New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-05-23
The King in Hamlet an
Unhealthy Part, Says
An Actor Who Plays 1t

Even in a republic. a king may have
some honor, in his own theatrical COM
pany at least.
In one of the Western cities E. H.
Sothern and Julia Marlowe were play
ing Hamlet" AS is the usual Gus
tom, a number of young men were en-
gagged as extras" to play soldier parts.
The colleges furnish a large part of
ager of the company is careful in his
selection from among the applicants.
After the performance one of the men
asked to be directed to the Kings dress
ing room.
"Are you the man who played the
King" he asked V. L. Granville
~ am" the actor replied.
The youth hesitated, stanmered a
few words, caught himself and then
told V. L. Granville about his stage
ambitions. He asked for advice and
for permission to join the company
The King told him of the stage and
then advised him to see the company
manager if he desired to join the
Sothern- Marlowe company.
look of establishment crossed the
young mans countenance. Again he
stammered and this time he did not
check himself
K-k-k-king!" he managed to blurt out.
Yes, Granville was King on the stage
that evening. And one evening as the
King in Hamlet is q trying expe-
rience. 1t takes him half hour after
the performance has ended to regain
his mental poise, he says.
To play one role in the theater con-
tinuously for any great length Of time
is detrimental to an actors ability and
development in his art, thinks Gran
vile; There is only one exception.
"How about Frank Bacon?" he was
asked. HAS his continued perform
ance in Lightnin' affected his abl-
ity?"
";Ah; but. Bacon is playing himself
and that is the exception" he ex-
planned. Out the continued acting of
any part, especially a heavy, psychol-
ogical part is bound to leave it's impress
on an actors personality. Playing any
part, don't care whether it is light
comedy, farce melodrama or anything
else, part which is at all aggressive
and requires an actor to be other than
himself tends in time to change en-
actor. | once played a part SO long
that | actually forgot the lines and
could not learn them again. An actor
can hardly be expected to retain in
terest in his work if he is required to
play the same part night after night
That is where the great value of the
repertory theater comes i'm
Opportunity to play several parts in
carefully prepared productions in a
repertory theater keeps an actor fresh
and interested and aids him in develop
ing his art, thinks Mr.. Granville Stock
differs from repertory. In stock a
play is rehearsed, put on, played for a
week or two and then is probably never
seen again. In a repertory company
however, certain number of plays are
carefully rehearsed and cast, and are
ready to be given at any time by the
company.
Gone night I play the King and an
a light comedy part. That is the ideal
arrangement. 1t is great pity that
there Is not more opportunity in Amer
lea for repertory work"
Scenery, too, like the continued play
ing Of one role, affects the actors
work, in the opinion of Mr. Granville
He Is strong advocate of magma
tive work in stage settings Rather let
the illusions or effects be obtained by
.draperies and hangings, by skilfully
handled lighting arrangement, than
ny pasteboard cliffs, papier-mache
trees and other artificial means.
Imaginative scenery may not he
possible in the modern realistic play,
OF course, but by all means it should
be adopted In all romantic plays If
you want to show a garden, do it with
green draperies and with lights. While
artificial settings may look all right to
the audience, the actor feels their arti
flciality, and his work is hampered &C.
cordingly. There has been great deal
OF talk about the effect of the scenery
upon the audience. But it must not be
overlooked that scenery also has On
effect on the actor And in nv opin-
ION the type of scenery that is used
IN The Tanning of the Shrew,' where
much is suggested and little repre-
scented artificially, has distinctly ben
tehclal effect on the actor and improves
his performance"