The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-07-11
Amateur Acting,

fortunately, highly capable of leaving a
sense of deep depression upon the au-
dience but the vast majority of anna
teur performances would be shIouded
in the saddest gloom, if they were not
usually succeeded by the exhilirating
effects of supper. Why are such exhi-
bitions so extremely bad? The actors
are generally Intelligent people, and
some of them have evidently a 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. It is not sufficient
that the actor can repeat his words
clearly and with proper emphasis; he
must recolect that he is playing up to
other actors, and he must consider the
stage effect upon the audience. If anna
teurs could see themselves as they are
seen, they would, perhaps, realize
the fact that their ionOrance of stage
business and technicaliUies weighs ter
ribly against their tolerable abilities
and evident carnestness. Rushing into
a difficult performance, as they usually
do, after half dozen rehearsals, it
never seems to occur to them that they
are presenting to their audience what
would be an exerably bad first night of
representation by trained professionals.
They ask a great many people to
come and see them act, and scarcely
take ordinary pains to do justice to
themselves and to pay proper respect to
their visitors They appear to be un-
der an impression that so long as they
have a pretty close acquaintance with
their words, and can infuse a certain
amount of humor or pathOs into what
they have to say, they have done all
that is nece essary. The last thing that
they think of, is the elaborate work of
stage management; and hence the usu-
al ludicrous result. What amateur
does not know the mutual congratula-
tions that go on behind the cramped
wings of the temporary stage, erected
by Mr.. Nathan or Mr.. Simmonds how
well the piece is going That is to say,
there has not been a dead stage-walt,
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 well 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 q 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 subllmely
Indifferent. The absolute and undem-
able truth of this assertion iustifes one
in saying 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, gable, the anna
teur pours out his words in resistless
flood, totally regardless of the fact that
his speech has to travel round cOnsid-
erabIe area, and he moves awkwardly
about the stage, utterly needless of the
great priciple of repose, without which
no man can hope to be a successful actor.
His companion on the stage may have
to say something which wins applause
or laughter the noise is nothing to
him, on he goes, caring nothing for the
patent fact that the audience are losing
the whole point of his speech. If anna
teurs would only condescend to attend
more carefully to their rehearsals, and
submit to the stage management OF
some competent professional, there is
no reason Why, if they possess an ordi-
nary amount of histrionic power and
general intelligence, they should not
afford very tolerable evenings enter
tainment. London Society.