On the question as to how far it is permissible for the actor’s
own personality to enter into his interpretation of Shakespearian
characters, Mr. Herbert Beerbohm Tree said:
“Certain it is that while the actor’s self-suppression is
among the most essential factors of success in his art,
so also his own individuality, his own personality--in a
word, his humanity--are all-important. I mean, you can not
imagine a characterless person playing the great characters
of Shakespeare. You say: ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter! Shakespeare
has taken care of all that!’ ‘Yes,’ I reply, ‘but it requires
individuality to interpret individuality--power, force,
character, to realize the creations of the master brain.’
Nothing else than individuality will make the humanity of these
characters stand out sharp and clear from the mass of humanities
grouped behind it.” (Text.)--_The Fortnightly Review._
(1590)
=Individuality in Nature=--See ANIMISM.