New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-19
TRYING WOULD-BE ACTORS
TcpAT WITH DION BOUCICAULT.


,uvenflitv that makes dfcult TO realize that nearly
sftv wears have passed since he wrote London
Assurance was met few days ago as ne was coming
from one Of the trials Of wcud'be students OF inc
auxiliary company Of the Madison Square Iheatrc'
Although he had been working for three hours enear
IN, scenes from seven eight plays with all the en-
ergy of young stage manager trying 70 WIN MS spue
he was quite ready to talk about his new scheme
and to give his ideas on stage matters IN general
aThs scheme OF Mr. Pamer's,' he began is, OF
courss an experiment, and It's result Ike ina. Vi AL
other experiments is doubtful STILL the fur'hor "o
proceed IN It The more hopeful become In inc nidny
hundred applications received there was necessary
,.rce nronortton OF unavailable material, but have
becn surprised and graed to find so much that was
promising Particularly is this the case Win 'no oo
There arc believe, among tnoso seieo'eu WV u
three who will make really frst-class actresses anu
n univ that number should be secured ana oe'eopeu
IN the first season or two the scheme will have accom-
pl,sbed enough to Justify its existence far efo"
d@cu,tv has been encountered in securing GOOD maio
| MATERIAL ,u,., 20
sDo Won consider that proof that the aoii's 10
act IS more frequently found among women tnap aoDS
men ~ asked the reporter. -.
| aNot At all It is simply tbc outcome OF the iac'
that the American young woman Is vastly tue sup.'o.
| ., tho Amertcan younc man. Just walk couPic VI
hoc,e On broadway in the afternoon and use your eyes
and You will see the difference. The woman Is I'm
| and neat IN appearance. She WALKS "en' NJ go
| are full of hxht brightness and health. she III" s.s'
| ord fascination about her. Now look az the !ou"o
| a-1 ~. ,ou and they SLOUGH. Their hstless
| - ..,,rd.a euccest spnal weakness and
| a,rcer NJ falling To pieces frequent mo'iun Vi
| the hack OF the hand to the lips wouo seen " -.
| dictate that they have Just been imopihs' -.
| cav all American young men are hhe 'n's'
less thorc are plenty IN business VINO ai0 ot', ~.
| neat wen groomed and well setup' w 49,
ao "n.~o.,ns,s word but these do not form the
| o,,s, from, whom We shall draw recruits we s'aii
| from, the young or from the unemployed f o
| NJ these dudish loungers on to the s'aso Al .,
inc- uom scene and he at once SHOWS "o - Al,
h,s element He hasn't the bearing, the ease or inc
repose OF g well-bred man Perhaps IL w. ID
months or years TO teach these anu oo" =. O.
rsvsr acquire the necessary dcmcanor Ana "
| NOT only a question of manner, but inteneen0e'
asome weeks ago. said the reporter 70.
v.r, not willing or able to state how var cum
,n,.u.enc. was a help or detrlment TO the actor
| a., am M nearer solution now uon' ~
Aor,t want a very clever man. ordl
| - ,rtel,,osno@ added TO the mmeto faculty. j al
| that I, needed II you were to come 10 nio NiN 7
y know a very clever young man WIZ =. 80
wranclcr at Cambridge who has eIeas ue''o ot, -
80 ., ac+or, should reply: Tell him 10 s'ch u
.oi'o ." ,.,os u,s mind is too logical, his pro-
80, n, reasoninc too close and precise 10 anoN MIN
- ha swaved or to appear 10 be swsyed D! assumes
emotions A very clever mans persohen''
rost surely rigid and unbendng The actors must
l he Welding and plastic
aop, srheme has been naturally a'tsohcu ~
a =, ~. rank and file Of the profession VINO
naIr that there are already too many ACTORS III 'n'
d field There are not too many actors ou' 'o 49,
~ the would DO butcan't and neverwlll HUI -"
actor who has been four 1--WE years upon inc s'Ne,
49, ,.en,t ,4sen above the $50 week class vii
| nev.r do any better and would be Wiser ~ s'' W
, | and try some other way Of earning n'i"e' -
!, - .,a 4. oninionatcd and hard 10 teach because u
tancied experience while the young people We sna,
n ,urn out will be eager to learn, VIII haNo o'
r a,scn,ined and much more thoroughly traihcu 'na'
-. ,c,or who has been four five years upon th'
starc and probably has played only the senic nun
So. ., rar,s IN as many combinations. In sep'eHi
| no, Mr. Palmer will pick out from those s'uuenus
r have been trying tho fifteen or sixteen VIM ~.
