The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-21

GnaSr OF PUBIC liSlC MulCu las uiilcst un-
pibilated our stock companies and substi-
tuted for managers and artists janitors
and jugglers. The stock system, in Its In
tegrity, Is the only practical hope for dra-
matte literature and dramatic art. Direct
ly and Indirectly the "hero today, there to-
morrow" condition Of affairs in theatric-
ais has done more to make acting n lost
art, dramatic composition less an effort to
engross the best intellects, than all other
causes combined.
With the engagement Of the stage d.
rector the practical work begins, and thon
follows logically the engaging OF the play
ers, the scenic artists, tho artisans, the
number depending, of course, upon the
style of entertainment proposed. The
manuscript is turned over TO the stage d.
rector, and his work and study thereon
arc of necessity combined until after the
asst note Of preparation has died away.
Sometimes--alas, too often-tho time
y~ouchsafed him is short, and hurry Is the
order Of the day. The fact is that, speak
ing generally, too little time Is devoted TO
our more ambitious stage efforts. This
undue haste-is IL a part Of tho spirit of
our timesy-has done more to positively
harm or rondcr abortiye product ons here
than any other single cause. With us COM
merce and art arc so intimately allied that
treatment becomes identical.
Every detail must be carefully thought
out with an exactness and a precision
mathematical I'm their accuracy Nothing
is left TO chance, that refuge Of the dosper-
ate. After awhile the play becomes a sub
stantial something TO the director, the In
cidents attain the dignity of actual occur
rences, tho characters that of real flesh and
blood. BY a subtle mental process every
thing has become imbued with form and
color, and, like Pygmalion's statue, tho
stone has given place to life.
In so far as / am personally concerned 1
seek every possible occasSn to study tho
play with the author. This has been my
invariab!e rule, when practicable, and a
good one have l found il. This assimilation
of theory and practice, with two people
rightly motived, can produce only good
IL not the best results. OF course harmo-
ny Is or should be the basis Of all such
conferences. A nice regard for the feelings
OF each other n patience n a forbcaranco
In the discussion of means to an end,
should mark these associations. Differ
enccs OK opinion are bound 60 arise, but
they can be adjusted. When practicable, the
authors ideas should prevail until they
have been proved deficient and lacking in
the necessary particulars. 1t Is then quito
time to adopt Others.
What, from an acting standpoint, would
"Richclieu" have beSn had not tho schol-
arly Macready brought To bear els ripe ex-
p%erience on Bulwcr's manuscript? Our
contemporary stage would have never
known Beckett" had Henry Irving con
tented himself by politely declining tho
poet laureato's composition rs submitted
to him for production. II is n pleasure to
add and perhaps worthy OF record hat In
both these instances tho poet suitably ao-
knowlcdged the debt he owed the produ-
Ger. Instances OF the kind hero indicated
might be multiplied, but would prove no
moro thar tho two nj, "ady cited.
The play having now assumed n sub
stantial shape and delaito proportions,
the technical work follows. The ARRANGE
ment OF tho cuisines, +" 81 called, 10y
which is meant The action IL the play as
distinguished from its dialogue-that
which takos place instead OF being told
Is carefully and Systematically iottcd down
in the manuscripts and serves as q guide
in the future direction Of the play. plots
are next prepared and delivered to the TO-
spcctivo heads of each department.
A plot" Is n written description n
list of what L. used In q play, varying Ina
point Of nuinlrr according 90 the oxtcnt
Of the entertainment OF course the more
elaborate the production the greater the
N ,mbcr of "plots,'' as we'll as other de-
tails. Briefs it Nay bc said, without bur
deninr tho reader with technical terms