The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-07-16
DRAMATIC ART.
How u school For lis SUItivnt Ion
ShOulL DO Established.

| contend that there Is rs good n chance
now, II not better one, for the actor of ordinary
TALENT there Ia tho days OF stock Ompanles In
the provincial theatres, who got into sllpshOl rou
tine, who seldom played new piece but did GER
tain 'draw regularly every Saturday night as the
week came round, varied only by another certain draw
Raymond and Agnes OF "rhe Bleeding Nun
% The Field Of Forty Footsteps ~ "The Three Red
Men, ~ "rho Lonely Man of the Ocean, ~ and
forth, were, depend upon 1t, the stock list of the
stock company under the management Of the lamented
Mr.. and Mrs. Crummles.
While long runs are supported by the public there
will he long runs; and rs long as the travelling COM
pany system pays there VIII he travelling companies;
and As the number Of theatres IL Increased are the
chances OF the actor who 'really has it in him -
Increased.
But as to this Schooi Of Dramatic Art ~ who are
tho professors? who to teachY
The most highly-gifted actors are not tho best
teachers. You remember Pendenns? who taught
Miss Fohorlngay those dramatic tricks which 40
delighted and charmed her audience? snuGy old
Bows, who played the eddie In the orchestra.
The stage being what Is called u "sef- educating
profession" the letter ''h" is in general way,
of the IN " Is not necessarily sign of an uneducated
man, but 1t is not model OF correct English. over
SH on paTe Not even il' Snake Mi
spea,iln theltre-where, at all events, they can
| not rotorI that they "only speak what tho author
puts In their months, AMI II he doesnt put rs in
for them they can't la expected To pronounce them''
win the letter :. h ~ be given its proper value
Hut tn ollr Practically.
Each lhc,lro should he a school of dramatic art
Let the pupils he rahearsed Icy tho prnmpter ia
whatever piece may la running the time. Let tho
pupils bo shifted about from part to part until
thing like welt cast drdbdiis TarSone Is obtained
Let the strctost rules be observed during iehear
sal. pupils able to do should pay fixed fee. pu
pills unable to do 50 should bind themselves appren
tees tn the manager of the theatre, who would have
The refusal of their services at salary for certain
time, either for town or country. The prompter and
stage manager should receive extra pay for this work.
10 which the fees would contribute.
The paying pupils shonid he free 10 go from
theatre 10 another. Plenty of variety for them then
'nrors 80 Tor witnessing performances should only
he given to those unable to afford n,yment.
Fines should be inflicted for unpnnctuality; and
pupil after three oifenses against any one rule should
he removed from the piece, hut not dismissed from
the class unless the manager sh'mld deem II neces-
sary. some such plan as this, carefully considered
would afford the nerve so much needed by young
women good birth and education who would go
the stage If they could he assured beforehand that
their professional surroundings would be respecta-
hle,
only under the greatest safeguards can young
lady attempt To adopt this quasi profession Al some
theatres there may be "A Of Responsibility
Its Bnemianisn; but tits avery thin varnish, and for
| my part prefer the rough bohemian kndlIness, ex
pressed In free and easy manner toward the young
beginner To tic strain of keeping up the - best COM
pIny manners, tsoon to vanish when real earnest
comes OUT In the excitement OF rehearsal which
Is As snobbsh In the green-room as II is anywhere out
of it, All members OF a company have right to ths
| use of tho green room of their THEATRE II forms
sort OF fantastic ante-chamber to.a court OF nnbc
appeal to which every one connected with the case Is
admitted, In theatre, whero the entertainment Is
| Mixed so must he, he'essiriS the company IN the
green room. Where viii all these have been edn
Caled2 In what possible school of dramatic art viii
| this motley assembly have obtained Instruction.
The subject Il fun of dinicuy but the suggestion
have already made at to Instructions rehearsal and
each theatre forming lis private school to
me to offer the greatest advantage In the simplest
aud shortest way: H. that Is, school of dramatic art
be required at all.
| MiIibrook says "There too too many theatres
at which or two good actors and the rest are
| Sticks Then he goes oar school is the
penter shop, rather the timber yard 'all logs.
Then he wants the Chiof actors the teachers of most
experience in all branches '-st ''stCks 80 to
select the precious from the worthless wood be our
head carpenter In short But what will they do
| with the wood when they We selected 1t? Puppets of
such material must be wooden The smile seems to
me about fortunate the al happy thought ~ of
the manageress who presented her two leading actors
with the appropriate gift OF couple OF walking
| sticks.
thoroughly good education Is the best basis for
actor who has IN hold the mirror up to nature. All
require this. whatever profession ol calling they
going tn adopt; but the actor above all others, and
| rule, he has less OF II than most others.
| Then he nGeda some special Instruction; he should
danCeand fence we'll. The masters for these At hand
lie should he acquainted with music, drawing, and
painting beyond a mere school boys knowledge.
The masters for these are also at hand. lilo should
learn the art OF 'mlkng up THIS can he taught
easily enough. lie should learn To Iecite blank
All where Is the master fOr this oh, certainly
there are masters at hand-pompous theatrical eocu :
tiOnists. from whom Heaven preserve as | doubt
whether tho very few actors who can speak blank
| verse could impart Ia Others what they themselves
have acquired from their only Instructors, study,
practice, aud acquired know ltdge Of stage effect.
| clever, experienced pr0mptei, on good stage man
ager could give all the necessary hints, without et
teIing the pupil with masters mannerism during
the Iehearsals and this have already suggested
being the reaiiest, best, and most practical form of
| dramatic art schOOng.-F q. BtrHdnd in Nine
teeah century.