EVEN IN SHAKESPEARE'S DAY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 71, 10 April 1937, Page 17

EVEN IN SHAKESPEARE'S DAY

There were Shirley Temples and Freddy Bartholomews in Shakespeare's day, too, and the Bard worried about the way they stole the show from adult actors, an American university professor now discloses. Professor Hubert C. Heffner, of the North western university school of speeeh, fMahs that the Elizabethan vogue for child aetors did no credit to the critical powers of playgoers of that time, nor does he think' the present popularity of child movie stars shows any thing more than the "puhlie's in'herent sentimental interest in children." As for what Shakespeare thought of it, he quotes the playwright's oomment » as voiced tkrough the chara-etor 'bf Hamlet: ■ "There is, sir, an aery of children, : little eyases, that cry out on top pf the question, and are most tyrannically , clapp'd jfor't. These are now the fashion, and so berattle the common i stages, — so they call them— that many - wearing rapiers are afxaid of goose- ! quills, and dare pearce ceme thither." "Goose-quills," explained JProfesspi Heffner,- ref erred to the drama critics of Shakespeare's day who were no iess taken with the child wonders than wero thepxxblic* • Despite their pxomise, ehild stars xarely, grow up to be outstanding adiilt actors, this student of stage history de. clare's. One reason, he, holds, is fhal few of them are actually gif ted. Many are clever mimics who win the pub|i« " as any novplty does, he contends. H« blames the directors also for the fail > ute of child: stars to fulfil' the ' hopes held out for them. "If left alone, ehild actors might de natural work," said , Professor Heffner. ; ' ' What they do naturally, they dc well. But this they are not permittec to do. They are coached in memory ane rote, which takes away thpir natural ness and simplicity." Whether or not Shirley and Freddh will blossom into adult stars the North. ■western' drama professor does not at tempt to prophesy, but looking dowi the aisles of history he finds that feu youthful stage prodigies .have dohe it There was Master Beatty who appeared on the London stage in the early1 pax' of the ninej eenth eentury. He was th rage of . London and stolo whole audi exices from the adult stars of the day "Like many present-day cliilt stars," commented Professor Heffner "ho was precocious in memorising hi: lines. He proved, however, to be i mediocre actor when he grew up." But there were exceptions. Johi Howard Payne, an American, was one He was a child favourite of the earl] 19th centuTy. He went to England wher he reaehed maturity and wrote numer ous plays in addition to acting,