, 1874-10-25
RESTORE TEE FARCE.

| There il CROWN. dissatisfaction amongman-
agera veil as the public with the present form
OF the drama Some Of the thoughts here sus-
gested were derived from conversation with an
experienced and thoughtful theatrical caterer,
the subject xhereof was the change that had
CONS over thu modern school. That thcro is
sneh change can be best seen BY comparing
one Of the farontes OF to- day with those which
held the stage without interruption oven few
years ago. The earlier comedies OF BTrcu,
Tom Taylor. and others, ire so mauifesty Diff
fcrea. from pieces Of the present style that
2fse. run OF French Transitions, or tho Amer
lean imitation thereof, tho good pieces Of
even = decade ago appear heavy and old
fashioned. We even expect to see the
ladies' in tho drama dressed like the fashion
platcs Of 1885, with score Of narrow flounces
on their dresses, large straw honnets, and cir
cuoference OF skirt like nothing 50 much rs
parachute. But more than I'll do Hs fad =
di1arenca in the disposition OF
THE COMEDY ELEMENT
OF piece. Since Robertson w1ote his last play,
comedy to which all the characters ministered
in degree has rot been put upon the stage.
The dramatiat Of to-day makes his pieces pre-
cisely as q cook makes an applo-p1e,- much
-four, SO much butter. so mucn apple, so much
sugar, spice, and lesnou-poei. Plays are made
BY recipe. and not by ingenuity. Plots
must vary little, hut apparently even the plot
mold. II things c,ntinuo as they arc now pro-
guessing. dta'natists will soon begin to write
identical pieces. aud then race for the first pro-
duc:ion- We l1ve
THE ALLOTTED LIST OF CHARACTERS,
tho faithless wife Of the leading man seduccd
by tho heavy man, whose vilaluies are partially
atoned for by the comedian, while the old man
utters proper moral ma1ims. and the old lady
peEsouates tho disa:reeabls mothar-iu-lan,
ana SO on snfash t tho sa1t Dns
tries-are introduced to intensity the
interest aad quicken the action. Dialogue
must differ according to tue temperament and
personality OF tho author, but after studying the
same models which have supplied Smith, Jones,
snd Brown with conversation for their plays, it
is not to be wondered at that Robinson's idea Of
dialogue would pass for that Of any OF hin
friends.
There is now but one severely original dram
stist writing for the Englsh aud Atnarlean stage.
and that one is
". 8. a1LnEET.
His fancy is freeh, ana his wit keen and pungent
As rule hts dramatic construction il weak. The
technical features of his PLAYS inferior to
those Of other English dramatists, willis the
literary merit is far beyond them
It will be noticed that the comedian in all |
modern plays has about the same part to fulfill. |
Ha,nlet's caution to tho player, . Let not your
GcEOr speak more tuau l8 Eef down Tor A1u,
must bo observed Of necessity, for the poor fel
low speaks almost the same liues in every mod
ern comedy. He il degenerating into IN automa- !
ton, With the same opportunities that the clown |
has in pantomime. Ths consequence is that h,s |
g business" ia becoming as ste,o.typed as that |
Of the clown. Week alter week he phys thesame
tricks oTer aud over again, aud nores |
himself and his audience with ropetiuons Of
what bus long since become ! 1e4rlness. He is
chained to tho stake which the dra,uatist OF the
present rninseresting era first drove into the
ground, and on which each auccaedlng play
wright has dealt = blow to mako lin more &C.
cnro. His captivity is accomplished His little
circle is narrow one, and he covers it nightly.
reminds uB Of the dancing bear of the menag-
9rie. vino has long sgo became reconciled to
lis base circumscription, and cares not particle
Thetber in his HOMOGENEOUS circuit he onrangles
himself in his cham and becomes inert aud
stupid or not. The comedian must break his I
:hain. TLere is hut one way to do it. Tne old
EysteIn which made comedians must be restored. |
WE MUST HAVE THE FA1CE,
" We shall lose our comedians. PlaywEights In
he old time made the actors; actorg in cur day
make the playa and their authors Tie ooig:~
ion is on tho wrong eide, and the sooner tho
EIonR is ri3hted the better.
Tho causes which have brought sbout tho
h2ndnumaat It th9 f&xnA nSA uumerQnz. Il |