Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-18
Margaret Mather on ner Merits.

The Modern Age for January.
We should be greatly pleased to note
the appearance Of recipe written BY
the manager of Miss MargaretMather.
and entitled How to Make a Great
Success" We fancy the only abso-
lutely essential ingredient is public
with more money and curiosity than
critical ability, and that being pres
ent nothing more is needed than
judiciOus use Of ordinary managerial
Resources. Among these, of course,
are young woman Of some dramatic
talent, fair company and respectable
properties, few venal or incapable
critics, and large amount Of general
and special advertising. To these let
there be added some instruction in
elocution and handsome customs for
the aforesaid young woman, and we
have a-paying start Granted the
essential thing-a paying public-apd
notoriety is as available capital 10 the
dramatic profession as a real genius.
andth lady in question is an excel
lent illustration Of that fact. Her
manager has had the assurance to place
her before the public as a great act
ress, and we must either accept his
dietum and lay aside our judgment in
favor of his or criticise her in the
rank which she claims. In the first
place it Is herd to judge whether she
has or has not any innate talent. so
thoroughly has the dramatic instruc
Tor done his work. The few poses and
expressions, which are unmistakably
original are without exception bad.
unnatural and inartistic. Arguing
from the known to the unknown, It
would follow that our stars dramatic
instincts are mistaken ones, aud.
therefore, worse than none. As 10 the
other material which her instructor
has had TO deal with. It
may be said that be had a
fairly attractive personality to
start with, but unfortunately rather
lacking 10 the physique necessary for
strong tragic parts. In her facial ex.
pressions there is not a moments re.
pose, but this is more than overcome
by voice which is sweetly monoton-
Gus, except in moments Of excitement.
when Il becomes nasal. Miss Mather
unquestionably possesses much intelli,
genoe, aud this has made her very
plastic material in the hands Of her
instructor. Her performance is ex
actly whaHmieht be expected from such
q process Of manufacture. Ii is me-
chanical and wanting 10 that subtle
comprehension OF the part which dis,
tinguishes genius from srt. ii The ac-
tress is just what her instructor has
made her, and his methods are false
ones, His conceptions OF how emo.
ton should be manifested produce a
series Of dramatic gymnastics which
are inharmonious aud jarring. Both
common sense and taste are disguised
with bad art in scenes where the
closest imitation Of nature is re-
quired-scenes where anything else
becomes ridiculous. Her elocuiion is
fairly good, but the most cursory
study Of a dictionary would save her
from such mistakes as invariably say
Jog "ekupage" for "equipage. We
do not VISIT 10 be overcaptious or bru-
tai IN the criticism Of an actress, but
when she asks for the publie's money
on the ground that she is great, she
must substantiate her claim against
plain arguments on the other side.
There is such dearth Of really
great sectors aud actresses that
critics can well afford TO overlook
minor imperfeetions in the quest Of
genius, but now and always we shall
protest against tho laurel being
awarded 10 any actress or the money
return to any manager on their simple
claim unsupported by anything else.