The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-10-19
Mrs. Kendall on the Drama.

Mrs. Kendall on the Drama.
Ono OF the most generally interesting
papers read before tho recent Social Science
Congress OF England was that OF Mrs. KEN
DIAL on the drama. Herself an accom-
plished actress, she treated her theme from
the point OF view Of the stage and, being q
very clever woman besides. what she said
was notable for acutcness OF observation and
sharpness OF wit to say nothing OF little
spice OF feminine malice.
Mrs. kendall began by speaking OF the
difference between the drama as it is now
and as 1t was In earlier days. She found
both Improvement and deterioration I'm
doubtedly the playgoer OF this time enjoys
advantages which were altogether denied to
his forefather for in the palmy days OF
the drama. about which we hear 80 much, the
theatre was a coarse and rude place In COM
parison with what 1t Is to-day. Disorder
prevailed in tho half-lighted auditorium.
Eating and drinking were INDUCED in freely,
and smoking was permitted, wine. spirits,
and tobacco being hawkod about among the
audience. Between the acts card playing
went on, and the moro distinguished of the
spectators were allowed to walk and sit on
the stage and to converse with the perform
ers. 1t was no disgrace then for gentle
man to be tipsy at play, and OF course
drunken brawls were frequent. while the
prevalent moral tone both on the stage and
In the house was correspondingly low.
or course, the entertainment provided was
on level with the intellect and tastes OF
such audiences, and even when the plays
reached high, nay supreme artistic ele-
walton, they were marked by a painncss and
coarseness of speech against which modern
thcatregoers would rebel. There was reason,
then, for the rcpugnancc which the Puritans
manifested to tho stage and to "play actors"
"a bitter aversion which they brought with
them to this country, where up to very re-
cent times tho religious community has pretty
generally regarded the theatre as den OF
denominations.
Even among those whose notions were less
Puritancal, actors and actresses were held in
discstecm which they have hardly yet been
able to overcome, great as has been their al
vance in social consideration during the last
generation. There are still many good peo-
pie who look upon them as necessarily dis
solute characters, who utterly defy the re-
| strants of decency and responsibility. They
| cannot believe that actors and actresses pass
| from the stage to homes where order and
virtue dwell.
But this prejudice has been so far over
come that at last the stage begins to be rec
ognized as an honorable and a desirable
profession, and as Mrs. kendall says, the
society OF tho intelligent and cultivated
actor is eagerly sought after" Yet, so far
as tho theatre is concerned, she does not
regard this increased social consideration as
altogether an advantage. Tho discovery
that the profession OF the actor Is not "un-
gentlcmanlike'' is sending to the stage re-
cruits whose presence there vexes the artis-
tic soul Of Mrs. kendall who manifestly
directs her protest against individuals well
known to the public. This discovery "secms
to have sent the overdraft OF oil other pro-
LESSONS headlong for the STAGE" she says.
They are young men and young women who
have not the slightest idea OF the amount
| OF study, of labor, and Of devotion to the art,
to say nothing of natural aptitude, that is
necessary for success"
Nor has the change from the plain speak
ing Of the old plays to the suggestivcness
| OF so many modern dramas been an advan-
tage gained on tho side OF good morals
"That dlsagrceablo suggestion should have
taken the place OF downright coarseness,"
Mrs. kendall thinks, is a bad sign OF the
taste Of the modern playgoer." Besides, the
play OF to-day in which tho public take the
most delight Is the farce, wherein the gravest
moral offences are made food for laughter.
"What in reality" she says, /" can be moro
painful spectacle than that OF an innocent
and unsuspecting wife being hoodwinked
and deceived by her graceless and profligate
husband? Years ago it would have formed
the groundwork Of very pathetic play. II
not OF tragedy; hut now 1t Is q never
failing source OF delight to the lover OF elon-
gated farces, and the greater the innocence
OF the wife and the moro outrageous the
misconduct Of the husband, the louder are
the shrleks OF laughter with which their
MISUNDERSTANDING are received"
Mrs. kendall also bitterly condemns the
advertising tricks to which modern actors
and actresses resort, tricks with which the
public are now becoming SO familiar that
they are quick to detect them. Yet the de-
vices serve their purpose, for they bring
about the desired publicity; but this absurd
MANIA" as she calls 1t, Is degrading TO an
honorable profession. with people thus
constituted" she tartly adds, "even affiic-
ton Is turned to what they consider profit.
able account and at a dull period an illness
Is regarded as Q positive boom" And here
she shoots at very conspicuous mark.
We do not find fault with her when she IN
Weighs against careless newspaper criticism
OF the theatre. She Is right when che says
that. though the press can do very much to