The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-29
To SHINE ON THE STAGE.
mps FOR THE STAGE AMATEUR
FROM KNOWN PROFESSIONALS.

Manager Should, if Possible, be Sc
cnrsd-Remarks From David Belasco.
Copyright
NvU YORK, Nov. 2S.-The season for
s,steur theatricals approaches. The hour
!. If hand when society people sigh for the
cock and buskin; when the young man Of
,rsnscendent talent feels sure he can thrill
ri. dear four hundred as Romeo, when the
Girl who has been told that her potion
scspe is equal to Nelson's begins to think
~ renewed triumphs as Juliet.
It's curious fact that amateurs stop at
nothing. Shakespeare, Moliere. Sheridan
n9tbing daunts them. OF all Shakespeare's
characters THE Unhappy Lovers of
Verona" have suffered the most at the
hands OF dramatic debaters. Poor culprit
Poor Montaguel
But amateurs are fast becoming more dis
terminating In their selection of plays and
are willing to fly a little nearer earth,
MANY amateur clubs, moreover, are doing
caDjtal work, and the ranks Of profession
ais are constantly being recruited from
these associations of clever aud painstaking
people
this line OF amusement and cultivation, a
few hiuts from professionals may be of
value to those who are threatening theatre
Gals What class of plays to select the du-
ties Of a stage manager; how to knock up a
stage in a drawing-room are interesting
topics TO people who for sweet charity or
simply for fun are going in for entertain
ment Of this sort
Perhaps the most famous amateur in this
country next to the late lamented Cora
Urduhart Potter, was Miss Elsie De Wolfe
now full fedge professional. To get any
hints the young lady might be willing to
give to stage amateurs, | called upon her
the other N orning Miss De Wolfe lives in
the most marvellous and picturesque house
imaginable. 1t is an old time mansion in
Irving place You step from New York
into a bit Of Paris. When the doors are
closed behind you and you find yourself 10
the salon with its tapestries, its ormolu, its
marguerite, its Louis Quinze cabinets its
tiny gilt tables, its quaint columns, and a
thousand and one bits of Partisan bric-a-
brac, you could swear that should you look
out of the window yonder you would see
the bouevards and catch glimpse of the
Arc de Triomphe.
"Will you come up to Miss De Wolfe's
bedroomp asked soft-yoiced maid, and I
followed her up the rambling stairs and into
q bijou of bed>chamber oil pink and white
and silver. The walls are crowded with
pictures Of famous actors and actresses. A
sparkling fire glows in the CRATE, and
Fsbenne. bolstered up with an array of
pillows, holds out her hands to me with one
Of those strange, sweet smiles
" A tip for the stage amateur" said the
young lady, thoukhtfully. always to
have the best possible stage manager. A
professional, if practicable; if not, the best
equipped amateur to be secured. ! have
really been considered unreasonable on this
point When l played with amateurs /
always insisted upon having the services Of
man like Belasco to stage and direct the
play. l remember when was besought to
appear in such plays as School for Scan
dap and CONTRAST 1 said frankly to the
ladies who begged me to play, Yes, will
play, but only one condition-that you
have Belasco as stage manager To this
many demurred, declaring that his
services would be so expensive, but I in
sisted. You say that can fill the theater
at S. ticket l urged. Then you should
certainly consult my wishes in the matter
and expend some of the money | can bring
you in having the play properly managed.
carried my point and the wisdom of my
determination was plainly demonstrated. l
should always recommend amateurs to have
competent stage manager above every
thing else. AS to the choice of the play
would suggest "rhe Loan of a Lover"
"Stll Waters Run Deep" and that
charming comedietta. "A Cup of
Tea" AS to costumes and stage
settings and properties, make them as ele-
CANT as possible. l have repeatedly denuded
my drawing room of my pet bits of bric-a~
brac to make stage drawing-room attract
i've, aud have tried always to have my COS
tunes appropriate and as handsome as my
purse would allow. OF drawing-room theat-
ricals know nothing. l never appeared
but once in drawing-room, and that was
one Of those old-time Washington square
houses, where a platform was built in the
back parlor. But or the accessories recall
nothing"
Bessie Tyne, whose beautiful face looks
out from under the dear little Quaker cap
in 1.-THE Dancing Girl" was a famous
Washington amateur, and went from the
crack club of that city into professional
ranks. "if amateurs are playing for i'm
provement or self-education," she said, ~
would advise them always to select from
Shakespeare, Sheridan or some other
standard author. If for fun
simply. then by all means
choose some comedy like Home,
Caste 'Schoor-in fact any of Robertsonis
beautiful plays. Take play always which
has no star role, where the parts are quite
evenly distributed. A drawing-room stage
can be easily arranged. Give me screen
or two, some draperies, few palms, and
wiz lmprovise stage In any drawing-room.
VI course, If amateurs are TO appear in
toeater OF hall, it is necessary to have capa-
Die stage manager"
Il should advise amateurs to take UP
plays simple Of construction and requiring
no intricate stage settings" said Daniel
Fronman. "A play like Young Mrs. Win
throp,' which has one interior for the three
acts Is most suitable for amateurs. Their
tnere iA 'Eemeralda." another good play
ANY play of that nature involving some
gentle domestic story is best fitted to ar
amateur entertainments Amateurs make q
great mistake when they tackle melo-drame
or tragedy"
Let me see,n said Lillian Russell, stop
ping for moment IN her preparations fol-
e1e second act of La Cigale." "a suitable
pay Ior amateurs in my opinion would b.
All the Comforts of Home Robertsonh
comedies are too ambitious / think. Anna
teors DO them constantly 1 know, but
Gqlnk II Is mistake. All the Comforts o.
nome Is rollicking sort of affair wherein
every one gets rather larky. The main idet
- 10 make as much fun as possible anC
olever amateurs ought to be able to get thu
splrlt OF the play. Any play in which al
paris are even is the sort of thing amateur
Snoulu attempt and something modern
thIey should let the dry bones rest" anC
Ia 6lorla" pinned knot of red roses OF
tho mirror
Virginia Hameds said 81 think anna
s seurs should first Of all, have a professional
Slak6 manager a nOachar aoma ODa M keaI