Show 2 I WM H. H CRANE TELLS STORIES L ABOUT JOSEPH JEFFERSON William m H. H Crane who for tor many yeats years ha has d delighted tho the public with wih Li i his ils memorable stage portraits of ot whimsical lovable old men was one of ot th the most intimate of f Americas America's grand grand gand old of ot the stage Joseph Jefferson Jef Jet ferson and ho he loves lovea to recall tho the happy days spent spent In the company of ot the lit great Rip Van Winkle Tim Tho Tie other day a question Queston asked by an acquaintance a vein of ot reminiscence and tho the comedian talked genially of o his hla old friend Mend and fellI fel id- i tow low lI comedian Joe Joo Jefferson Jefferon anc Ho no d de de- de scribed his sen sensations when hen witnessing Jeffersons Jefferson's playing aton of ot Rip Rp Van VRn Winkle and dwelt awelL especially the tho upon remarkable remark remark- able second act net In which no one speaks except Rp Rip the tho spirits spirIs of ot HudT Hud Hud- ud 1 sons son's men replying to him In It I It T was wag WI tho the perfection of art said Mr Crane to lo bo be able to hold an audi audi- ence ento wih with a 1 monologue lusting lasting an entire act It I wa was the humanity of his his por entre por tr I the tho marvelous magnetism of ot otho lie ho ho roan man ma that gave 0 him such L ch pow power r and I realized c tho the wonderful art of ot the actor who ho could so 80 completely sink himself Into the character and yet not let lel us forget that It I was J Jefferson teron forgo People used to ask Why doesn't doesn't Jet Jef ferson tenon play other othor parts' parts Mr r. r Crane went on His explanation was 08 very Yen Interest ing Ho said sold to mo me Once Suppose I were to fla play pla sir fir Ir Pet Peter r Telo Sir Str Peter has hRs always alwa's been 8 associate with T a largo large man mn man I am too to small to play him Jet Jef ferson terson probably never weighed over O pounds pound Besides ho said sala Sir Peter Peler Is I a a. bad part pa-nt pat his hla work Is done dOM at the end of or the screen scone con After that hes he's little a lay figure and no m matter mat mat- t- t ter tel how wol oll I played him I ac be b. b at ata ata a a- n disadvantage rl Then Thon again I have havo be ben Jn n associated KO so long with wih two or 01 th o parts arts wh why why should I go Sf to work and destroy m my place in tho the affections of ne tho the public for tor the Sk sake of doing of-doing doing something new that perhaps I would not do well el That was wu an example of ot his unusual sagacity and common sense You can an say nay fay t what yoU like about th the artistic reproduction of ot a character Mr Mn Crane exclaimed sitting up straight and losing his reminiscent air for tor a a. mo mo- mont ment But Thit people today demand that nn an actor shall fill fi the tho th eyo eo eye and look tho the part It I Is not like the tho old days when A Aman aman R man mn was as engaged for a 1 certain line lne of or business and had hM to lo play that kind of parts whether he liked It 1 or not NOwadays Nowa NOwa- days dos do's some Conje Iome critics complain that actors are engaged for tor their appearance be appearance be because C cause Uso they thoy look lok the character character regardless l. l or of their their fitness or unfitness to play pla them Of or course that tha Is going to tho the other ex extreme ex- ex but It I Is a fact tact that thEt the tho actor now must fill fili fi the tho eye oye ye as al well oi as the tho mind You cant can't C cast t a a tall taU portly woman for tor foran foran toron an on In tt w white muslin muMIn and ribbons and you cant can't put a small smal slim slightly buill man In tho the role of ot tho the traditional cowboy Once I 1 allowed d Mr Jefferson on a a photograph photograph pho pho- of o myself aa as a Falstaff I was In bad b h health when l 1 I played tho the part pat 8 and weighed only pounds but but- butI I J hl had achieved td a 8 sufficiently plump figure by Judicious padding and and- th the m makeup if It I do say any it I as 8 was R wa an s l. l lent makeup ot of Falstaff Mr I loOked at the tho h y v-y carefully Jet and said M w ii ver Well AVell William m that's thas tha's a a v very art artis' artis Js- Js tlc tic lc mak makeup up of ot Falstaff but I 1 dont don't r t arts know t I I cant can't see o any Crane In tn It It co I Ie I Isaid said fald ad Th That is 1 u what I 1 am tm Prud proud off of That's what T I want Qt He wha said That That's wart fine very b but t It t s Is not what the tho public want Peo I-eo- Want I-c- I pIe who have been bon all o you 2 you know they ther love iove their al Crane Th Then n he went on to toT e explain Its Its' sold said rd You Al h have ve be ben been before t Ute tile Public I for thirty M years Th people ople vho come to see you ou want to ace ce c sonic son Jho of cre The ThO hd Crane Crne they have known havo kown so 10 o lung They want ant both Falstaff as 18 Crane Crano and nd C Crane n M as Falstaff tat it I 18 s e the sane eane e with Uh ty Rip Van Winkle l say nay they always ta know It 1 I c Is Jefferson Of at com so Ut o th they y d ila I want ant them to If th they 1 I y couldn't OK nc-OK- my ray voice or some Nt of or mine it might as Q well wen bo be 0 played b by John Jon Jones s. s And the th d very critics crUcs who ho com corn pl plain ln that the they always recognize me rae whatever character I play would be he the first to find fault lault If It they do not b see ee some somo trace of or the man mAn th they Y have known so 80 long There Ther Is no r reason why an nn actor should not blend his hla own ow p personality Acor In the tho artistic reproduction of th the tho charac charae ter tor ho he Is representing I have always that a splendid t argument said ald 1011 Mr Crano Cran |