Katharine Oliver

              Figure

Katharine Oliver
AT HOME AT GREY GABLES, KENTON, OHIO.


Figure


There are few more invigorating sights than a Scotchman on the make.

What Every Woman Knows.—J. M. Barrie

Katharine Oliver is always named among the three or four greatest Readers on the Lyceum platform—while in her special field she stands absolutely alone—being recognized both in America and Great Britain as the foremost interpreter of Scottish character in the world.  She has made Recital tours throughout the United States, Canada and Great Britain, has entertained in the White House at Washington, at the Government House, Ottawa, Canada, and in many of the noted homes of Europe; has met the authors whose works she interprets and received the hearty endorsement of each.

The elements contributing to her greatness as a public speaker are first of all—the fact that she can be heard—one of the few speakers at Chautauqua, N. Y., who can hold an evening audience of five thousand for two hours because they are not missing a word and are understanding even an unfamiliar dialect.  Second—her emotional sincerity.  Third—the marvel of her personations—obliterating her own personality to her listeners while her characters troop about, tense upon their own purposes; and last—her personal magnetism expressed in a simple natural directness of manner that puts her at once en rapport with her audience.

Katharine Oliver is pre-eminent as an interpreter of the works of that keenest and kindliest of satirists, J. M. Barrie.  As she was the original Babbie and gave her arrangement of The Little Minister for the author at his home in London before the story was dramatized for the stage, so in his latest success, What Every Woman Knows, Mr. Barrie finds in her an ideal interpreter for his subtle and resourceful Maggie Shand.  She is at her best in this play which has captivated the public with its delicious humor and its gentle satire on Scotch character.

Two other programs are emphasized as absolutely unique and to be heard nowhere else, Norman Duncan's story, Dr. Luke of the Labrador, which the publishers have given her the exclusive right to present, and The Confessions of a Literary Pilgrim, a most amusing, artistic and fascinating program, born of her own life experiences.




THRUMS


Showing the town hall where Katharine Oliver gave The Little Minister which was reported thus in The British Weekly, July 30, 1896—That was a unique and delightful entertainment which was afforded the good folks of Thrums one evening last week by Miss Katharine Oliver, the well-known interpreter of Scottish character from America.  The audience, which was thoroughly representative, included Mr. David Barrie (father of Mr. J. M. Barrie), Miss Barrie and Rev. David Ogilvy (uncle to the novelist).  Miss Oliver fairly excelled in her delightful portrayal of the many and diverse characters in Mr. Barrie's famous novel, and quite roused to enthusiasm the audience.  At the termination of the recital, Mr. Ogilvy complimented Miss Oliver on her rare histrionic abilities, and called for a vote of thanks to the entertainer from the audience, a compliment which was most enthusiastically accorded.

Columbia College of Expression—In What Every Woman Knows you certainly showed yourself to be master of the Scotch spirit.  Several present found your reading even more enjoyable than the admirable presentation of the play, by Maude Adams Company.

March 11, 1910.
MARY A. BLOOD, President.


9  '96

Dear Miss Oliver

I thought your arrangment of the little minister excellent, and you delivered many of the scenes in a way that pleased me much.—particularly the pathetic scenes.  I wish you very  all success.


J.M Barrie




The Chautauquan Daily, July 20, 1910
—Katharine Oliver gave What Every Woman Knows last night in the amphitheater—treated with remarkable insight—brought out delicacy of action—pathos of situations—humor of the plot.  One even forgives John Shand at the last.  Miss Oliver makes a word painting of the story—a moving picture of the play—gave pleasure to the large audience which she held for two hours.


Cedar Falls Daily Record, Feb. 17, 1910
—That most charming of impersonators—Katharine Oliver—delighted her audience at the college auditorium Monday night in her rendering of J. M. Barrie's latest success, What Every Woman Knows.  Miss Oliver's native Scotch was irresistible.  So also was her manner of changing in swift succession from one character to another.  Miss Oliver was at her best in the picturing of Maggie, a beautiful character.  In her inimitable way, she proceeded to show how an unpretending, modest, loving woman may be the real power behind a seemingly strong, masterful man without that vain creature realizing any power beyond his own.  The fascinating story ended with the audience seemingly as well pleased as though the eight characters of the play had actually been present.




