, 1889-04-25
AMATEUR THEATRIcALS.
Rules Which. If Observed. May Insure
Harmonious Perfornances

/ Harmonious Performances.
Choose leading part in some popular
play and permit nobody to guess that
! you think you can act it.
Persuade number of your friends
that needy charity is in need and that
| Acting begins at home
| After incubation permit them to set
themselves by the ears over the choice
OF play. When you think matters have
gone far enongh suggest your own as
| compromise.
Ihls having been arranged TO your
satisfaction, proceed to ingratiate YOUR
SELF with the stage manager by telling
hIm what has been said behind his back
by the other members of the cast. II he
don't resign he will offer you the leading
part
before deciding upon your costume
Valt until you learn what YOUR most
dangerous rival in the company intends
20 wear. AS soon as you receive the de
sired information take the advice of yout
drcssmaker
Study your part with care. At re-
hearsai miss your cue whenever YOU can
and apologize sweetly BE on youI
guard against bctraying the business Won
intend to introduce WHEN YOU have the
stage to yourself, and in general allow
the other actors to derive the opinion
that nothing but a regard for your feel.
mgs prevents the stage manager from re-
que6nng you TO resign the part that has
been assigned TO you. In the meantime
cultivate the manager.
Give no trouble about your dressino
room. Say that corner and n table are
all you care for. Choose the best corner.
however, and bring Il chest Of drawers
containing everything you can possibly
need III quantity sufficient TO prevent
your lending 30 other members of tli,
company. When suggestions are offered
to you rs 10 where You ought to stand
how to speak and when to gcsticuIatc
adopt each in turn as it is made. Per
init the leading man, who will of course
be your lover, to gradually evolve the
theory that though you cannot act, you
are not stiff or prudish, and that you are
nice little thing Agree with him
when he objects to shaving his lnustache.
When he whispers under his breath thai
he wishes the play were reality, smile
and blush.
FROM time to time applaud the others.
especially when they overact. and say
mourntuily: 'Oh, | wish you all were
hot SO much bette. than L." You NAV
also contrive to impress each of YOUR as
aociates privately with the notion that
you consider him or her the star of the
troupe. This you will not find difficult.
When you press people to buy tickets,
say, 'Oh you must come! Mr.. BigisIc., is
so funny! and Miss I-asccllcs is going tc
look SO lovely in court dress, don't YOU
Know! and Mr.. Tolldcroll is TO lie NV
lover, and then permit your hearers to
guess from your expression that there is
more in Mr.. Toildcroll's love making than
you yourself imaginc
Mr. Tollderoll may sag moro about the
stage directions for the reconciliation
Scenc than perhaps he ought OF course,
realism is not for u moment TO be thought
Of, but there Can be no great reason why
SIR. Tolldcroll should not be allowed &c
mislead himself with false expectations
IL you choose to make him jealous Of Mr.
Bicycles. very well, but be careful to re-
turn 10 n good understanding with him
before the dress rehearsal As for Miss
I4ast'riles, you may disarm her by turn
ing Mr.. Tolldcroll over 10 her for 4 half
hour or so whenever practicable and by
telling her in strict confidepce that he il
afraid Of falling in love with her because
he has so little money.
improve little in your acting as the
diess rehearsal draws nigh 80 as not to
.Ske your associates entirely by surprise
Suggest to the manager that you are
only ncrvous over the result of the play
As soon as II is TOO late tnr ailss Iasccllcs
to change hes drcss show heryours. BE
sern drinking coffee before tho play
begins, and stand as near the lootlights
as you can 80. as TO get yourself flushed.
When tho curtain is ruIg up exhibit q
little natural timidity at first, but grad
ually recover from that, and IS the pia
proceeds have no mercy on any on,
except Mr.. Tollderoll, whom you will, o.
course, cncor age. When you arc called
out after a t act insist that they are
applaud '4ascelles, and that she
must after the second IN
7 oU' Iha third 70 ont
- '--0ll