Actorviews (1923)

94 Actorviews Mansfield died — which shows the native theater is pretty shy of real shining marks.” “What’s the worst feature of American management?” “Mushroom managers making mushroom stars of little nobodies who make an overnight hit playing their own little personalities. It’s an injustice to the welltrained actor who knows his business.” “Are you a well-trained actor?” “I am. And I can prove it. But you won’t let me give you a list of the parts I’ve played since I started as a call boy at Daly’s.” “How many are there? It’s getting pretty close to 6 o’clock.” “I’ve never counted. But I don’t think there’s more than a thousand.” “Do you believe in the art of elimination?” “I believe in it in all arts — when you are not under oath.” “What would you advise a young actor to eliminate from his work? What are the seven deadly sins in acting?” “I can name you seventeen. There’s the Goodwin Stammer, the Maude Adams Choke, the Warfield Tremolo, the Louis Mann Pause, the Ethel Barrymore Sob, the Foy Spray, the Gillette Repetition, the ” “That’s seven. Time’s short.” “I know — but I’ve got fifty seconds yet. I was only going to add the Collier Poker Face.” “Who’s the unfunniest humorist writing for the American stage?” “Percy Mackaye.” “Who produces the greatest number of successful bad plays?” “A1 Woods. Hope he gets one for me.”