Barrie Programs

WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS
THE LITTLE MINISTER
ALICE SIT BY THE FIRE
SENTIMENTAL TOMMY
MARGARET OGILVY
Sketches from A WINDOW IN THRUMS
PETER PAN, from The Little White Bird




John M. Hall, President Bay View Assembly—When I first heard Katharine Oliver, I said, Here is a coming reader.  In the past six months I have heard her again four times and all I said at the beginning of her career has come true.  Of readers who do light and pretty things and give a transient pleasure, there is a surplus.  But of readers who are interpreters of the great passions and who effectively tell the story of life, there are but few, and Katharine Oliver is one of them.

Any lecture course, any summer assembly that is so fortunate as to have her on the program will have it raised in public approval by the beauty and dignity of her work.

Aug. 10, 1910.

Norman Duncan—I am glad that the publishers of Dr. Luke have given you the rights to the public reading of the book, for this assures an intelligent and sympathetic interpretation.  Last night I heard you with very great interest and pleasure.  You seem to have discovered the spirit of Labrador life and to have found a way to communicate it to your audience.  How you managed so cleverly to adapt the book to the very difficult purpose you had in view will always remain to me an amazing mystery.  Believe that your interpretation has my approval.

Washington, Pa., October 14, 1905.

S. B. McCormick, D. D., LL. D., Chancellor of Western University of Pennsylvania—I think I have never heard a more perfect piece of work than you gave us last evening.  Voice, gesture, appreciation of the author's meaning, pathos, humor, everything was perfect and marvelously powerful.  I recall nothing in all my experience that surpasses your rendition of Dr. Luke.

November 21, 1905.

Ralph Connor—You marshalled before us the living, breathing, speaking children of the author's fancy.  They came forth naturally, easily,—just as I have seen them in their own dear, free West, and it rejoiced my heart to see them again.  I am glad my children are in your hands.

CHARLES W. GORDON.
Winnipeg, February 18, 1901.


Lawrence (Kan.) Daily Journal, Feb. 18, 1910
—Katharine Oliver, who is ranked as one of the greatest readers in the world, appeared at the State University last evening for the first time.  She gave Norman Duncan's inimitable Dr. Luke of the Labrador, and for two hours held her audience spellbound between laughter and tears.  Chiseled like a cameo, she portrayed each character, placing the scene simply and with the utmost pathos.  She has that real genius which reaches the hearts of people.

Springfield, Ill., Woman's Club—Your rendition of the thrilling story was a reminder of the exquisite art with which Joe Jefferson, for half a century, was wont to delight the American people with the story of Rip Van Winkle.

MRS. EDWIN S. WALKER, President.

March 2, 1906.

University Extension, Toledo, Ohio—Katharine Oliver stands unique as an interpretative artist.  Her engagement for six dramatic lectures under the auspices of the University Extension was an ovation from press and people.

KATE BROWNLEE SHERWOOD, Secretary

July 7, 1908.



Repertoire


DR. LUKE OF THE LABRADOR
N. Duncan


CONFESSIONS OF A LITERARY PILGRIM
Original


DRUMTOCHTY FOLK
Ian Maclaren


THE PLAY ACTRESS
Crockett


LECTURE-RECITAL, ROBERT BURNS
Original


ENOCH ARDEN (with Strauss music)
Tennyson


THAT LASS O' LOWRIES
Burnett


THE SKY PILOT
Ralph Connor


AN EVENING OF CHARACTER SKETCHES



SAUL
Browning


KING HENRY VIII
Shakespeare


THE TEMPEST
Shakespeare



and the BARRIE PROGRAMS.

Teacher's Institute, Belmont Co., Ohio—Katharine Oliver is in a class all by herself.  I am sure that in no other way, unless from a personal acquaintance with them, could I have been brought so close to the real lives and homes and haunts of the school of modern Scotch writers as Katharine Oliver brings one in her Confessions of a Literary Pilgrim.

S. A. GILLETT, President.

Sept. 23, 1909.

International Lyceum Association—Dr. Luke of the Labrador is a great story, but only a great artist dares attempt to tell it.  Katharine Oliver held us with all the power of a Bernhardt at the I. L. A. Chautauqua, and proved her right to be known as one of the greatest of all literary interpreters.

LOU J. BOUCHAMP, Chairman.

Sept. 2, 1906.


Figure