New-York tribune., 1867-06-25
THE DRAMA.
A DRAMATIC COLLEGE.

II is greatly to be hoped that some day or other
Dramatic College will be established in this city Such
institution Is already greatly needed and the need OF
t will grow palpable as our civilization grows
older The province OF such college would be, OF
course the education Of actors and actresses Here the
young asprant might be taught all that beginner SO
sadly lacks preparatory TO going upon the regular stage
Languages, eocuton. stagebusness the art OF costu
ing the history OF the stagea in fact that is neces-
sary for actor actress TO know, might here DC
taught Old and experienced actors and actresses re-
tired from active public life might be the teachers
good lecturer on Shakespeare and the British Drama
would find constant employment Dancing fencing, and
scenic art would also require attention The social man
nors OF different peoples in different ages would require
Illustration and would necessate historical study In
brief Dramatic College, properly organized and con-
ducted would utilize all tho uncultivaed talent for act
ing that now goes waste would h the stage with IN
teligent and cultivated ladies and gentlemen would
abolish the institution OF "stcks" and would exert
powerful in favor OF the Drama and the Art OF
Acting once firmly established, the Theaters would
have in It abiding source OF recruits; aspirans, OF
taste and real ability would not be forced to the arduous
and dsaeeable ordeal OF the provincial STAGE and the
public would be spared the pain OF witnessing many
notifying failure. We have Just seen In the melancholy
case OF Mr. egge the French Theater the result OF
attempting TO act without knowing anything about the
art Of acting All the pain and humiliation that comes OF
ridiculous failure might easily bo avoided had we an In
sttutOn wherein students might nt themselves lOr the
stage No sane man thinks OF becoming doctor, law
YER clergyman journalist, without course of pre-
mlnary study How then should any person hope TO be-
como an actor, without similar preparation The idea
that an utterly inexperienced and uncultvated youth
can walk upon the stage and interpret one OF Shakes
pearcs characers-or anybodys characters, for that
matter-eyen respectfully wel is wholly absurd There
is no such thing clutehing dramatic dadems" AS
Longfellow says;
We have not Wings cannot soar
Bat e have feet, whereby to climb,
By slow degrees, by and more,
The cloudy SUBMITS Of our tme
DRAMATIC NOTES.
Mr. Mark Smith, Mr.. Lewis Baker, and Mr.. A. W
Young sailed for England on Saturday In the Columbia
A Giving skeleton" has been added to the collec-
tion OF curosities at Barnums Museum It Is expected
that Tom Thumb and wife viii reappear at the Museum
next month
Miss Proudfoot, who made debut at Wallacks
Theater last year, TO enact Julia In The Hunehback
the French Theater July 22 the occasion being that
of Mr.. w. ii. Popes complimentary benent
Miss Mary McVcker, we are informed, lately
played Juliet TO Mr. Edwin Booths Romeo at McVickers
Theater Chicago In such manner as 70 eVnce unusu
talent, and TO win cordial appreciation.
The sum Of $iO1 S61 was paid by managers of thea
ters In France In 1885, as copyright to dramatic authors
Charles Reatle's dramatic version of Tennysons
Dora" Is In three acts.
The T. p. Cooke prize drama of True TO the
CoreU by Mr.. elous has succeeded Antony and Cleo
patra" at the London Princesss Theater.
r-