Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-02-04
Dearth Of Good Actors.

4 A Dearth OF Good Actors.
| The death Of John Mccullough ha
served to remind the country in .
striking and impressive way that oul
list Of really competent dramatic art
lists is very small one; and to thi.
may be added the equally significant
fact that there is little room to hope
for the early C oniing of fit successor,
to those who have in the past adorned
and digniiied the American stage
There is nobody left, it is conceded,
who is worthy to wear poor McCul.
lough's mantle in the Interpretation
OF any of the characters with which
| his name is so closely and splendidly
associated. 1t is doubtful, indeed. II
| we have more than three or four actors
who are able to play any of the old
heroic parts in a fairly credtable way;
while as for actresses, there is perhaps
not one who can represent a Shak-
| spearean heroine with distinct force
and skill. Booth is Incompatible
J within certa limits, and Barrett is
4 entitled to highest praise with SINH
lar qualification; and when these are
! named, where are we to look for an
other who can truly be called first
class in any respect? There are as
pirants enough, of both sexes, but
they all come short OF definite and
conclusive excellence, and arc at best
merely passable.
In all the other profess there is
steady supply OF good material, and
the average compares favorably with
that of any former period; but in the
line of acting, deterioration is the rule,
and the development of really sub.
stantial talent seems to have practi-
cally come to a stop. We do not lack
for competent lawyers. physicians,
clergymen and the like to take the
places of those who pass away; but
when a superior actor goes hence he
leaves gap that we must despair Of
filling. In the nature of things this
should not be the case. The incen-
ives to ambt on and exertion in the
theatrical domain are at least as great
as can be found elsewhere, and the
price OF success is very much the
same in that as in all other pursuits.
An actor who succeeds certain both
OF fame and fortune. the measure of
each depending entirely upon his own
capac .ty and lidel ty. The opportun-
ity is always waiting for him; tho
public is lust as eager on its account
to have him succeed as he can possibly
be to earn its approval and support
and the popular favor once secured,
the task of holding it is only ques-
( ton of devotion to duty, of honest and
faithful personal service.
1t appears, however, that the pres
ent race OF actors is either fundament
: ally incapable OF dong the lest kind
OF work under any conditions, or is
unwilling tn submit to the decipiine
which is Indispensable in any profess
sion If one would achieve tr umph
worth having. There is no good rea-
son why the example OF an actor like
Mccullough should fail to inspire and
instruct other and younger actors in
sucll a manner as to perpetuate his
methods AID keep alive his under
standing OF given plays and characters.
In former times that was the effect,
and great actors. though dead, con-
tinued to be seen in the persons of
those who had atrent vely studied
them, and thus mastered the phil
osophy OF their art. Mccullough
modelled his acting after that of For
rest in considerable decree; and all
other eminent actors have proiited in
like measure from past patterns of
| excellence. But the present tendency
seems to be against that form of learn-
ing how to become proficient in stage
work. 1t is taken for granted. one Is
constrained to believe, that it is not
| absolutely necessary to learn how to
be an actor at all any more; but that
success is to be gained in some easier
and speedier wav.
The result is that, instead of having
actors of consc entiOus sort, STRIVING
continually to improve themselves,
and to rise gradually on their merits.
rs men get forward in other profess
slons, we have only amateurs and pre-
tenders, who substitute assurance for
ability and insist upon trying to shine
as stars when they should be taking
lessons in the very rudiments OF their
| business. 1t Is no answer to say that
people go to see these imposters and
! kindly smile upon and applaud them.
The people have to put up with what
is to be had, or abandon the theater
entirely. That they are patient IN the
I presence OF medlocrity and do their
best to make believe they are enjoying
it counts for nothing except as going
to show how much human nature can
stand without open rebellion, aud how
| determined it is to be amused even
under the most difficult conditions.
There is fixed popular craving for
the drama, and if it can not have what
is sound and deserving, it will take
what IL eau find ami make the most of
| it; but it knows all the time that it is
being deceived and trilled with, and it
| quickly seizes an occasion to get some
thing better, even at double the price.
The fault does not lie with the pub
! lie, nor can the public furnish n
remedy. There will be good actors in
the United States when more are will
ing to undergo proper course of
training and waiting IN that connec-
| ton, and there will be none any soon.
er. Mccullough did not leap to the
front at single effort. he won his
fame step by step, and through severe
and unremitt'ng applicat on. No
great actor has ever been made in any
other way. In all the lit of noted
men and women who have from time
J to time redeemed the stage to high
| and noble uses, not a single case of
! sudden success is TO be found. They
all had TO shine dimly at first, gaining
in brightness as they learned by study
and experience tn exert their powers
! accord ng to correct and effective
| principles. 1t was not their genius
alone that gave them precedence;
their industry played quite rs import
/ ant a part in tho matter. They did
not believe that triumph was mere
/ affair of luck, and art. but another
name for want of originality; they
recogn zed the necessity of discipline,
and were wise enough and honest
enough 10 be content with nothing
less than doing the best that it was in
them to do by hard work and anxious
attention TO every source of instruc-
ton. Their successors will appear
whenever like conditions of prepare
ton are observed; and until then medi-
ocrIty will continue to hold the boards.
ST. Louis Globe Democrat.
supplementary.