, 1881-01-30
THE STAGE.
The Actor and His Art According
to. NJ. Coquelin.
stoddard's Observation-Disclosures"
Gus Theatrical Notes.


s.TT1E ACTOR AND HIS ALL"
Tho translation Of d rather Interesting pao1-
nh1e1 entitled "The Actor anu Hls Art lFon
The pen of II. CoQutlin, OF the tomcole eFan-
ra;so has anueared. 1t is written with Inc we"
~ r,ro.-ino that the actor is an artist. and has
+ha same title to !. pluce in the State as any
other c1tizcn,''-a TACT the establishment %
which. we should imagine, scarcely neeos a1Eu-
rrcnt at this late day.
Yet the author finds much to deplore III tue
present social status OF the actor IN France
where be still realizes that n - stigma OF 1n-
fcriority" remains, although the prejudice is
eofteued by the "progress Of civilization stnce
the Reyoludon.' ..Many,'' he says, "rcceiVe us
in 1hcr homes-nay, invite us thlthcr-who are
~ ,t aa,,,atr ,fstnrhc1 hv any suggestion Of per-
feet equality" and the actor lamen.s ,nc as Luz
that this prejudice strong as 1t is IN Ffance'
is already abolished in other countries.
wncte aetoIs nnt T. 10 social world Passing
as class set apart IN 1ne sns ineouality Of the
actor IN the classic ano ., ,,,;sh snars to be
1fa1e,n.ts' W. ou,usn ~snno,"fs nercr con
complaint that "tne fco 1aooon - .., ~,
ferred upon him. we come to some pracucal W.
servations on noting which are full Of interest
1.-THE theatrical world" says Ar. CoqoSnu. +o
divided into two opposing camps m 'esn1a atate y.
the question whether the actor should par1ake
oi Inc passons =. a'1a -, -o,na;n master Of him
or whether he should femaln aass.nnod m and xio-
1en+ a.tjon IN tho part Of the character which he
tene asnon ~ -. -, rnr,1 rcnain uumorcd himself,
represents ~ "o.u' o+1ars which forms the
the more surely 10 Huseo eolnots, ~ Is,a .h;a
famous paradox OF Diderot- Well, I hold TINS
norodor tn Inc literal truth, and am convinced
tsat ono nm only bc a great actor on condition
1nae one can ous w a,,d a1,,1,tv To express
OF complete Se1-uAsu-te aAAo e'o'1'.' ~
feelings which are not experienced, "nscn nas
never be experienced, which from the very hn, ID,
tule " .a.oss ~ our ahtty to create. The
this is the cause oi our ao.., ,.sna.;o ,,o.t
70 bring forth from his brain Tarsn0c or
a,,.hr,b orsmcd and equipped although he. the
1.nc1 hn ~ n thoroughy Upright and honest man,
pern,s ~ ~. anat.zc # af will without ceasine to
hn for an @ instant distinctly himself, us separate
rhtnr rs The painter and his canvas. The actor
-tu.taf. n rte o-oor,on-ftnt ia ni1 1t is from
ts;th;n fho1 bc moves the springs which make his
anaatar .'e arnrcss the Whole ganut Of human
e9nsS'ouspess s;s5 sre bts nerves, he must hold
" Mn'en his hand and piny upon as
hest hc can. do not say that this can be done
ifhnnt NJ dfcn1ty and fatigue; it may be carried
~ 1,T}ar orhe,,st}nn. tf1nt IS a mere matter of
+omrarcUonr hit ea,h must regulate his own
nxnrnditusc OF force, The actor makes up his
narrSanaCrs He horrors from his author, be
Rhornn,vs fr1,m stare tradition he borrows from
Ta1,,rc. he draws On bis own stock OF knowledge
~ mon and rhnUs his own experience Gn0
saar7no. u uG - ~ ehnrt. he sets himself a task.
Hie inss nncc set be has bis part; he sees it
arasns II: It docs not belong to him, but he in
kaqifs fts hody d. fairly it -:
The tT1,e aeior. Sir, Coouclin holds, is always
rra1iy for action, sHe can take up his part- no
mattor 1,hnn md Instantly excite. the desired
aMnct' "" commands US 10 ]augh, to weep to
e,ITnr with fear. lie needs not 10 wait until he
aTner,cnees these emotions himself or for Erace
Er1rro ahnSo n cnli0ftcn thcn" 1.-the artists
hroIn Tfo writer mai,1tans. must remain tull
and III emotions even his own must expire on
rha threshoid Of his thought" H. CoqucIin cites
tas lug ~ .hts IN ,nnI,,ai i1dennndence of head
80 hp"-9 ui+ - cai] Thar when Tal.na learned
~ .h dan.h ~ hfs Yathnr he uttered a pierciug
" .1e a;,,, | :, hoortfnft si1.t fhe nrtisr aI-
~ ~, aie,t 4, 1ta man ,nsfnut1y took note
~ = On snd j. deriietl To make use OF It upon the
- - 49, it, ~, mis- ct.racteristif. trait shows