Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-02-07
NJ. movatt's debut as anAoireas.
LEON LIE AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

Y
alone appreciate Indispensable to perfect
success | took fencing lcssons,to gain frinne.s
/ Of position and freedom Of limb. used dunno
| bells. To overcome the constitutional weakness
uf nv arms and chest. ] exercised my voice
during four hours every day to IN srease MS Po" p
or. wore n volnminous train for n many hours
daily,t learn the graceful management OF 4 cen
/ ly or classic robes The day before my debut
/ II was necessary that should rebearse with the
I company found this seyerer ordeal than
! performing before the public. There l. always
! q half mneipus curiosity Hmongs actors Ia WIT
/ ness the short comlngs of novice. They Inya-
| riably experience strong inelinaiions to prophe-
/ ~ future. M WONDER for they know best the
/ nice snbtleties of their own art-tbe unexpected
barriers that start up between the neophyte and
/ his goal.
Only those actors who are engaged in the scene
rehear.ed are permitted to occupy the stage
The play was the Lady Of Lyons. Mrs. Vernon
a. Madame Desohapees, /. as Pauline took
our seats to open the first scene. The actors
crowded around the wings, eager to pass judg-
ment on the trembling debuiante. The stage
manager seated at his table, scanned her with
cold and scrutinizng eyes. Tie pale rrompter
laid his book upon his knee, that be might stare
at her more deliberately. Even the sleepy little
call boy. regardless of the summons in his band,
pu, on the =apient look and attitude of u critic.
If could but shut out all these eyes ~ ut
to my eli But. turn whatever way | would,
thcg undetermined me in on all sides-girdled
me with freeing influei ces
Aftee we had taken our seats there was mo-
ment Of awful silence. II broken by Mr.,
Barry's dignifed the was alarmngly dlgnihed)
commence if You please Mrs. Vernon spoke
the first line. of the play. BY resolute effort,
forcing myself into composure, replied. ] can
not tell why, but the sound of my own voice, dis
tinct and untrcmulous, renssured me. The Ru-
4 a., e
surrounding eyes, full 'speeulation'-of the
covert i'll wl-hes---of the secret eondemnati"ns.
| gave myself up to the part, and with all
the abandon and intensity of which | was capa-
BILE
During the rehearsal Of the third act, was
startled by II sudden burst of applause 1t came
from a crowd # actors at the side seenes-an in
voluntary and most unusual tribute. 10 say
that il produced no effect upon me, would b, af
fcctation. For moment my equanimity was
plca-urably destroyed | had tasted he first
drop IN the honeyed cup of success.
go ON, if you plcuec-go on" said Mr.. Bar
ny, noticing the pause-ad went ON
The play continued aud ended without further
interruption. When it was over, the company
gathered around me with tokens II undsguised
interest. From many lips received the delight
full assurance that, if | was not frightened at
night should achieve great triumph.
II shall mol be frightened | answered conf
IDENTIFY.
Not be frightened - reiterated Mr.. Skerrett (at
that time the low comedian of the Park Theatre,)
ed mt lay any such fHtt, ring unetion to your
soul. When night comes, you will he frightened
half out of your senses-you don't know what
stage frighf isl
81 have talisman to keep off stage fright
the m0tire that brings me on the stage
I'VE shall -ee" was his neredulous answer.
None but actors can thoroughly comprehend
the meaning of the appalling words "stagc
fright the night mare of the professional
sensation of icy terror, to which no language can
give adequate ultrrance. | have seen vcterr II
actars who had studied some character un-
/ I'll every syllable of the author seemed indehbly
| written on their brans,-who hnd rehearsed their
parts with the most telling enthusiasm,--who
! gloried III the prospect of making ''hrt,"-at
! last, when night cnmc, and they stood before the
/ foot lights To embody the 'deh1 creation for the
| first time, have seen them seized with n sudden
/ tr"mor-their uttcrauce choked-their eyes roll
| ing about, or fixed on Nacnncy-their limbs shak
/ ing and every faculty paral, zed.
| was not initiated into the horrors of "stage
fright on the first night of my performance
| But the dramatic incubus visited me in its worst
/ form on an equally important occasion. Nor was
the attack the sole one in my professional life
/ BY whit magic the demon can be exercised, re-
mains an undiscovered mystery.
sisters. Scarcely an allusion made to the
trying events which must take place that even
/ ing The rich apparel, spread out upon the
bed, received It's finishing touches nj their haudr
| aud was consecratcd by few silent tears. On,
at my sisters only, Julia,the youngest had cour-
age To be present when that attire was worn.
My costume chosen by Mrs. Vernon, al
most the first actress with whom | became ac
quaint ID, II lady highly respected and beloved il
the profession. Her name aud that of her rela-
tives have done honor to tie stage for long Sc
ricS of years.
As we drove to the theatre at night the car
riage passed by fathers house. There WIS
groupe at the window Watching for US. Hanker
chiefs waved as long rs were in sight.
cannot help wond, ring what sort of plac tn,
world in general imagine the "star dressing
room To be. In the days of my nescience
presumed that it was sort of boudor, prettily
and comfortable furnished, to which the princes
ses of the stage retired to take their luxurou,
ease. But o, the difference The s'star dress
ing room is usually small closet-ke apart
ment. with IA few strips of well worn baize or car
pei ON the floor. a rude wooden shelf runs along
one side of the wall, and serves as Dire sing ia
bic. ding looking glass, u coupe of super
ANIMATED chairs, ricketty wash-sta d. the {
are, generally speaking, the richest Injuries %
the locality. Such was the "star dressing room
to which was introduced ut the Park Theatre
Mr.Morwatt's request obtained for me a Liliputiar
sofa 50 particularly hard that it was at once re-
oognlzed as a-thealrical "property'-a thing OF
sham, designed for the deception of an audience
believe even the demand for this dclusi,e nc.
cessory to comfort considered very unreas
enable.
was just dressed when there came a slight
tap upon the door, accompanied by the words