New-York tribune., 1919-11-30

~ nism between our lh'e''eo'""'
theater and our popular theater
are SO healthy and so mutual, there
are few cases Of dual allegiance. II as
an actor you cast your die with the in
telectuals, you are likely TO be des-
tined TO sleazy, unfinished, semi-ama-
teur productions, with little oppor-
,unity for gaining that disciplined ease
that comes from efficient professional
direction. On the other hand, an ac-
tors Imagination may go quickly 10
sleep on the parts chiefly current in
the popular theater. So small bag o.
tricks suffices for lifetime that the
creative impulse seldom survives long
experience.
But it is from the small group OF
"borderland" cases-those who have ad-
venturously alternated between both
groups-that we have drawn some Of
our best and freshest acting in recent
seasons. Roland Young is such a one.
And Frank Conroy is another. The
blend OF the professional thing called
style with the amateur gift of imagi-
nation gives something amazingly fine
in acting.
Frank Conroy has so!ourned in the
byways with several little theater
groups. Now and then he has given
of flashes OF distinction and power.
but he has never achieved any steady
glow until his present role-that OF
Parnell, the Irish patriot. in THE Lost
Leader" at the Greenwich Village
Theater.
Conroy is twenty-nine years old. He
comes Of an Irish family, but he was
born in England. At eighteen he es-
capped from school and somehow found
Z way into the company Of the Benson
Shakespearian Theater. For several
seasons he built up the basic founda-
ton of an intimacy with Shakespeare.
He had only sma parts-but he real
ized soon how good Shakespeare had
been 10 the humber actor. He has
written such parts of ten and twelve
lines length as have never been writ
ten for the actor since. There is
flesh and blood and gristle in all these
Ear.s Of Surrey and Dukes OF Norfolk
and Bedford and Sussex.
Aftar brief experience in London
Conroy came 10 this country and found
a par. in a Liebler production. The
production was the ambitious but III
fated enterprise, "The Garden Of Para
disc" In the wreck that fol owed Con.
roy came 20 port at the Bandbox The
ater, with the Washington Square
Players. Their light was out for a
number OF gifted, adventurous young
actors who We're temporarily on the
shoals. Roland Young was one 0;
them and so ater was Jose Rubens.
For TWO seasons Conroy played lead
.ng roles with them. appearing IN The
Magical City and in Moeller's Road.
house in Arden" He emerged from the
little theater" groups to play in tho
professional productions OF Chester
-sn's Magic" in The Gentle Wife
and several others.
Several season ago the idea OF the
~epe-tory theater took strong hold
on his Imagination, and he impressed
rich and benehcent friend with the
Feasibility OF the plan. The resul
ras the building OF the Greenwich
Village Theate- and his apportmen'
ss rs director. The value of his plar
s still INFESTED. After season Of
xperiwentirg in which Karen" anc
evcra! bills OF one-act plays were
ven. me war in,ervened and Conro,
was called 20 service in the navy. And
he plan has never been revived. Fol
re reopening of the theater. Conros
vent abroad 20 see what interesting
-ew PLAYS were current there.
The Lost Leader" had just been pro
luced in London then and had mad
m extraordinary impression. Conrol
aw il as d play worth doing. and h'