The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-22
WHAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT
A Sharp-Eyed Theater-Goer Discusses
Some IncOngruities of the Stage.
A Lack of Good Acting Among the Best Actors
When the Empire Gown Is immoral
Sleep la Delsarte- Etiquette.

AS people we are the most patient and
ng-suffering In the world. AS a people
we patronize the theater more than any
other nation in the world: and vet. al
though we consider ourselves civilized. we
endure more miserable acting, more mis-
cradle actors. and worse stage settings
than any people In the world. We pay our
money, and sit down. and are insulted.
And will tell you how:
We start out to see so-called society
play; the men come on, looking like the
walters in French restaurant, wearing
their clothes like dummies, and walking
as If they were used to the sawdust rather
than the drawing-room. The women may
wear their clothes better, but the average
actress is entirely lacking in what may be
called distinction. and which is an art in
itself. Sometimes sheswaggers. sometimes
she struts. and again she walks like pea
cock, proud of its plumage, but horribly
distressed about its feet. When something
very tragic is TO the fore. she may rise
equal to the occasion; but when it is
question of doing nothing. or behaving as
any well-bred woman might, she acts like
an automaton. / know nothing whatever
about schools of acting, but if there is any
school that will teach the average woman
of the stage to look. move and have her
being on the stage as a lady would, it will
be a great boon TO the public at large to let
it be known. We are overload just now of
talking about realism, and yet how many
actresses can quietly brew cup of tea on
the stage as woman does In her own
homei How many OF them can walk across
the stage with any gracef And how many
OF them can do such q simple thing as bow
In a way that does not seem studied and
stiltedf 1t is just possible these thugs may
seem small To you. but as long as We are
continually told that the theater is sort
OF education TO us, 10 is right and proper
shat We should have the best of every thing
INCONGRUITIEs OF THE STAGE.
At this very time III New York city there
Is play running in which a scene. sup
posed TO DO in the daytime. has for it's
figure young woman IN q low bodice.
Isn't this as absolutely incorrect az if q
man had appeared in dress clothes in the
afternoOni And can the beauty of the gown
excuse the absolute mistaken Yet people
60 to this theater, admire the actress and
never notice her inability to make her
gown suit the hour. 1 remember another
play where q factory scene Is introduced.
The daughter OF the proprietor visited il
one morning. and when she threw aside her
coat she had on q lace gown cut low and
~ Il u
French actress doing that. When Jane Had
ing playe Theresa Racguin" she was so ex-
act IN representing her a woman of the
middle class that her costume never for one
minute. or in any respect. suggested a
woman OF refined instincts. and so her bru-
talIty was understood. Instead of appear
ing IN u soft. artistic nighr-dress. in the
much-ta!ked-of undressing scene, she sub
mItted TO having her dress taken OFT, stood
before the audience IN q muslin petticoat
trimmed with cheap lace. the pialnest and
commonest OF stays. and q bodice having u
frill of Hamburg edging: these were re-
moved. and underneath was ali ordinary
chemise made COT muslin. trimmed with
knitted lace. and. reaching as does this
garment among the bourgeoise. quite to
her ankles. with awkward pulled sleeves
She locked neither coquettish nor nasty but
simply u woman or her class in her aw TX
ward. ugly undress. No critic ever took
this mp and objected to the scene; but in
stead It was praised as an evidence on tn o
TAP for the woman to be exact, and to make