form the paid company. These VIII rooo'o a -
- s1o eacb week We shall produce ola auu he'
rls-e cvcrv Wednesday afternoon before pawn
audiences All the plays produced Dy MI n"ln nm,
either here at his new theatre ho" -. -,
2 iii h. rnoerstudicd by this company ana DN w
Is unna,d students. who Will be Admired 10 oil NV .
II hearsas and exercises. When MI fAric' INV,
Re enough ability to Justify 1t, he will draft tho Pup
70 I,n ri. regular companies, allow other manager
70 N envere them In that case he VIII reCoiNo p
. 49,. =, ,be,r earnings 10 paw for the expense OF tu
=. | ,,or and reimburse him for salaries gwen oS Mn
~ 7, however the pupil should want 10 10 ieo'9'
entirely no or she may go on repayns inc anou"' !,
u ceyed for salary and giving similar auioui' oi ~
al tuition and training received. believe inns 'On
t. ,r will h. Of rrcat service 10 managers desiring
r engage people Instead OF going 10 agents anu "a
ng ,D tbe,r word about the abilities of actors thoy ca
is come here and them at the wednesday petio'"
DIS ,nccs. and pick out those they think VIII sun
cb ,hcv even want scenes In their own plays s,uoi'
~ hv ths people they fancy. we shall 9c ready y
re by mo I'm Then we shall be able 10 Try mo
re new pieces for young authors az me aasy tb p
~ n.nv will not have night Work 10 hterlee WIN ~
y pau ..atton The recognized and standard play
Oh The parts which made our grea, bawe been or
Gu n for wears that since the abolition Of stc
Oh Companies there has been no ,ran stock cor
are simply Id cdmposine it of novoes young acto
u Who have had little experience
ave were speaking Just now OF the rclauVe al
y, IAN and women for the stage; has IT ev
IT. t,,cs vou how completely the public taste h
&c hrced IN the last thirty forty years for the &c
NJ trail figures Of plays? Up to that time was nVa
ip alyravs a man. now It is almost invariaoly "oii'
lin do not know If the acting OF hachei "as 'no 'a
mr. .,, h,nce hut It certainly dates from her tin'
all May II not be that inc "o'""" - ~
,r 20 audiences than the mann
:. cho vac not in the days when the Englsh-spes
inc stage was in the height OF its glory. Inc "onn
:" NAV be moro pleasing 10 the eye Du' Is hoi
ay more satisfying to the mind' should say oc'
AS edlv not. The explanation Is III my De" -, .,
ley ,d IN the decreased average intelligence anu :.
,fr -, 90 audlonces There never was a VI
mas When theatres 50 generally Tbs major
the out the 80 bav ewes or ears mOmsnfariy ilch
They to have a sa. % Mns h ssq
is ~ cltnred and intelligent, now 1t is the paSme
est the masses.
am u -, tho bot, OF the male &C
son VIZ. . ~. .a. m. decline OF tragedy. 1t n
no seem at first to be a startling statement put II
o-s nevertheless true that in the last thirty years IN
- has not been produced English Tragedy OF any
OF ..n.. ,o The stage Perhaps the last was
md por'ahoe " 'no rs,noh % ronls XI, Apparcr
ers 'eiS'o" ~ TN 1,o = tracedv Yet the supp
The ~ Oh, ac,auv IN this country TO the few tra
the 49,. ND sac,, N indicate that tho public ia