back to New York and opened as the
dwarf Jester in The Palace Of the King
another striking contrast. Then / origi-
mated King Dodo. and a month after that
closed took the part Of Pepc In Fran
ccsca da Rimni' The following season |
went with Babes i'm Toyland.
Mr. Norris WAS here interrupted by the
entrance of friend but ii is a matter of
common knowledge that he kept right on
after the season of l9oj-06 playing leading
comedy parts that We're I'm strong con-
trast When the visitor had gone. Mr..
Norris. upon being reminded of Mr.. Gill
lettes opinion that the greatest actors
had found certain parts antpathetic and
unsuited TO them. declared that Booth
was equally great as Richeleu. Hamlet
ana Brutus. and that his most wonderful
performance was as laeo. Irving. ne said
was supreme rs ShylocS In THE Bells"
and as Corporal Brewster. These widely
divergent parts he classed as MASTER
pieces
There is an intuition for characterize
lloh that comes 10 some actors" said Mr.
MOTIFS "Of course, when I'm studying
II part won't call it creating for think
the author does that. but | can Sc. the
character Mrs MacAIchc came to mo
long before ! attempted to play her. This
intuition Is blessed gift / think thar
practically the only limitations Of an ac-
tor are physical.
when otis Skinner accepted me AZ
Pope Ia Francesca da Rimiui evorv ono
said ms selection was ridiculous They
had been accustomed To see the nart
taken by Louis James. who weighed 200
pounds. / weigh only 80. II was the hes,
thing / ever did / was not able to carr,
the part along by sheer strength AZ
James did. but had to show "A sneakinp
subtle devil. There are two or three WAYS
to do things and set results that are
effective and are remembered"
one couldn't think of anything more
effective than Mrs MacMiche, the old
witch, who has now been at the Republic
for seventeen weeks.