Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-16
THE ART OF ACTING.
Some Simple Stage Directions Laid Down
 by the Gifted E3oucIcault.
Especial COrrespOndence.I


 Especial CorrespOndence.I
 NEW YORK. March l2-"A the painter and tho sculptor initiate on canvas or in stone-that is, the figures of persons or objects in rcpese-so the actor initiates on the stage nature in action," were the words often spoken to his pupils by the late Dion Boucicault, the Shakespeare of the nineteenth century.
 He taught his pupils that the rudiments of tho art of acting were gait, gesture and speech. He taught them to walk with a book on their heads until they could carry 1t perfectly balanced, a proof of a good carriage. On entering the stage use the foot away from the audience, thus throw ing the body in full view on the entrance, When an actor and actress walk across the stage together, the actress should be near CT the audience the actor a step ahead of her. If she wear a train, it will be easier for them to turn with grace. In making Q turn take a step to one side and do not move around on the ball of the foot. In sitting down place the right foot so that all the weight will be upon it, place the left little in front of it and sink into the chair with a side movement, then turn to tho front.
 In regard to gesture, forgot you have hands and feet. Do not fidgct. Remain | stand or sit with much grace and ease ! as possible Use the hand nearest an Ob- | ject, such as a letter, when it is necessary 1 to pass it. Tako it from one hand to the other, never moving the arm across the body. In making a movement with the | arms mako it from the shoulder-not ] from the elbow as it stunts n graceful motion.
 A professional of ability listens with I ing enacted As rule, the amateur starts into action only when he speaks and re lapscs into utter indifference when silent When one has become a good listener, one | has taken an important step in tho art of V acting, as significant as the artistic utter ance of tho emotions ElOcutiOn was taught when pupilS were supposed to havo obtained control of the stage. ..s ap actor l or actress. As Boucicault said, It can not hurt you now. ." Action should always precede speech, so it stands to reason elo- cution should be taught last and not first
 Elocution teaches how to manage the voice, how and when to tako breath and the few conventional gestures that must occasionally relieve speech. Such q process can never produce an actor. \ finished actor will not let you feel you can proph- esy what he will say and do under certain circumstances. When bound by an iron clad elocutionary tuition, passion becomes vehemence; gesture may be correct, but it is not spontaneous; expression may be ad- mirablc, but not inspiring. The elocu- tIonist is the hack of a conventional art
 Scarcely a pupil ever went to BOucicault who did not know the potion scene from Romeo and Juliet" The great ac- tor would let the aspirant rant through the scene, and if he did not give a grunt and say, ''Go home and make pies, my dear" he would hand her a typewritten scene and say, If you can do this, I can make an actress of you" Scene, a draw ing room, which young girl enters. She is expecting a visit from her lover, ex- hibits impatienco; sits down at work ta- ble; selects needlework; proceeds to em- ploy herself; listens; a bell rings. It Is hel Runs to the door; receives letter; reads; Is disappointed by its contents; angry; re- sumes work with assumed indifference; passes through the various forms of hu- nor, ending with burst Of tears
 This whole scene was in pantomime, No implements such as thread, needle. thimble or letter was the actress allowed. All of us could spout" Shakespeare, but 1t took us a month to do that simple scene naturally. The French method of acting is to address sOliloquy to the audience. In England and America the actor ignorcs the spectators The latter is certainly the moro natural method. How many anna. teurs in a pathetic scene would be willing to stake their honor that they could secure a signal triumph if they could weep real wet tearsl The great actor carries you with him in his grief, but he does not make himself incohcrent by natural sObs, His art is so exquisite he cOnvinccs you | all he assumes is natural.
 MAUDE J.! MES CHILTON.