The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-23

w manager ever made money
out OF either THE Sorcerer"
or Trial by Jury" and the indifference
OF the American public To the one act
play has always been rather marked.
But the manager of the Gilbert and
Sullivan Opera Company is not in the
least discouraged by these facts. He
Is working on the forthcoming re-
vlvals at the Forty-eighth Street
Theatre just as ndustriously as IL
he merely wanted 10 make money
and was not actually engaged in a
labor OF love. So there Is To be ade-
quate and careful production of the
two works since Mr. Brady IL de-
termined that whatever he does for
Mr. Hopper shall be done with as
much care as II he felt certain he
would earn fortune out Of L. Mr..
Brady has even engaged Digby Bell
for him.
Mr.. Hopper tells the reason why.
He and Mr.. Bell have been intimate
friends for more than thirty years.
Hopper and BELL first played to-
gether in The Black Hussar" AT Wal
lacks Theatre, the former as Hdcken-
bach, and the latter as PUkoic. The
last time they appeared In the same
cast was in 1902, when they were
associate players in "Mr. Ifckwick'
THE first time | ever saw Digby
on the stage" said the Gilbert and Sui
Ivan comedian, was in The Sorcerer.'
in which he played DR.. DAILY. the old
country vicar. with such extraordinary
sweetness and charm that l imme-
diately sought his acquaintance. We
became very much attached to one an
other. and there never mas been so
much as a ripple to disturb the asso-
citation thus formed.
Even at that time I had an am
hition to play such OF the Gilbert and
Sullivan comedy roles as were then
in existence. and | made up my mind
that IL eyer acted in The Sorcerer
would induce Digby Bell to Join me
in the cast. resumng his remarkable
and really beautiful personation Of the
vicar OF ploverlelgh--if he should hap
pen to be unoccupied elsewhere at the
time.
81 am more than happy 10 have rea-
lized this dream of my youth, no,
alone in having played most OF tho
big parts in the Gilbert and sullivan
repertoire. but in being instrumental
IN reintrnducing to New York my pal
n what consider as nearly perfect
piece of character acting as ever
graced the American stage
Richard Barbee, n young actor COM
paratlvely unknown TO Broadway, has
Just appeared as Youth in Expert
ence." at the Maxine Elliott Theatre,
succeeding William Elliott, who retired
after thirty consecutive weeks. Mr..
Barbee after the first performance was
engaged to continue in the role indefi-
nitely and 20 play 1t next season.
The role of Youth is as long az
Hamlet and the character dominates
each Of the ten scenes in George V.
Hohart's play.
Mr.. Barbee prior to this engagement
was stock company juvenile man,
who won success with stock companies
in many other cities, although BROAD
way seemed a thousand miles away
to the ambitious young man. lie Is
tust "a wears cd and has been on the
stage for six wears.
~ am naturally delighted to have
such splendid role as Youth" said
the young actor. II suppose | was
one of a score Of young actors who
applied for the role when II became
known that Mr.. Elliott contemplated
giving it up because of the great
strain upon him. II Is indeed dim
cult part, which requires the Nghtest
Kind Of comedy in some scenes, the
ability to dance tango and sing n
song, and the dramatic fire and in
tensity necessary in the scene showing
the resort of the cocaine fends. |
am highly gratlfed that George Ho-
hart. who rchcarsed the various young
men who applied for the role, picked
mo to pay the part. The most dim
cult part Of the play for me to learn
was in the gambling scene, where !
have to pay roulette. never handled
a poker or roulette chip in my life,
and It took a lot Of rchcarslng to make
me perfect In this scene. Even as
It IS make a number Of bets each
night and don't understand the game
en- ugh 90 know whether win or
lose"
Although Taylor Holmes has made
great success in "Trilby," he would
rather act comedy than G'Cko,
"To 20 very far In the acting Of
comedy" he said, tho comedian must
first understand serious roles, even II
he is not able to play them Comedy
acting IL more difficult than serious
work because It If the portrayal OF a
moro unusual condition ~ mind Sc
rousncss Is mans normal mental atti'
tude. His laughter r!u3t hc provoked
ard this ls the work Of the comedian
The serious actor does not have Il
create seriousness In his audience, fol-
that ia ~ ntti'nd" when the curtain
rises. Tn" comedian must arouse an
audience from It's natural mood anc
carry II into n merrier one. As al
comedy Is created by sudden surprises
the comedian must mentally SHOCK
MS auditors TO produce laughter. O.
course there arc some shocking coma