Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-07-12
Amateur. Acting.

mateur.Acting.
The regular theatre nowadays is. nm
fortunately, highly capable of leaving
sense of deep depression upon the an
dience but the vast majority Of anna
teur performances would be shIouded
in the saddcst gloom, if they were not
usually succeeded hy the exhilirating
effects of supper. Why are snch exhi-
billions so extremely bad? The actors
are generally Intelligent people, and
some of them have evidently certain
amount Of natural talent. The reason
is not very recondite. Amateurs do not,
or will not, understand that histrionic
abilities are almost worthless if they are
not duly drilled. 1t is not sufficient
that the actor can repeat his words
clearly and with proper emphasis; he
must recolect that lie is playing up to
other actors, and he must consider the
stage effect upon the audience. fama-
teurs could see themselves az they are
seen. they would perhaps. realize
the fact that their ignorance of stage
business and techuicalities weighs ter
ribly against their tolerable abilities
and evident earnestness. Rushing into
difficult performance, as they usually
do, after half a dozen rehearsals, II
never seems tn occur TO them that they
are presenting to their audience what
would he an exerably bad first night Of
representation by trained professionals.
They ask great many people to
come and see them act, and scarcely
take ordinary pains TO do Justice 10
Al. cpNsn nf IN
their visitors They sppear to- be I'M
der an impression that 80 long as they
have pretty close acquaintance with
their words, and can infuse Il certain
amount of humor or pathes into what
they have to say, they have done all
that is nece ssary. The last thing that
they think of, is the elaborate work of
stage management; and hence the usu-
al ludcrous result, What amateur
does not know the mutual cOngratula-
tions that go on behind the cramped
wings of the temporary stage, erected
bv Mr.. Nathan or Mr.. SimmOnds ; how
we'll the piece is going That is to say,
there has not been dead stage-wait,
and no particular strain has been put
upon the services of the prompter. OF
course, if the object of the actors is
merely to arrive at the conclusion OF the
performance, such congratulations may
be we'll deserved. But if he has any
regard for the general effect upon the
audience, and the impression he will
leave on their minds after the curtain
has finally fallen, the amateur actor
must make up his mind to take far
greater trouble about his .ehearsals.
Amateurs generally appear to think
the object of rehearsals is to satisfy the
actors that they are perfect as far as
their memories are concerned; they
neglect the vast Importance OF stage
business, and leave it TO take care OF
itself at the representation, even If they
ever give it a serious thought. Whether
they go out right or left, whether ta-
BILE is centre, up the stage, or down the
stage, whether "situation Is effect
lively arranged or not, whether the en-
trance or exit of the principal character
is dramatically rendered, are matters to
which amateurs appear to be sublimely
!. Indifferent. The absolute and undeni'
able truth of this assertion Iustifies one
in saving that the great fault of amateurs
rests in their thinking only of their IN
dividual selves, and in being totally re-
gardless of their fellows and their audi
ence. Gabble, gabble, gabble, the anna
teur pOurs out his words in reslstless
flood, totally regardless of the fact tha'
his speech has to travel round consld
cradle area, and he moves awkwardly
about the stage, utterly needless OF th'
great priciple of repOsc, without which
no man can hope to be a successful actor
His companion on the stage may hav'
to say something which wins applause
or laughter; the noise is nothing t.
; him, on he goes, caring nothing for TIN
patent fact that the audience are losint
, the whole point of his speech. II anna
teurs would only condescend to atten'
more carefully to their rehearsals, an'
!. submit to the stage management
some competent professional, there
no reason why, if they possess an Ordl
nary amount of hstrionic power an
general intelligence, they should no
! afford very tOlerable evenings enter
tainment. - London Society.
A gentleman whose house was I'LL
der repair went out one day 70 see ho'
+ the work progressed, and, observing
.. quantity of nails lying about, he sai
u to the carpenter, Why don't you tax
5 care of these nails? They'll certainl
u he lost. No, replied the carpente
> You'll find them in tue bill. .,
r A moss rose is beautiful because
J., is bordered it is landscape see
q through trees. So are view throue
,r half-raised windom-curtains and distal
rs scenery through long suite of room
a. - are lights on .fOregrOunds, and sha
d ows on the bsckerodmds in -sh ~
G c Sylvester Judd