Minnie Maddern Fiske — American Actress born on December 19, 1865, died on February 15, 1932

Minnie Maddern Fiske, born as Marie Augusta Davey with some sources quoting December 19, 1864 as her date of birth, but often billed simply as Mrs. Fiske, was one of the leading American actresses of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. She also spearheaded the fight against the Theatrical Syndicate for the sake of artistic freedom. She was widely considered the most important actress on the American stage in the first quarter of the 20th century. Her performances in several Henrik Ibsen plays widely introduced American audiences to the Norwegian playwright... (wikipedia)

People whose understanding and taste in literature, painting, and music are beyond question are, for the most part, ignorant of what is good or bad art in the theater.
This is an age of specialization, and in such an age the repertory theater is an anachronism, a ludicrous anachronism.
Above all, ignore the audience.