New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-01
MODERN DRAMATIC TR4INING.
WHAT MAGGIE MITCHELL SAYS ARouT 1T.

WHAT MAGGIE MITCHELL SAYS AROUT 1T.
Miss Maggie Mitchell seen last week by re-
porter while she resting between the matinee and
evening performances She was still In the rich dress
OF the last act of her version of Jane Eyre and her
appearance which was beautfed by some Of the
articles OF makeup rendered 1t difficult to believe
that her career before the public has been so long In
reply TO question as 70 the when she first played
Jane Eyre Miss Mitchell said really cannot re-
member II a long while ago, but not nearly SO
far in the past the date when first appeared as
Fanchon.' That remember we'll 1t was in 1862
-tweutyslx years ago. Yet it does not seem so FAR
to look back at although than quarter Of CEN
fury a big slice 10 take out Of ones life, professional
or private The public is by means tired Of
'FanchOn,' and managers are always anxious
TO have il included In the weeks repertoIy. That Is
one Of the troubles of becoming closely Identified
with one part. No matter what else you do, or how
well you may do it, there IS always generation that
has grown up In belief that the one thing you can
do best is the that It frsi saw you do This Idea
is often hard upon the actors and acress,s, obgIng
them 10 keep playing roles of which they have become
extremely weary Now l. fortunately, do not lose the
spirit Of .Fanchon' when l once get upon the stage,
but before begin, the day which am going 10 play
It is often a painful l feel sometimes as II l
would give anything to escape the ordeal For this
reason | am very peased that my new piece, Maggie
the Midget, has been so well received by New-fork
audiences. l
greater faith. This Is Ray, by Mr. Wallace, d Phla-
delphia writer, and l shall produce It in Providence
about the middle OF April 1t IS play OF western
LIFE but Is rough, and The dialogue and consruc-
ton are believe, the best Of any piece have found
of late years. AS in most plays Of this kind the
heroine is at first poor but finishes up In SILKS and
satns but the treatment is not at all conventional
During my long experience he stage have
seen the growth and extinction OF the single star sys
49, Jo,ral t,ff he
from its inception. COMPILATIONS good for the
public but bad for the young people In the profession
The public sees a smooth and even performance, and
usually as the companies carry scenery, properties
and furniture much better stage settings than they
got in the old stock days, and the actors who are
chosen nt the parts In one or Two plays usually give
credltable performances. | not one Of those who
are always audng the past when we changed the Dill
nearly every night Very oftrn II was all and some
times more than We could do only get the words
into our heads. Anything like thoughtful study and
deDictou OF character was Ouf the question, and
then the dressing used to think pretty good would
give modern aud ences the horrors. We hah re"
dresses which dgnlhed by the name Of wardrobe,
and these did duty for every play That came along WIN
Occ onay Lille change In The way OF irnhi'n5s
and ribbons. But gained ease and experience, even
actor or actress combination is rarely any Deier
the end than al the beginning OF season. ana oueh
or Young actresses Is the want or freedom OF move
neni and gesture We had better system OF training
In the old days, when al the young people mao 10
learn 10 dance ana 10 sing. uOh mean DuIlesIuo
dancing. such the Ig and clog, IN WhGb me arms
kept mououless, but mnue ana pane, ~ n ~
and breadth and grace OF m1V emeh. VI ne
body and all the limbs were cuIuValed men, ~ 20.
We mad class OF age nshasers 40 SoI 1d S Sen'
teach The novces what 10 do ana gave lhe olaeI mem
beers many valuable hints. Now there are NOT, PrYDs-
bly more than half dozen good Stage ahaseTs rl,
The average stage-mauager Wild ColLOlnd'lon nea
nof a. much authority or knowledge a. ptOmpier
used 10 have lie sees that The scenes 1e PIopefy
sci aud gives out the ana tha' 10 s'ou'