The sun., 1895-05-19

The Er.,rens Actors witty Talk n Cave
bridge Last Tucsd.y Ercntnr.

bridge Last Tuesday Ercn,nr.
Irop, the BDston Herald.
Mr.. Joseph Jefferson's lecture at Harvard
College last night was listened TO by an audi
cnce Of nearly 500 people, assembled In San.
ders Theatre. most Of them students, who were
simply held in the speakers gasp until he got
ready to let them go. But more willing cap
tives would DO hard to find. II laughing Is on
efficient aid to digestion. there was nobody in
the audience who could complain Of indiges-
tion. Mr.. Jefferson went from one subject to
another like bird from flower to flower, and
never put In any connecting links. But he was
always bright, and whatever ho snid was worth
remembering. After he had finished what hc
had to present as original he offered TO an
swcr any questions TINT might Ue asked
him. For fully hal. hour the students
piled him with queries. lie was always
a match for them. when tho last question hal
been answered. tho students burst into n tmn,uit
of applause. aud gave Tree rein to their enthusi-
Mr.. jefferson was introduced happily by pres-
idcnt Eliot who sRid II wa, peculiarly fitting Tor
n truly great actor tn speak before n distinctive.
lv academic audience. MIR. Jefferson rose afnid
TOOK hs hearers into camp. He said, in part:
There !, nothing that 50 stimulates nm actor
appia'ssc. @ did no, % say that to twt you into
giving me another ronna OF anpIanse IremeWhea Irene ,ha
Sa' 81 n ws
come. and il gives me time TO think OF what
am going to say next. Laughter and applAnsc.l
have prepared "A Few notes, us should inve
considered it n mcnGrc compliment tc thrust
upon such all audience only few clumsy views.
ner as to interest ycl. II have any ,h;r A. all
intsrsstns e say d3nt want TO- be similarly
that some OF the bot atter-dinner speeches he
tie nds TSg ome II his onas
My profession incnlcates preparntion. The
that an actor should be prepared, more 80 than
he who follows amy other art The actor. unlike
the painter, cannot in the strict sense have an
gins and it is in progress while being criticised
He cannot alter his work during the perform;
that part badly; lie. mo stop. and will act 1t
Mr.. Jefferson then gave humorous account
OF how he and Mr.. Florence carefully prepared
themscl res for the play OF THE Rivals In New
Iork how epch was well prepared even ;s to The
fall md the audience called them out:
but t,. WS We TsTe ] not called out" anizicaly re;
he continued, :. for wniie many of the attributes
point where they come to The forks Of the road.
shake hands, and part. Tho orator impresses
actor is sometimes at his best when he shows
how he is impressed by what Is said TO him.
tributes Of the Intended piofession 10 see II YOU
you would follow. II you are impressional, feel
that surrounding circumstances affect you. then
you have the hlstrionic attributes necessary for
an an actor; II You feel you are dogmatic. impress
sivc. and dictatoriRl. NOT Otimpressed by surround
ings should not advise you to take to the
stage; aH;.,,on and .o,,nr ~, .n,,,.,,. ,...,,,.
all the arts. find: rs In music. the solo player
Il the orator whereas the orchestra represents
the he In the
e,en the AYE 9qsS .oc..a
n 4 upDina In lnpk Syi ,,,f
This will not do. Art is the handmaid OF genius
only asking respectful attention as payment for
with her. because you think you can depend
upon YOUR genius, you may as well say good-by
Genius produces. but ar, reproduce,; and It
Is In the art oc acting that reproduction Is the
enable tie actor to produce The same Effect night
after night, even though he has played the part
q Thousand times. contend n man cannot play
teres: In the part. That's the point. II interest
be lost, II by repeated performance the ACTOR be-
flame goes ont and the weary actor produces
=, To illustrate his point Mr.. Jefferson told how
Macready ouco told the venerable actor Coul-
dock that when he was acting the part OF
the contrary character how 1t was his speech
that once aroused The audispcs & now fell .t and
am .sor the s ssa 70 hsr
No" said Mrs. Warner 1T is because it is
an 9S s,cTy 20 yGS Mr. ,srsr,, .,. v.n,
over the part with him. and said: 'Orce you
smoke like til. character who committed that
mittsd Erea. many thefts.' ".' |'''
That was lesson to pe." said Mr.. Jefferson
thought Intended but have tried to Spn epne as
near 1t as possible 70 act as the ideas In the
had occurred for the first time. But 1t is the
only way to get into that terribly sincere style
that Is the merit OF the performance of the best
Mr.. Jefferson then considered tragedy and
tility Of Garrick. who he thou ght. was great as
tragedian as we'll as a comedian. although to
his idea greater as the latter than as the former:
the mos: difficult, tragedy or comedy, he replied |
that, whether no was Ill or well. whether high
spirits or low spirits. he was always equal to
comedy is serious business" [i.aughter.i m 1"' BIZ
The star" system in dramatic organizations |
was also touched upon. Mr.. Jefferson adInitted
was time when he thought the starring system
was pernicious. tGreat laughter.l hut since |
then ! have altered my opinion" [Renewed
When he was in a stock company he had
looked upon every star and manager as tyrant,
Dnt when he became manager and star he |
viewed the star as superior being. tGreat |
III The starring system was invented about 300
Shakespeare. In every play Of SHakespeare
there is a central figure. usually taken by the |
star: In every play there must be one great
In concluding his lecture Mr.. jefferson related
an amusing incident In Mira. Cibber's dramatic |
life. Being asked which she considered the |
said Garrlck was so ardent she thought lie womid
leap onto the balcony, whereas Barry was so |
deliRhtfully fascinating she feared she would |
leap do"n TO him. Laughter and applause.]
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