The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-24
TOOTLIGHT FLASHES.
Dramatic Dull Times and Hard Timcs-Arc
Teachers OF any Use t-Nnmes and Prices
A Bad Outlook for HomeO and JuIiet.

Teachers Of any Use t-NHmes n nd Prices
A Bad Outlook for Romeo and Juliet.
New York is thronged with unemployed
actors.
II used to be said that no good motor need
ever be out OF a situation, but that would be
foolish speech now, as the books OF the dramatic
agencies show and a tour through the several
dramatic rendezvouA would demonstrate.
There are several theories about this state OF
facts. Some argue that Boucicaultism, as the
new system OF jobbing is called, Is the cause.
Possibly II is. and II so. fear the actors must
blame themselves, and not the managers.
During tho first few months OF the war all
business was at a stsndstill, prudent men took
In sail, and everybody was embarrassed. Even
90 sanRuine man as the late Henry J. Raymond
was frightened about his paper, aud at one
time began Q reduction Of his stat, fearing that
tho war, which actually coined bis fortune
would peril his property aud bankrupt his
business.
As with others, so with theatre managers.
After little, when fighting became a trade,
and trade was active, aud activity nlled every
body's pockets with greenbacks, theatres -four
ished. like all other popular institutions, aud
salaries went up with the price Of gold.
Those were palmy days for actors. Everybody
had an engagement All the man gers we're
accessible. and from Milne TO California there
wasn't an actor OF any merit whatever, who
need to 20 without work, or without liberal
compens ton.
Times are changed. ditto things.
Gold is down. Ditto salariesf No.
And that's precisely what's the matter with
them ali, from Hamlet, Prince OF Denmark,
down to the captain Of the supers.
In other words, between the Rraspin9 stars
the ono hand. and the high priced stock on the
other, managers are In danger OF pecuoiary ruin,
and they decline to run any greater risk than
they must.
Consequently the seasons are late.
Take the case OF the Globe Theatre In Boston.
Mr.. Floyd announces that bis fall and winter
season will open the lat OF December. Mean
time oil the people engaged for that theatre
must live on their bank accounts, their friends,
their wits.
Ia the Globe closed7
Oh, no-the management plays combinations
In other words say that tho Oates opera troupe
are at the Globe a week or TWO. Mrs. Oates has
her own people. John p Smith may then play
"Uncle Toms Cabin for a week or so He,
too, has his own people. Mr.. George Dechs may
then plsy Miss Dargon and company for week
or SO. Mr. Becks too, has his own people. SO
md the theatre open, the public entertained,
OUT tue hCtOEs iuics anu tnc uluuukcmoW oaNcN
the salaries for all that period.
1t will be Understood that am not giving the
precise list OF MIR. F1oyd's attractions. know
that the Globe is open, and that the season
doesn't begin except as have said. And as IL
Is with the Globe II Is with scores and scores OF
theatres all over the land.
Another mode Of saving money for the man
ayers Is called local jobhing. For instance, MIR.
Stevenson belongs to w alIack's company. There
nothing for him do. hut he had be
paid. Mr. Palmer needed a Young man To pl v
In "Cnnscence" He applied to Mr. waliack
and obtained Stevenson. thereby saving that
amount to Wallack, and having Stevenson's
service just as long a. he nerded IL snd no
longer. such instances happen constantly, and
OF course initiate az inst the horde ~ UNI
| engaged actors who might otherwise find enl-
plovment.
I have referred to the rapacity and Rraspine-
ness 81 our travelling stars. The time was when
they were content to share the fortune, good or
III, Of The ~ aHsgement but that T. so no longer.
In other d VS. the profits made out of good stars
enabled the man cement to- meet the denclts
entailed by the melore receipts OF the bad Stars.
| No Aaddys a star like SDthern. Florence. or
| Booth taxes nearlv all the Drohts-sometines
| ali. IteralIy-so that when the manager I, stuck
| With a bad enlargement he Is comp.led to put
| his hand In his pocket IT, pay the losses.
! Why, then, YOU ask; do manaaers eng ee these hes.
| their rivals will. and II won't do for the public
to get an idea that the rivals could do what they
In the end, the managers are forced for self
protection to make the best terms tn ~ can with
! regular running Of the company. This IL n my
| thinking the sectes - the TACT that New YORK
thu centre-"is thronged with unemployed
| actors"
what then will he thought Of another fact
| that there never was time when so many aspi-
| rants for histriouic nOnors were forcing them
| selves upon tho managersI
Managers like wallacK. PAlmer Dalv, and the
| rest have their desks covered with letters ana
| cards from Young people ~ both sexes hegging
al interview and pleading fora i" chance"
| ] 6nd that this desire " pouring money Into the
hands Of trainers for the stage 10 an astonishing
| extent. The first thing "A young girl, ambitious
Tor dramatic fame docs, 10 To 60 to q teacher.
To hl or her she pays all along from g. a lesson
to 500 quarter aud | believe every dollar so
spent to be not only money wasted, but money
qua Tor direct aud positive injury Inc name
Renee doesn' get a tthe the credit that belongs
To II, while leading artists IKE Miss Fanny Mo-
rant, Mss Matilda Heron, MIR. Fred Robinson,
| and Others get great zeal.
Miss Morint Is a ady OF mature years, large
practice. and high place IN her profession
| I ms are phenomenal. Sue teaches many pupils.
and have never seen one who was not patterned
| on Morant, copied after Morant, a pocket edition
| ~ Mornnt. This is not sid to the discredlt Of
MISS Morant. Her position Is so well assured
should not feel. II she were less cunspcuous.
| Let Young lady. after several quarters OF Miss
Morants teaching 20 upon the Stage; rhe nrst
gesture she makes VIII DC sucn palpaole imi
| tation OF her TO cher as to make the manager
nsh, snd 4 he care anything about her t. say,
| MIGRANT, and be you self"
What do the teachers do with their pupilsP
As rule the schedule ID unvarted. the curl
cuum unchanging. If the puph be a girl the
| teacher detects In her great "emottOnal power
| That's worth IS at least. isn't ~ Then she
| takes the IiunchO OK" and teaches her the
role OF Julia. She reads It To her acts II atsher,
| aud then goes through II with her Aft r "A lew
| months the gifl believes bersef 10 be Julia. She
thinks. dream 5. aG,s, and spOuts Julia. and with
| ler teacher really believes herself the gTeatss
| Julia Ia the world.
non they 90 for juliet In Romeo and Juli-
| et;' then for Beatrice, and SO on. In other
| "olds. the teacher drllls her pupil IN parts sh e
| may nertr have an opportunity to play. very
| much rs II ,tholic student were To he tn,Ight
the duties OF an archbishop aud nothing slss
| say nothing else. for have never Yet, Ia am ex
| perience OF more tuan 1ftoen wears, encountered
| one OF those graduated pupils VINO knew Any-
thlng ABOUT the Stage, stage business, staue ef.
| tecis, or any part Whatever eXcrpi several Of
those at the very top 81 the ladder, reauirng nh
| Or tns Of Sidd ms and the experience OF yenrs
| i asked Charley Ihorne Of the Union souara
| Theatre II he thought a teacher ever made nm
| actor. " Never said he; mo actor aver
| amounted O. a row of pins who didn't begin M
| the bottom aud lOOTk up. You cant find a man
who uesan Nv playing Hunlct. VINO kept II M
nor woman vino started In with Julia who was
| worth crossing Inc street to see"
lhey ali agree TO this Mr.. Palmer MANAGER
OF the Union square, VINO had Loo letters Ist
| year from young people ANXIOUS to jnin Ma com