The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-03-25
M E N, w O M E N
A ND T HIN G S


actor like Robert Mantell and he walks
through his parts with such ease that
we are apt to forget that behind his
interpretations were long days of APP
premiership.
The virus of the stage got into his
blood during the Christmas plays, in
which his mother took such an active
interest and delight. It>got to working
good when he essayed to do public
readings, and it broke out fully when
he became a member of the amateur
dramatic club in Belfast.
At last an humble door open for him
on the professional stage. but not until
he had made his first try-out in the
United States and fled back home. He
learned from a friend of small open
ing in a stock company at the Theatre
Royal, Rochdale, Lancashire. England.
He applied for it and got it, At last
he was professional.
| There, on the night of October 81
1876, without flourish of trumpet or
clash of cymbals, Robert Bruce ManteI
made his professional stage debut, as
Robert Hudson, as the Sergeant in Dion
Boucicaults play of "Arrah-na Pogue."q
1t was shortly after this that he was
cast as Salarino in the Merchant of
Venice" but had stage fright when he
walked out in the first act and saw
people in the audience holding the
book on him. He got stuck and the old
actors had to fake" across his lines.
An actors pay in those days would
not have troubled any of the 'perfesh"
to make out an income tax schedule, as
he received less than 81 per week. and
yet he was happy as only an ambitious
youth can be who has at last got his
feet firmly planted on the lowest rung
of the ladder which leads to fame. Com
plimentary words from his fellow ac-
tors took the place of money, and he
felt sure that he had made no mistake
in his profession. But with small SAL
aries the season at Rockdale did not
pay the impressario and the company
disbanded.
How did he live on less than 81
week? For live he did. I'll let you in
on the secret He and three other young
men drawing the same handsome salary
took couple of rooms in cheap lodg-
ing house that wasn't too proud to
take in young actors. They bought
their own provisions: the lady of the
~
would buy it in chunks and cut it into
slices thin as paper for frying. They
learned to play a joke on their stom
achs. They would put small bit of
bacon in their mouths. Then, while
eating several slices of bread. they
would roll the bacon about in their
tongues, occasionally even biting it be-
tween their teeth. After appeasing
their hunger with the bread, they would
swallow the bacon.
The next acting job he got was with
out any salary attached 1t merely
covered living expenses. He walked
15 miles to get chance in an open-air
celebration, but now he was an actor
with confidence born of experience
Here enters a mighty interesting char
acter for the tragedian. Heffernan.
was holding forth in a tent at the fair.
He was an actor of talent and infinite
resources lacking nothing but the final
touch which spells success. He was
popular throughout England, but could
never succeed in London.
| / was greatly interested from the
standpoint of a student of Shakespeare
to find out through Bullet about this
lover of the great Bard of Avon, who
in his dire distress did not hesitate to
| take liberties with the great William
His exhibitions at the fair will indi-
cate his resourcefulness as well as his
license. He made versions of Macbeth"
"Othello." Richard ILL.," Hamlet" and
the rest, so automatically condensed
that he could give ten or a dozen per.
formances day, and he did his work
so we'll that his audiences went out
with the impression that they had seen
Shakespeare.
Now, I want to say that have more
respect lot deIIernan, VINO shortened |
the great Elizabethan days, but re-
Minded" and rendered them in true
Shakespearean tones than have for
many of the modern producers of the
twentieth century who produce the
plays of the master with a flippancy
which makes of them not memories of
the great Elizabethan days. but re-
minders of vaudeville, A Shake
spearean tragedy acted along modern
lines is about as disappointing as a
translation of the old Bible into mod
ern English.
I confess that Heffernan, so far as I
am concerned. is a find. Before the
start of sof his tabloid perform
ances. there would be drumming UP
of crowd after the manner of a mid
way spieler" with this difference. that
Harlequin. Pantaloon, Columbine and
the rest would do the "bally hooing."
After they had given their little act. the
clown would say: Now, good people
step inside and sec the famous drama
Of Master William Shakespeare. called
Macbeth The best seats are only
tuppence, and a single penny will admit
you to witness the marvellous, blood
curdling tragedy"