, 1874-12-20
ADJUSTMENTS.
p,.s,nt Sgstem Of Contracts Between Act
ors and Managers.
rv;J Results of the System on Audience
and Playwright.
n,hoatrica1 Attractions During
- the Week.
i;mee at the Acadc1ny---Camilla
UrSO.

RUNNING IN RUTS.
.sc7uEE 1EcA-.sEEnED THEATRICAL REFORM.
ANYTHING tAas sayors of reform will meet
9TH opposition. and when thai reform tends to-
tha .brosaton Of certain privileges, the opposi-
IN, must Of necessity be greater still. In max
;,cs suggestion, therefore, it is necessary to
| .onsider whether the object to be gained is in
,nv deeres commensurate with tho means OF OBJ
t;:ang it ..-
The outtidc public is probably ignorant Of the
,,,ncei in which q theatrical company ia organ
,caa bp: tie stage manager and tho proprietor
t,,1, and they aro undoubtedly conscious Ct tho
.,1s attending tho present syEtem. Actors, it
I'll bo understood, hare
DIFFERENT "L1sEs:
t;.t IT, they feel :thenselves qualified to play
oey:s;n characters III I drama. Authors usually
model their plays upon tho traditions OF tho
t.se, providing q part OF conspicuous interest
far the leading lady, or star: an almost equally
socd one for the leading Juvenile man or light
comedian; another for low comedian, and SO
:mth, Human character is reducable, therefore,
10 certain set formula upon the stage. The law
,e,is d 1ow comedian. 40 must be, because lie
i funny on the stage. All tlawyeys. being moro
~ ieaa 41 ~. a...ns 49, ..Los,-.. ;,
saila1os ate "a 'AtlAe' pesa"@o SAo "A
itaYs plays them. Lovers go to tho '1ead.ng
r,n." or tho leading juvenile; and, of course,
tho leading lady will play the Interesting heroine.
BIZ tradition, therefore, all actoyB and actresses
I'LL into lime" They become confirmed in their
lue, and when By sheer force OF circumstances
d desire 70 try their metal they play some-
ding out Of their q line not remarkably we'll,
but satisfactorily, tho public expresses its sur
rrise that the artist has, shown so much verss-
ulity. 1t really is q matter Of wonder that he is
no: crampei with the mannerisras Of his special
line, and tho critics do not hesitate to join Ill
he rcnera, buzz Of approval.
! Eyc:y .c,or having settled in his own mind
THE TIE OF CHARACTER
smnng the balf-dozen permissible on the stage
be ia best adapted for. auhercs tenacious]y to it
until he dies. For even when he becomes star
be holds 10 it, In making his contract with q
panaeer therefore, ho sdpu1atea TINT he will
e!ay { certain limo Of parts among other
!ainss. They ell do it, ladies and gentlemen
like. And they maintain that this contract pro-
.se.s them against imposition, and OF courso 1t
1ocs. Eut hero is the point When part out
II ihc six CT eight in the piece IS handed to the
stor he docides foz himself whether it is iu his
lie or not. 1t ho thinks it il ona i'll which he
Fll appear to the best possible advantage, he
tccepts it J.; il not, be ,eturas It.
= THEN RON ESsEEs.
Ether tho manager gives Way md hands tho
rars to m inferior actor. or the actor gives way
under protest, or perhaps ha 1eaFes the theatre
Hes justified in doing 60 under lis contract, OF
course. But the question Is, Does ho act wisely
ba, told by glnnce at the manuscript, when
ia new one. any more than tho
excellence OF play can oe Judged By reading.
In factor NAV be throwing away Lord Dun
dr1ry. for all he knovs- It will be remembered
that this timc-honored Tradition nearly lost
SQthesu his fame. Ila part Wa8 gwen to him.
md his ire was aroused as its i,,sisnificanco.
His common sense vas appealed to, but ho
thought rather OF reTenge, aod hls eTort to bnr-
ksqne it and ruin tAe piece has nct.ed him
ar1ace]v fortune. When Edwin Adams first
played Enoch Arden at AlelicEers Ihe:tT.. Joe
Kbcelock WIS cast fcr Phatttp ray. ho Thought
q declining 1t, but, alter thinking the matter
erer decided to concentrate MS genius upoa IT.
and Won deserved admna ation. Instances nte so
common OF the unexpected development or
paEt that It 1s "oncef tne tfadls!on las nos PC
come more honorcd IN tho preach thau the Oh
servanee- ...-:-- --..-
This system OF lines occasionally goes further
!e1: an ector or acsre7s. ana sohei'hes potn,
are alio"ea ~ thelr coasfacss nos oIlg cefsa1n
iue, Eus an ........ .-.-...
A3soLCTE CHOICE OF PAaTs-
1nHs euopes.ns i to be the comedian. no can
hsist tl'.oa Tue par OF o!te7to Wnen tha1 Great
IIaseay Is announced, and tfceze me leaa'nG man
: Hamlet is produced. the latter c.n oust the
!otmer ont OF the Grareatgg3r- Ihls is so pre-
fesletod9 tnAl no sano manage. saoulu, escu ~
na #eakest moments, th1nk OF 1t; And JET II
aas ocea1ued; Inc actor Is n1t TO pane ior &C.
saxng eM he ,,;a can s &C., DUE tho m, aneser
-: 40 1ielcs LUIS; nucn prepares LILO way
.M 'mmeasutanlo e31lesy ana almost
:: :slsa.o eatastIopne. AZ n 'lrsuant VII :I Ie
1sulnE e9atroI OF me sneetrs, anu ln.en,s -
ai e neIos " o,le Muo I'LL. ~ u naso no eet
~ 5Isn .asa1 .1t M..n t tile nsuose e0e e.
W. ne seen .nat tas i1nt1s 1;s " ~? l'teseut
t.s:en tsa -; m ptte,ness snu uls1sser ~ LAZY
saas, to !ne ptpnc n.s. 4Dl miste , ~
.sstu oenlno Tue sesues tnefu 10 lach 9l We
sssal5 .ses ensente coIala.e peiose .nem uIu ei-
Ao IT, ammoslt1eg e. WILL Snow toemselves oeloIo
tasoa ~ s.ootnehts. men, uecAGso .a!eneco ac'o1
.s.ases sa !. paIs oat Of us Ane an lulelt9i one
sssM anu tne Plece ID noI psaseu as wen as II
Nv tsseu oe. ana, as tnese lnes ceepea WIZ tllne
aa cut his characters to run IN the established
E'es uence eolles t14o -ooacao eA} VI "ea1s