New-York tribune., 1921-06-12
Willard Mack Discusses
The Art of Good Acting
Says He Is Delighted Because the Critics Approve of
Him in s'Cold,'' and Promises Never To BE a
Bad Actor Again if He Can Help 1t
BY Harriette Underhill

BY Harriette Underhill
Willard Mack is delighted because
the critics approved Of him In his new
play, "Goid." II is such pleasure to
know people who come right out and
say what they think when they think
anything, which some people apparently
do not do, sometimes. Mr. Mack is
young and enthusiastic and allied with
the joy of living, and such sense of
humor as that man hasl Some anony-
nous writer has intimated lately that
we didn't know sense of humor when
ws saw one, but we do. 1t is what
Willard Mack has. Every time we have
interviewed Mr.. Mack we have spent
about two hours with him, discussing
extraneous things and having the time
of our life; Sc when we went back
stage after the opening performance OF
Eugene O'Neilrs Gold" it was with
the full intention of remaining until
midnight, or else persuading Mr.. Mack
TO hurry off his makeup and drink his
after-theater coffee with US.
And Now Eddie Foy
Appeared in the Ofing
AS 1t happened, we did neither one.
Eddie Foy had beaten us to 1t. When
We got to the dressing room he was
there and had already persuaded Mr..
Mack to go with him to the Lambs or
soma other manly place which no Louis
heel Is allowed to desecrate. Person
ally we didn't think q family man like
Mr.. Foy should be out so late, but he
couldn't get our viewpoint, and said
to hurry up and talk and ne would wait.
You know how it is when any one says
Hurry up and talk" It's like saying
Now, go ahead and have a good time"
1t spoiled all our fun, and we couldn't
think of thing to say, but Mr.. Mack
could. 1t takes more than that to
make him speechless.
"Do you like the play, and how do
YOU Ike me in it?" he asked, Just as
though he was hanging breathless on
our answer. That's another mica thing
about him.
Rather" and splendid" we replied.
The best thing you ever did"
What stunning frock you have onl
That's what the critics thought, TOO,
wasn't it7 Best tfing ever did.
tell you, it certainly made me happy TO
reach what the critics said about nae,
and I should rather have had it in this
That certainly is smart gown.
ike black. I'll tell you why WAS par
.icularly anxious to have ths critics
ike me IN Gold 1t is because put
lime and thought on the part, and II It
lad been bad portrayal should have
:elt that had done my best and failed.
Polly wears black q lot, too, you know"
And Always Speak
Gently to the Critic
"Then you are not one Of those ac-
tors who have supreme contempt
for the opinion Of thu criticf"
"I should say notl I don't say that
! critic can always tell good play
Khen ne sees one, but he certainly
can tell good acting when he sees it.
He Is trained to detect the slightest
ialse note or gesture. And don't you
iaink that the actor doesn't know full
cell the justice OF the criticism when
ne gets 1t. When a critic points out
the weak spot in your performance it
is the spot which you yourself knew
to be faulty. 1t was the spot where
you weren't sure of yourself. An
actor cannot portray what he does not
know. If he hasn't studied at close
range a policeman or q murderer or
Chinaman or a sea captain or al
gentleman how can he play him Z
That's why George Cohan is a great
actor. He knows everything and
everybody. Of course, one must have
the knack of impersonation, but frst
and foremost one must thoroughly un-
derstand the thing he is trying to ini
tate. The reason there are 30 many
bad actors isn't because they are care
less or don't want to do any better.
1t is because they haven't lived, that's
all"
"Well, no one could say that you
haven't lived, even if they do tell you
occasionally that you are bad actor"
"Ah," said Mr.. Mack, smiling pleas
antly, chat sounds natural"
"Polly again." we asked expectantly,
but he ignored this and returned to the
subject of dramatic critics.
Has Always Been
In Breathless Hurry
"You know I've never really had
fair chance before. Every play I've
been in Ive written or directed or
staged, and I've had every mans part
to look after and have had to be gen
eral understudy and assistant property
man, and I've never had a chance To