Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-14

THERE is some trouble among theatrical
people, especially in New York, as to the
relative merits Of English and American
actors, growing out of the employment OF so
many Of the former at the best theaters of
the metropolis to the seeming exclusion OF
the latter. The truth is, as all the managers
must admit, that the American stage hrs
deleriorated under the present system, and
there being no school in which to train
and make actors, they are compelled to look
TO England, where in all the large towns and
cities stock companies may be found &C.
oupyiug the Stage and playing to en-
couragiug and appreciative audiences. 1t
is fcom these stock companies that the
glorious company of English stars is being
constantly recruited, and il is from them
that Wallack gathers the strength which
enables him to present modern plays and old
English comedies in style equaled by no
other thea,er in America. But, aside from
this, the stage is not TO be regulated or con-
trolled by national preiudicss. Shakespeare
himself forbade it when he said, GAN the
worlds stag" The world lie your true
managers oyster, and for the public it is
we'll that il is so. The Austrian who plays
upon the Berlin stage is not tStted about
his nationality. If be reads the noble lines
OF Schiller with spiri, and power it
is enough. And so it should be in THIS
country. Henry Irving will be as
welcome as Booth, Barrett or McCul.
AZ, L., 4
interpret thu same dram aiists-Shakespesr
being the common boud The people Of tue
civilized world welcomed Rachel, RisIori,
Salvui and Bernhardt, reading though they
did in the language Of Moliere and Racine,
and of Daue aud Tssso. Tue great powers
OF tragic impulse that made and make these
actors exceptions among their tribe, this,
aud this alone, made for them name and
fame only limited BY The world itself
Their nationality never obtruded itself be-
tween them and the public, who had eyes
only Tor the srt they illustrated at its best.
A psin'ing BY Hans Maksrt or Aims
Tadema l. quite as appreciable as
one by Healy or by Church. The fac. that
of the former one is al Austrian and The
other Belgian, ia no dstriuent TO theil
art nor 10 the enjoyment Of il BY Americans
All forms Of art are Cosmopolitan, aud it i:
well for u that il is so. The best plays nov
upon the stage are Freuch, and The only
comic opera that is Ell ,yable is French 0
Eoglish. We have DO drama 10 speak OF, an
but few drAmatists worthy of the name
nj Gnrf mn orIe
and fitted TO one or more person
whose natural traits OF character ar
attractive in one way or the olher-pIay
that are msde by cutting out dialogues iror
a dozen or more trashy and sensations
novels and strung together wilhou
cohereney or Purpose other than
certain number of "siiuations" Th
readers of the APPEAL will readil
recall samples Of this sort Of drami
which is purely American, and would M
be tolerated in any o. her country 10 the worl
for the same reason that no other countT
would for moment tolerate the chesI
salaried siarvliugs who read this slop
an smateurish sort OF fashion, and hoGni,
through tine extravasanuy conceived pio
and unnatural situations. There are Am@
lean sectors and actresses VINO are a credit
the cOuutry, bul they are very few. The
do NOT trouble the nnseive about The foreis
actor. Tbey can hold their own with the
and do not fear the hoporahle rivalry out
which emulation groRs and by which Il
public is to profit IN sill better acting, iii
thas, for instance, of Sslvini. This jealous
onthe stage il no new thing, nor is this for
of il. The bloody (MacreadyD riots in Ne
York ia 1919 were result of it. Il shoul
therefore, be diseountensnced and fFowu'
uoon BY the press Of the country as an u
wholesome outcropping OF spirit MUNRO
| mower and degrade it from lie high place
one OF the leading faclsrs in civiiiEatio
The rssge is for the world and not for =
lone. Tor "all the worlds stage"