The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-11-29

professional, If practicable; if not, the best
equipped amateur to be secured | have
really been considered unreasonable on
this point When played with amateurs
L always insisted upon having the services
OF a man like Belasco to stage and direct
the play. remember when l was bssought
to appear in such plays as 'sSchool for
Scandal" and Contrast" l said frankly to
the ladies who begged me TO play, Yes, l
will play, but only on one condition-that
you have Belasco as stage manager To
this many demurred, declaring that his
services would be so expensive, but in
sisted. You say l can ill the theatre at
ticket l urged. Then you should
certainly consult my wishes and expend
some of the money l can bring Won in
having the play properly managed, I
carried my point and the wisdom of my
determination was plainly demonstrated
should always recommend amateurs to
have competent stage manager above
everything else. AS to
THE CHOICE OF MY PLAYS
would suggest The Loan of a Lover ,
Still Waters Run Deep and that charm
ing comedietts, "A Cup of Tea AS to
costumes and stage settings and properties,
make them as elegant as possible [ have
repeatedly denuded my drawing room of
my pet bits Of brio a-brac to make stage
awning AOOn4 uQu nave tried
always TO have my costumes approximate
and as handsome as my purse would allow.
VI drawing room Jheatricals | know moth
Ing. never appeared but once in a draw
ing room, and that was in one of those old
tlme Washington square houses, where a
platform was built in the back parlor But
OF the accessories | recall nothing"
Bessie Tyne, whose beautiful face looks
out from under the dear little Quaker cap
NT.1-
washington amateur and went from the
crack club OF that city into professional
ranks. III amateurs are playing for i'm
proVement or self education" she said ssT
would advise them always to select from
Shakespeare, Sheridan or some other
standard author. If for fun simply. then
oy all means choose some comedy like
Home Caste 'Schoor-in fact any of
kooertson's beautiful plays Take play
always winch has no star role where the
parts are quite evenly distributed. A
drawlng-room stage can be easily arranged.
cave me screen or two, some draperies
lew palms and l will improvise a STAGE in
any drawing room. OF course. if amateurs
are 10 appear In theatre or hall, 1t is neces-
sary TO have capable stage manager
Il should advise amateurs TO take m
plays simple OF construction and recurring
no intricate stage settings,n said Mr.
Daniel Frohman. "a play like sYonng
Mrs. Winthrop which has one interior for
the three acts is most suitable for anna
tours. Then there is 'Esmeralda.' another
good play. Any play of that nature invol-
wing some gentle domestic story is beat
ntted TO an amateur entertainment ANA
teurs make great mistake when thew
tackle melo-drama or tragedy''
Let me see," said Lillian Russell, stop
ping for moment in her preparations for
the second act of La Cigale.' "a suitabIa
play Tor amateurs in my opinion would he
All the Comforts of Home Robertson,s
comedies are too ambitious think. Anna
teurs DO them constantly l know. bur T
think 1t mistake. All the Comforts If
Home is rolllckiDg sort of affair wherein
every one gets rather larky. The main
loea is TO make as much fun as possible and
cleVer amateurs ought to get the spirit of
the play. Any play in which all parts are
even is the sort of thing amateurs shonid
attempt and something modern. Tbev
should let the dry bones rest.n and 70
GLORIA pinned knot of red roses ON ba,.
breast and smiled at what she saw in the
mirror. AZ 'no
Virginia Hemede said: 81 think amateurs
should hrst OF all, have professional stage
manager, coaoher, some one to keep them
III oroer. iot OF amateurs without a
manager are like sheep without a leader
Now, remember, the pantomime rehearsal
zone by the vokes company. 1t is a CAPT
tai satire and true to the life, as anvone
VINO mas ever seen amateurs rehearss can
testify. 1t seems to me that '"n
WHAT AMATEURS SHOULD MOST AVOID
is staginess, or a tendency tn over.o+
These defects are bad enough among n,n
fessionals, but something terrific among
amateurs. In regard to the selection NJ
suitable play would say In general. the