Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-10
AMATEUR ACTORS.

Notwithstanding all the bitter sxperi.
ence of the past in that town, and the fear.
tul examples furnished by the amateur
actors in Nevada City and other aeigbbor.
ing boroughs, the new dramatic society at
Grass Valley has concluded to face the
fates and do or die. The announcement il
received with alarm by the long. suffering
publc all over the coast. Even the Bee
man forgets the horrors of slickeps for the
time being, and gives vent to his narrowed
feeling in this wise
Have the originators of this scheme
ever considered the multiform dangers that
lie before them ? For instance, take the
play OF Romeo and Juliet" What q
pandemonium will reign over the distribu.
ton OF characters A fair, ETHEREAL. spir.
ltuelie creature-an esthetical blossom of
humanity which would DO blown away in
a southerly bTeeze-tAinks abe should be
Entrusted with the part OF the fair Veronese.
She feels that her willowy form, her maid
enhoed Just verging into s7Gmanhood, with
all the halo OF romance clarifying her and
with the springs of love Just bubblinp from
her heart, peculiarly fit her for the char.
acter.
what. that little chit ?" snaps a ma.
ture maiden OF some thirty summers in a
confidential interview with the stage man.
ager. Why, il takes a woman who
has known what love is-whose soulful in.
tensity has throbbed in responsive echo to
the music of that divine affection-to faith
fully portray the all-overpowering yearn.
ing of the sweet Juliet"
Along comes the third to seek the Jupiter
Ionans OF the green.room-the ubiquitous,
lrrepressibie stage manager-and this last
OF the trio prides herself upon her elocu.
tionary powers. Her enemies-which in
ciude all the other would be Juliets-de-
clare that any competent jury in the world
would convict her of murder In the frat
degree upon the English language and, be-
sides that, her personal appearance moro
fits her for the Witch in "a Macbeth" than
one OF Shakespeare's loveiiest heroiues.
But this damsel insists upon her right, by
reason OF her native talent, to the leading
character. II is not beauty alone" she
ahectlonately Gays to the presiding geniuz
behind the scenes, that is needed in the
successful evolution Of the varied emotions
OF Juliets heart. It is that knowledge
OF the technique of the profession that
power to grasp all the hidden subtleties
and bring forth the underlying beauties OF
the technique of the heroine that ability
to portray the ever-charming, Inconsistent
feelings of passionate girls heart, that can
alone succeed IN depicting true Juliet
And the Romeos They are equally az
troublesome. One prides himself rpon his
shape, and declares that It weald be dig.
grace 80 sltosv ksssssl- kIsssa y 5sfs Or bow
legged Smith to appear in tights. Another
Is a fair elocutionist, and would be sorry to
see the play butchefed by the ranting OF
TINS one, or the lnaudible mumbling of that.
But the worst of all to pacify is tie weak
eyed young man, who is the betrothed OF
the Juliet of the occasion. He won't have
any other fellow making love to, and
squeezing and kissing his girl. The latter
nuisance, however, is generally efectually
squslched by the young lady herself, who
earnestly declares her intention of being
Rugged through five long acts by tho
Romeo OF the occasion, whether her fellow
likes it or not. The result is that the
amatory portions of the drama are, by her
enthusiastic assistance, made so tropical
that Bernhardt hug or an Abbott kiss
were an icicle in comparison.
Furthermore, the director hears from the
lips of some pretty girl suggestion that
the selections should not all be of serious
nature. but that dash of bnrlesoue or
opera bouffe should be added to enliven the
entertainment. The man of experience
never asks for her reason. He Immediate
" puts her down as shapely girl, with an
intense desire to appear in modified form
OF Santa Cruz bathing suit.
Thus 1t will be seen that the life OF d.
rector OF an amateur dramatic entertain
ment IS not happy one.-[Grass Valley