Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-06-09
Kissing ON rue STAGE.
What the Great German Artists
Think ON the Subject.

The editor Of vienna paper has
written to number OF ACTRESSES to
ascertain their opinions on this mo-
mcntous question. We append u few
Of the replies.
Fraulein DELI Erba Berlln); "An
artist, thoroughly devoted TO her pro-
fcsaion. must, when called upon. kiss
and allow herself 20 be kissed. Genuine
art rises superior to all petty con-
alterations"
Pepi Gloclsner Cvlcnna); "a kiss In
rubbed on along with the paint"
Frau Marie Goethe ulorlim; "a kiss
on the stage is a sine qua non"
Lola Becth CVienna): kissing before
the scenes Is n duty; kissing behind
the scenes, decidedly notH'
Rosa liertona dBerlim: II look upon
kissing upon the stage as n mere piece
OF mimicry, such as dropping on tho
knee. embracing, and the like. When
the curtain IN raised the stage is simply
occupied by figures whose duty Il IN to
render pootical idea true 10 the life"
| Jenny Gross; ION the stage | am
Mime. sanH-Genc In the widest acccp-
| tntlOn Of the term. when an author
oompels mo to kiss. why. then l kiss.
and not merely In pretence."
Knthi Frank In decidedly of the
opinion that all kisses on the stage
should be simulated. and complains
that some actors are by far too demon
atrntive and realistic In their oscula-
| lions. at the risk of annoying and per-
turbine their fair partners,
| Francisco Illmenrich also maintains
that kissing should be simulated. my
| position nh regards kissing on the
| stage is the came as regards the use
| OF the dagger or polson--'we are only
| prctending.' As with everything else.
| IL all depends ON our skin In produce
| ing the impression OF reality
| frederlkc GOssmann tCountcBr Pro-
! keach-ORtcn Gmunden declares real
kissing TO be Indispensable, especially
| between two lovers. Sham klasca may
do for fathers. unoles. and female
| friends.
Frau Harti-Mltius CMunich): II let
| people kiss me and kiss myself, as the
| situation requires. and the author pre-
scrbeH; weeping, laughing, coolly pas
| gionately, Rirlishly, mOtherly, without
carrying away the slightest reminls-
cenee Of the stage kiss when ~, the play
Ia over. Think or the diseii-
ing a sham kiss put the finishing touch
10 a pathetic ecenei That would be
equivalent 10 drawing peoples ntten-
| ti0n TO the strings In n puppot-show."
| Klnra Meyer 0Serlim; ANY ACTOR
worth his salt will know how to give
the public the Impression that he 10
kissing his partner without actually
touching her. real KISS is on no lc-
count 10 be permitted; In fact. 1t is
punishable az an offehce against the
laws on public entertainments. IL
everything had TO be genuine on the
] stage why. dear me, we ahould have
| 10 Kill ourselves into the bargain, ana
that were just as unpleasant as allow
ing ourselves to be kissed by every
body
Pauline Lucca: "Thc artistic who flrst
raised this question (F'rau Louthold) ~
unquestionably right. The stage ~ the
world OF appearance. and kiss can
be so well simulated us TO seem rear
to the spectator"
Charlotte Woiter (viennn): "kisBlng
Is a matter OF sentiment which cannot
be decided offhand'
Klnra ZloRler (Nunlch): kissing on
the lips ought 10 be prohibited on the
stage for acsthetical. and more es-
pecially for hygienir, reasons. AZ the
| impression that a kiss II being given
can be eaBlly produced by suitable pon-
tofnimlo action. l consider u immoral
10 compel actors 70 do thing which.
under certain circumstances, may be
ldecldediy repulslve. and which is c7icu-
lated 10 violate the aesthefical fesliaEn
Of the parties concerned