The New York herald., 1922-10-15
rIss FLORENCE REED Of

MI East Of Suez' is one OF
those rare actresses who can
talk Interestingly on wide variety OF
subjects. Music, however, is her favor
ite topic. She generally operates un-
der strong control. Those who see
her in EAST of Suez" rustling about
the stage in Chinese kimono--or is
1t a gown--can scarcely realize she is
possessed of such tremendous nervous
energy that entertaining thoughts all
but explode from her.
slonal pianist. until an aHident to one
OF her fingers made such career inn
possible. But she still plays with re-
inarkabIe technique.
I'm simply crazy about music she
said the other day at the Eltinge
Theater. ITS my great relaxation
away from the theater--t stimulates
me so that it can change my whole
character. Whenever / so to con-
cert, no matter how black and tagged
out l feel, always come away feeling
soothed and rested, Last winter when
/ wasn't playing I never lost an OPP
portunity to attend the opera.
az was struck by the exact similarity
between my feelings over music~and
those of the author of The Diary OF
Disappointed Man. who told how music
had positively medicinal effect on him.
E-x-A ktrsaz l.A - a A,in Of.
fected n cure. He went alone--just as
usually do--and I was much impressed
with the suggestion in his book OF sepa-
rate little cubicles in concert halls where
music lovers could be hermits for the
time being and be isolated from every
thing but music
Yesterday when I was having lunch-
con with Mischa Elman he said to me
It's decidedly unfair. Here you have
two vital means of expression. You can
turn from the stage TO the piano. while
we poor things have only the one instru-
ment.' Then he added that he won
dered how l could play an exhausting
performance every night, with matinees
twice a week, when most musicians were
almost Frustrated by two or three re-
cltals a week.
Thrives on Work.
But I Just thrive on II. Every one
around here knows that when 1t comes
to the theater I'm a circus horse, and
when l step on the stage smell saw
dust. No matter how dull and jaded
l may feel beforehand, the sight of the
footlights puts something electric into
me. ] never grow tired. of part, no
matter how long l play for there is
always something that viii crop out
which you've kept hidden without know
ing il. I played in Seven Days sea-
son and n half in New York. a season
In Boston and twelve weeks In Phila-
delphia. and yet. will you believe II, II
was only in the last week In the farce
that I discovered two perfectly good
laughs which had been lurking unknown
In my lines all that time.
That Ia the interesting feature OF
playing even In long runs-an scci-
dental intonation may jar loose some
emotional Fireworks YOU never sus.
pected. My fundamental conception OF
a part never varies after the rehears-
nls, but I'm constantly changing parts
OF IL as / test them out against an
audlence--and an audience certainly
act all through play II they but
knew it,"
Miss Reeds father. the late Roland
Reed. well known as a comedian. was
'tteTInlrleu Sne SnOuld 90 Hnytnlny OUT
acs so Miss Reed was equally deter.
mined that the theatrical profession
was the one for her. you Know" she
says 'how anything that IL beaten
down with a stick will spring up all the
harder afterward" So when she was
released she virtually plunged upon the
stage head foremost.
THE hardest thing I've encountered
In my career" she went on. lis making
an audience sympathize with you In a
part which hasn't the nakings. IT'S
easy enough 10 get effects out OF we'll
written. roies--ths audience Just feed
out Of your hand then. But les a ar.
ferent story when you have 20 call ON
all your own personality TO put another
personality over.
Settings and atmosphere help tbs
actor more than any one imagines-
sometimes more than the actor realizes.
David Belasco Is n wonder at making
the actor feel just tied up 10 his part
every way he turns In ''f'he Governor's
Lady my friend Gladys Hanson car.
ried a shear of calling cards with the
name of her character engraved on
them. When played in The Mirage
two years ago 7 took the same Ide.
and saw TO II that Allan Dinenart ear !