The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-23
AMU9EMFNTH.
steiuway Hall Mira scott-Siddoue's Dra-
pnntic HeRdtnNr.

Mre. Scott-Siddons entertained very
large assemblagc of pcoule at steinwav Hall lnst
Wednesday evening, and entertained them very
much to their satisfaction, " laughter and ear
nest applause be evidence OF satisfaction. ms
only went to- prove that this particular auditory
was made up ~ folk easily amuscd' whose
knowledge ~ and whose tastes Tor art were M
fnntilc. party ~ children may be made 10
laugh 10y almost ANYTHING done good na'nredly
out Of the common WY. MR.. Scou-Siddohss
manner uf pleasing seems to be governed ny ono
principle alone, namely, TO do things In an extra
ordinary style. Further than this, whatthe does
can truly bc said 60 he governed by NO method.
In attempting To imrersonatc all the chlrac-
tiers IN a scene from one of Shakes peare'e plays
she does indeed, use somewhat mannish pitch
and tutonnton OF voice when utterng the words
set down for men, aad a rather high pitched
treble when dsclhmiug the women's parts.
But beyond this the auditor can make out no
distinction. Btncitct in one sccre appears, SO
n IA ne aupcArf 4 all. to be churlish soured,
rather brutal person. at any rate IN voice vnu
manner; In another scene nc mas tne c lasui"n W.
a acrVile coxcumn. or IN ordinary huhoon. rue
| reader shows no definite couceuu N OF ms or oi
an other character. 50 ~ from helnS cninsists
| ent. the phgs as shown bv hcr.h We absolutely
no Cougeui .lttv: YOU cannot conceive " pohsloie
! that the one has any rel dion To the other. M.
In giving dramatic readings ms lauy' IKE
many ,tuer persons, attempts t. o. hicve a t.ihg
| Impossible, a. amy rate Tor sucn AZ tutV. ven
| and women VINO inll't properly iiif'iHNhH''
| any one char 'ctcr IN drama ON lue stasSS' ",
| all the aids furnished bV the presence oi DINER
| character and the Illusions OF sceh'' unuer-
take to g,ve an audieuceiel at'uhs 80 ~" 1uo
| persOuagcs tn any scene Of the glcn est Tragedy,
| when. from the very nature 81 Tue ease ~ y
| necessary for them to instant ncouslN dNcst
themsclVcs uf one character, with all It's pr, per
nodes II expression. tni assume another thtt
may LITER II IN the ur-t onlN IN y uuueId,e uc-
me r that NAV lie in almO st all respects con-
trast to IL. ] 20 do this. great ana viva lnaein-
alton is requisite. and intellectual power sum
cieut To form dis,inct conceptions u each
character, aud to preserve snch coh'ep.ohs
or the whole play. has been rehearsed To reopls
the mind with perfectly defined, dtscriminated,
| cotnplrte. ana consistent uersonaces. aud to use
40 Wide Q range, and such entire mastery OF his
uionic skill as shall he necessary to present
these Nauous person ees endowed with suta-
bic form. color. and Individuality.
Artists like Fanny kembie Butler and Char
lottc Cushm N, who have devoted the better part
of "A life to the laboriOus study OF the drama and
OF dramatic art only partially succeed IN such at
tompts. Yet their ability to impersonate sinele
characters on the stage has made them famous.
But Mrs. Srott-Sddons. like many " those VINO
invite public attention to their ieidinRs mas az
Yet only shown her inability to do reasonably
good dramatic work on the stage; she mas never
| exhiht ed such power OF imaginatun IA would
be manifested hy Identifying herself to m ode r
ate degree with the character which sue as
sumod and she has never shown even a toler-
abc degree Of his'rionc skill; she shows no
method in her readings. Ara .ucaV viewed,
wat she does must he reg 'rded ~ a series OF
ciuricinus mites. But A. her aud ences are large
~ made up q people VINO. thropgn CONSCIENTIOUS
scrupes or inyeterate pref Idiccs. at IN from
4 ing To thu theatre. they have little or 10
KNOWLEDGE ufdramattr art. ny kind Of theatrtl
ul.rlay has for them tho charm OF novelty. aud
they are delighted hY tu'h gtrice n ms lidN
XXI intf- for their amusement. e. peCialiv when
ass I'm this case, the taucr rs a very beautifu
wo'ran. WIKI what might truly enough b.,
,alei face - ideal beauty. a hney shaped
mead adorned wi'h mass Of rich brow n hair,
! FORM uf rNud height ana apparently made to De
graceful. Mrs. scott cdcns pDs~e-se. persona
| advantascs. whi' should have stimulated he
! to the most aruuous stuuY of tue uft when sh'
profese.s. thc very name which sle heari
should have Neeu an incentive -t-uuE enough Il
@, IN a her To- ann al the hisncst achievemcn il
IN ter chosen work. Instead II this. she scen
t. have been content to rely on euch .cr~on't
charms and the reflected sultndor q the ndui,
| Of Studous for sucu succ - as she CONcts.