St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-03

PLAYS AND PLAYERS
Robert billiard in a New Play
at the Metropoli-
tan.
FERGUSON AND FAGAN
will Exploit "Duffy's Blum
ders" All the Week at
the Grand.
RlCE'S BIG SHOW is COMING
Charming Effie Ellsler Is Also
on the Way--Litt's Stock
Company.

While Robert Downing was in st.
Paul he remarked in the course OF
an interview that it was astonishing
how few actors there are who are
fitted for the legitimate.
They cannot" said Mr.. Downing,
handle the blank verse.
This is quite true. And why is it
true? Lack of study and appllca-
ton is, in Mr.. Downing's mind, the
chief cause of this effect, "or rather
cause of this defect" But there is
another cause which study and APP
plication, be they ever so arduous,
cannot remove. 1t stands like the
wall of Jericho across the path OF
some of our most ambitious actors,
and there is no Joshua to level it.
They cannot "handle" blank verse,
and they can never acquire the gift.
For a gift it certainly is to handle"
it in worthy manner. have known
actors of exceptional ability, fine de-
lineatorS of character, keen percep-
tions of the foibleS, oddities and
conflicting emotions Of human kind,
who chould not deliver ten lines of
Shakespearean blank verse as they
should be spoken, yet they fully I'M
derstOod the text. 1t may be insist
ed this is all a matter of practice
Up to a certain limit it is, and we
behold living examples of it in every
company presenting Shakespeare
an repertoire. How many actors in
any one of these organizations that
have appeared here this season
spoke the Shakespearean text in a
manner to reveal half of its beauty,
wisdom or philosophy? One or two,
perhaps, beside the star, and stars
are not infallibie. 1t is unuueStiona-
bly, true that study will do much. If
the actor pOSsesSeS-aS all actors, eS-
pecially those essayirg the classic
drama should possess-a liberal edu-
cation equal to that furnished by
our high schools, there is no reason
why he should not, after due study,
be able to comprehend the mean
ing of all unambiguous passages.
'On the other hand, the man with a
genius for reading blank verse. but
VINO does not study it, will be guilty
OF crudi-ieS and commit errors that
the thoughtful actor, though less
rhythmic in his delivery, could never
be accused of.
But there is, to use a homely ex-
preston, certain "knack," or. bet
ter still, an inspiration that enables
2 favored few to speak blank verse
with the facility of prose. They can
preserve its rhythm and dignity and
at the same time impart to il that
colloquial flavor which dissipates
monotony and renders the verse per
fectly ineligible to the nearer. This
feat, always a difficult one, becomes
extremely SO in moments when the
actor is called upon to simulate
pathos, grief, rage and other power
ful emotions. 1t is indeed irving
IN the whirlwind of your passion
10 beget temperance that will
give it smoothness," and when blank
verse is the vehicle of the thought if
is liable to halt for it,"
Undoubtedly higher grade of
education among our actors would
vastly improve them. They would
certainly deliver their lines more in
diligently and with the zest that
would carry with it the confirmation
that they comprehended the full
meaning of the text. Nothing but
study can properly equip an actor.
Genius is not absolutely independent.
1t needs guide. AS for blank verse.
1t is, eto be sure artificial out of a
book, for human being never did and
probably never will use it as a me-
dunn for conversation. The actor
who can so thoroughly master it's
delivery as to save it's beauty and
grandeur and convey its full sig
nifieance is fortunate, because undv-
ing creations of the immortal poet
live in that language. The actor who
cannot accomplish this has still. how
ever, broad field before him "ex-
panding to the Skies" But let those