Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-04-17

The day is not far distant when the
people will scoff at the published opin-
ions of actresses and actors.
Now, have no opinion worth speak
ing Of. ! have been on the stage almost
all Of my life. Just as soon as / had any
knowledge OF the stage business | was
cast for walking ladies. Then IL wasn't
long before began to play Desdemona,
Ophelia and Julie de Mortimer. | did
not continue TO play such parts, though,
for my mother-eyidently to take the
conceit out Of me-would cast me for
utility part night or two after / had
played Shakespearean heroine"
"Do you approve OF that method?"
Eyes; there is nothing so essential TO
success on the stage as the removal OF
everything that sayors OF conceit. The
true artist is rarely burdened with 1t,
whereas the novice has more Of II than
the clever actor or actress"
about the combination system. What
do you think of it?"
81 like IL. IL enables managers TO
present fresh faces in each piece they
produce, aud in addition where a piece
would only run few weeks in the
stock days IL will now run as a combina-
ton attraction without palling on the
public taste. Let play make sue
cess in either. Chicago or New York
and the theatregoers Of the country
want to see it with the original cast.
While l regret the disappearance OF
stock companies, must admit that the
small cities are given better perform
ances to-day than was possible when the
best people in the profession were con-
fined TO very few OF the principle
cities"
what was your first success?"
81 really cannot think. | began when
so young and played so many parts"
There is lots of discussions now in
regard TO the numerous schools OF act
ing. What do you think OF them?"
SCHOOLS OF ACTING HUMBUG.
"To be candid with you, | think
schools OF acting are a great humbug.
1t takes years Of hard work, both on and
of the stage, to make a thorough actor
or actress. In learning TO act in a
drawing-room one has 10 dispense with
the surroundings that are absolutely
necessary TO ones success. The teach
ers will have it that elocution is acting.
Now, when acquired in the theatre, TO
the proper rendition OF a part, but OF
what use IS 10 when one has no knowl-
edge OF stage trickery? What can DO
taught by men and women who knows
as little about acting as the youngsters
they profess TO 10 teach? You can't
learn to swim in bath tub; you cannot
attain that confidence in yourself which
enables you TO put forth all your powers
in the presence OF an audience By any
other means than actual practice before
the fOotlights. There are many young
people az the present time who are play
ing important parts who are neither ac-
tors nor actresses. With presentable
appearances and good clothes, they do
not offend In the modern drama, but TO
call them actors and actresses is 10 mis-
apply the English language, as they do
when they are not coached by some ex-
perience member Of the company"
"As you remember #, Mrs. Barry
more. how was 1t in the old days?"
IF ! answer that question your read
ers will think me back number. While
can 90 back many years, yet I am far
from the sore and yellow leaf. In the
old days people we're sent 20 the front
for the ability which they displayed.
they had 70 do everything they were
ordered 10 do. At the slightest sign OF
insubordination they were severely rep
rimanded aud often discharged. If. az
ter season. they showed no adapta-
bility, they were Informed by the man
ager that they had mistaken their cali
ing. Sometimes they followed the ad
vice given them, while oftener they
joined travelling company, and, per.
maps in time acquired a. skill that made
them ussinl members OF stock COM
pany. Whether talented or not. In the
old days everybody had to work hard
and give all their time and attention 20
the discharge Of oheir duties. TODAY
young fellow with some pretentions 10
good looks is cast for what IS called a
STAT part II he receives few news
paper notices, he at once calls himself
leading man. Yet, If he was asked 70
play legitimate ptrt be would a. once
resign from the Company. A good ac-
tor should be eqgalIy At home In th.j
modern and in thk classics.
s'If the combination system Of tod