New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-23
THE IMPORTATION OF ACTORS
NO EXCLUSION, SAYS FANNY DAVENPORT
THE AMERICAN STAGE OWES MUCH TO GREAT
ENGLISH ACToRs-PREMIUMs ON FOREIGN
ARTISTS THE REAL EVIL.


ENGLISH ACToRs-PREMIUMs ON FOREIGN
ARTISTS THE REAL EVIL
Boston. Dec. % Specal. Fanny Davenport
who is now playing engagement at the boston
Theatre. contributes TO " The Boston Post her
views on the proposition to place foreign actors
under the operations of the contract laDor a"
She says:
cannot but believe the American stage Is iarSo
enough for both. To object and prevent the hhsilSH
actor coming is object and prevent those Ecd'o
lights from shining upon US. who, by their COMING
hold, have taught us so much lrvlng ''oIu0''i'
savini, Barnay Bernhard and many Others SuicN
no one can gainsay the fact that MI Lester "ai"ON
did much for the stage I'm his theatre digniNmg anu
eJevating IT. and he was born and bred Enghshman
He II was who gave us John Gilbert, Harry beche''
Madeleine Henrques Osmond Tearle, Montague Ammo
Robe, and surely the public are more giatelW ~ na'
known these artists than not 10 have known them p
cause they were English What Is responsible ior INC
large outcome of the English actor to our country
The English plays, say /. No one can plane mar
ager for desiring TO give his patrons perfect per
formance. To do this the English actor became d
necessity. Besides, cannot but believe Their COM
ing in years past benefit 10 opr actors May
say whyq In the first place, the English actor mas
many advantages over his American brother lie mas
the entree to ali the finest clubs. At these he meets
lords titled men par excellence" I'm manner the Top
OF london nobility. he hears the best English SPOKEN
and II the is not gentleman born ana breo nc
soon appears as such by his Observation ana
association 1t was this very gentiiity the ENG
nshman brought among us, and in doing So put
our actors upon their metal and made them strive 10
round OFF any rough edges, and polish up the dead
rod they possessed Surely one can look back 10 tue
time Of the dawning Of the society drama ana not
realize how united the American actor was then for
drawing acting. Our actors had supported For
rest, C@hman, oc., everything was legitimate acting
larpe rs act EXAGGERATED
out of drawing for pantaloons and parors
Another advantage is this the English actor
comes, is liked and his family follow he Drhgs
up his children in America, and the money be earns
lie spends In the land he makes II In have hah
= company Of my own for some ten years now, ana
have had both English and American actors under
my direction | have ever found the Engishman
conscientious and giving me the full worth OF MS
salary Nor can say less Of the American be
hove II Is not right 10 say, the English ACTOR must
60 or must not come" 1t is putting our proiessioH
upon the basis of commercial business ana maKhg
actors night laborers. Art shouiu DE i'o.
IT'S NV firm belief that should the matter be looked
into there are not to-day dozen good actors and
deserving ones out OF an engagement In America; ana
could we trace this much-discussed question To It's
source we should find IT started among those OF our
profession whose opinions deserve little or no con
sideration IT, again. It is for the money being car
ried out of the country the objection is advanced then
his money here but to the meteors Of t1e English
stage who sweep our country and take all home with
them TO live on American dollars like Kings and
queens. These and their great productions should
be Controlled and than likely the great wise
heads first agitaied this movement VIII suggest
way. When Mr.. Barrett says Why should the
aegis of protec ton be the bootblack and
be denied the actor1r surely he places us upon
higher plane than the street Arab. Let those thai
think the American artist is wronged engage Aone
but Americans They are, indeed. worthy OF All con
sideration- But II / am not mistaken, should these
managers or stars make success abroad with English
actors dresses, soen6ry and all that London pubic
demand and should they bring the play here without
ifs London attrac tiveness the American public would
say +: Are not worthy of 90 great production
Why not give Il 10 Us as II was done abroad " The
moment VIC try 10 make profession commercial
one that mOment-2OOd-by, art; good by, beauty
GOOD by, all that makes IL attractive ana lOvely 10
those in Il that are artists. We might well object
10 this great combination system, because 1t
hurts tho that struggle for the dollars and
because their playing city par lyges other dramatic
business for Z month after do believe this that.