New-York tribune., 1922-10-22
Just One Grand.
Sweet Song, Says
NJ ary Boland ] |
That Is, When You Are
Playing in One So Joyous
as sIhe Torch Bearers''

sCh, what sorcf, bearer I was al
sixteent had decided not to be ar
actress, but tlat was an actress.
truly thought that an actress was an.
other one OF those things that are
'oorn, not tnade,' and talked Of tenn
perament,' calling and dramatic in.
ssinct.' Now, after all these years OF
trying to be an actress, find that
there is go much hard work ahead OF
me and so much TO learn that probably
I never shall get caught up with it,"
It is becoming and sweet for Mary
Boland TO feel like this, but it Is doubt
ful IL any one who sees her perform
ancs Of Paula, the Dulcy-lika wife in
The Torch Bearers" will agree with
her. She seems not only to have
caught up but to be at least lap
ahead Of most OF her competitors.
SLOW did you feel about the play
while ycu were rehearsing7 Were yor
afraid Il would be too fine a bi. o.
sasirical writing for tne general pub
lie or did you all realize that you had
. big success which would keep you
busy for the rest Of the season.
'Well, I'LL tell you exactly how We
Selt. We all agreed that IL the play rar
FOR only two weeks wo should be amply
repaid for tho trouble OF rehearssls be-
canse 1t wasn't any trouble. 1t was Joy
I think you know most Of the mem
bers Of the cast and can you magine
what 1t was like to stand thero md
read such lines as these TO one an
other? We found it difficult to re-
haarse at ali because some one Of US
wss always breaking up, and our. re-
hsaraals used TO progress about like the
rehearsals Of the torch bearers them.
selves
Tho story IS abou. little group Of
serious thinkers who wanted 60 start q
little theater In their home town
"There was no one to keep us in
order because George Kelly and Rosalie
Stewart were enjoying it as much as
wa were. We really were afrgid that
we shouldn't feel serious the opening
night, but guess there is never any
danger Of that. No matter what sort
of play you are doing first nights are
awfu9ln
''yoa know In the second act, when
Alison Skipworth as the head torch
bearer is about to 60 out and take hel
curtain call and the curtain breaks ant
every one goes crazy and the propert,
man swears, people In the audience be
come hysterical. Did you know that
Can you see them?'
Sometimes we can hear Them" re.
piled Miss Boland laughing. "I know
they love that scene"
"And then. when one feels that II he
laughs any more he will die, you stick
your head out and remark as though
you had just made an important dis
covery. There's something the matter
with che curtain.'n
eyes, that is funny. isn't !t? Mr
Kelly put that line In at the rehears.
als.'
"what does this George Kelly iool
sike?"
"Just wait Til ycu sec himin an
swered Miss Boland. ard just then h,
came 10 the door. He Is mot only very
young, but he is also very tall and very
handsome.
SLOW did happen to write eth
Torch Bearers'? couldn't help writ
Ing II. know SO many of them that
had TO relieve my mind. All did wa
10 pat down on paper what have see
and heard."
"But weren't you afraid that the ar
peal OF such play would not be yer
wideg There are plenty of people VIII
would not understand it--there mus
be lots Of audiences which would nc
appreciate It,"
$50 far I have not encountered then
People who go Co tho theater eithe
live out Of town or have lived out c
town, and in every small city ther
are Mrs. Pampmellis and Paulas an
Mr.. Hossefrosses and Mr. Ritter
Nearly every man feels like that whe
he sees his wife act for the frat tim,
OF course. had to be careful an
modify what really occurred, for n
ono would believe the truth II / wrot
IL Ia my play"
Mr.. Kelly was fortunate In securin
Miss Bcland for Paula, because she 1
even lovelier with her makeup of
than she 10 with IL on. and Paula erie
it all off In this last act. So it is
tear-sta!ned lady x-hc greets yon afte
che final curtain. 81 don't believe it /
possible for an actress to sob like tha
without crying real tears. wash off al
my makeup and transfer It to my lac
handkerchiefs, which are all completed
ruined" And vet who wouldn't be
torch bearer! I'll, II,
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