New-York tribune., 1876-06-03
MSS DICKINSON on THORNS.
,e Bdftor Of rhc Tribune.

TO me Rdffor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Mature persons who attempt stage, be-
ginning with such tiros Hrsiiei R0salhid yeg
WoNngi5H or Mary Si,frrt. unanimous pout.
They always want expression Of judgment. with
reference 10 what they do whrs they are, but with
reference to wha, friendship f1ndy imagnts they will
become In the future. That !. 90 while tney begin
~ the end OF the dramatic profession as,uning at The
ouiset to play leading business. which IA the highest
they wish to De judged II they ii begun ~ the
beginning. This the with Miss KIie Field,
who printed her views upon this point; 10 WIS tho
case with Mr. Olkcy Hall, did sccrete his cPa
ions Of the standpoint OF his critics and t will surprise
NO experienced observer OF theatrical aGITs To find That
IL Is likewise this with Niss Anna Dickinson "They
crciss me"-say5 tins lady. in published Interview
"not a dcbulaute. hut actress with assured
pusi!on" Yet Miss Dosnsou's Grst appearance the
stage made the leading part In heavy tragedy
such q part as only experienced actress has
pa yed Ia cOmpctnt manner, and such part, accord
indy as Only an experienced is entitled
dcrtakc.
There something that closely resembles dlsngenuous-
ncsor is it the total lack Of logical perception I'm the
attitude assumed by expcrmeuters Of this kind In the
cas. OF M!ss Dickinson, as in other and similar
eases the same test Of careful study disclosed the
same crude condition. Every 81 ctatOr must have
wished most heartily, WREN The curtan upon 4
Crown of TnOrns" that bliss Dickinson might succeed In
holding the rank she had taken. IL would have been
AZ
the lady had not been half hour the stage before
Il became ndubl;a5y evident that she lacked tony the
necessary but the necessary natural
aptitude, the latent capacity and spirit, the tempera-
ment. and the M guctsuitO DO agreeable and
cessful actress The performance not only jumbo
of ncertudc awkwariness. extrayaganre, and rrpcl-
lent manuerisms, but II was without promise In
dramatic direction To indulge In speculation the
future OF performer Of this kind would, accordingly.
have been an idle waste OF words The circumstances
riddly restricted critical estimate observation OF
the facts presented Those facts simply that Miss
Dickinson acted crudey and dsasrecaby, In a tedious
play deEotng strOng character and viii aud dcnotng that
she might have become fair actress had She been trained
to the stage her youth But also she II apparent
that mature positive, rig1, dllctie
hard and set in her mold Of being to succeed in an art
tnat requires variety, oyeliuess susceptibility 70 inn
pessons OF character spontneoasness in the uterauce
OF feeling and the portrarc If traits unusual grace ana
skill in vocal and facial expression, and the emotional
feryor that dominates by sympathy than tho in
tellcctual concentration that dominates by force.
Confirmation of this arrives the xpcced source
of Miss DcknsOn's words. When ! Lecture" Saws
this lady with sudden burst OF cand)r 81 have every
thing my way; but here It is dlaerent 1 would
start quick impulse, and suddenly nnd human
being opposing my way, or would become painfully
aware OF chair table" Exactly so. Miss Dickinson
spent the whole OF her first evening actress in try
lug 10 dodge the furniture to drive some unhappy
ooadjutOr into and sermOnize him. She fo very
kcenly tho absence Of the facilities OF 10 plat
FORM and she made the fact entirely evident; and among
other reasons precisely because she seemed be In
the way Of the chairs and tables that she failed to make
"A impression actress. Her spectators had no
more chance To SEQ Anne Bocyn than IL Anne BOleyn
had be- hidden behind a windmill In full blast When
rageiyqueen goes wildly caroming the other eharac
ters in drama. all over tho stage, tho observers