Evening star., 1955-11-06
ON BROADWAY
Suson Is
Teen-Age
Sensation
BY WILLIAM GLOVER

By WILLIAM GLOVER
NEW YORK, Nov. 5 R. The
teen-age sensation Of the
Broadway theater season Is
Susan Strasberg. q pert elf who
never took an acting lesson in
her life.
AS the central performer In
the drama "The Diary Of Anne
Frank" IT-year-old Susan has
turned her Main Stem debut
into an occasion for critical
raves.
What makes the acclaim
even brighter Is that she had
to vie for attention against un-
usually stid competition. In .
show season remarkable for the
number Of young performers
that have suddenly lowered.
the brightest blossom thus far
:
is Susie.
She as the daughter Of Ac-
tress Paula Miller and Lee
Strasberg, q noted dramatic
coach whose Actors Studio pu-
pills have included Marion
Brando, Julie Harris. Geral-
dine Page and kim Stanley.
Since romper days she has been
immersed In the theater world.
Father No Help
But there has been one adj
verse item: Strasberg disap-
proves Of Juvenile performers
and refuses his own instrllc-
lions to anyone under 10.
susan doubts now that she
ever viii be tutored By her
father.
'I'm sure he could be OBJ
jective enough. but ! don't
think ] could" says the 81
pound, 5-foot daughter.
Three years ago the Stras-
bergs for the first time allowed
her to take part In an on
Broadway show for q tryout
OF acting ambition. The show
quickly topped. but that saln-
Die solidified her determine
tion to 90 on the stage.
A Cover Girl
After that she was allowed
to do some television shows
including the role OF Juliet
between cheese commercials"
and two movies, The Cob
web and 'sPicnic,' which IL to
be released soon.
Susie has been on the cover
OF Life magazine, and has q
flock Of other magazine covers
coming up now that she has
arrived on Broadway.
Susie,s youthful mercurial
moods make IL difficult for her
10 run the gamut Of interviews
and other bouts with adults to
which the limelight exposes
her.
( 'BaxicaIly. I've had only .
few years and have little to
Say that would interest any
body. she demurs.
So Many 'Tfss
Il don't keep q diary like
Anne Frank did, but ! am
keeping . notebook 90 that In
so years or 20 ! can write my !.
memoirs. i don't keep ! diary
because the words come too
quickly 10 put them all down.
There are 10 many Ifs In
life. don't ron think2 But
lets face It; for better oraworse.
I'm an actress. I don't feel ]
want one type Of acting say
comedysiaore than another.
Each performance ! think
cf as d separate entity. What
ever the mood I'm in when /
ret to the theater I try 10
adapt It to my part. II you try
10 push away how you're feel
ing inside, 1t creeps up on you.
At the moment l1azel-eyed
susan Ii trying 10 decide
whether to finish her Anal year
iii hieh school Or devote her
self completely to ii career.
Ne Temperament
90 Tar Is the latter Is con-
cerned. there appears no ado
lesCelat irdeterrnination. Fellow
performers remark on her tire
less participation In rehearsals,
l1er lack Of affectation or
temperament.
Critics and fans alike have
maryeled at the sensitivity and
range of her performance Of
Anne Frank, the teen-age girl
who was q prisoner of the
NaGis In wartime Amsterdam.
IN answer to an obvious quear
tion. Susan says:
How much Of the part Is
Anne and how much Is Susan?
! really don't know. ] could
nr,1v tell II I could III out front