The San Francisco call., 1896-07-26
Applause
At the Jheater
IS Wrong
Deep Silence IS the
Highest Praise in
Tragedy or
Drama

much indulged by those who cater to and
provide their amusement that they fail to
perceive that they frequently impose not
only upon managers and actors bat upon
a majority of their fellow-auditors, says
Frederick Warde, the tragedian.
Zone of the most prevalent of the petty
yet greatly discomiting practices in
dulged in is that of applauding at the
stage of the play where silence is abso-
lutely requisite to make effective scene.
Another is the disruption of har-
monious idea and artistic continuity of the
play by the recall of the stars Immediately
after brilliant or impressive display of
stimulation.
"a third Is the premature preparations
made for leaving the auditorium when the
finale of the play is approaching.
''These annoying manifestations are al
ways detrimental to the full and proper
enjoyment of the majority and more de-
corous of the spectators, but they are
made more marked when attendant upon
the production of the legitimate drama,
wherein the deepest passions of human
nature are portrayed.
''AIl actors of the highest rank have of
late endeavored to discourage these un-
timely demonstrations, but invariably with
little success, and they have been dis
agreeably present at times in San Fran
cisco.
"That the more intelligent of the au-
dience do not indulge IN these exhibitions
was observable during the presentations
at the California during the past week,
and that they condemn them was made
clear by their uttered displeasure after the
play of those who participated in them.
tThere seems to be no effectual remedy
for these inappropriate and inopportune
plaudits. While In a measure naturally
gratifying to the artist, they are undeslr-
able in the highest degree and can only be
viewed as signs of i'll breeding and bad
taste.
at has always been my personal en-
deavor to discourage them, but how to do
so without giving offense is aiproblem still
to be solved. I find that it is much the
better course to crafty the unthinking
who insist on recalling the artist. 1t is
the quickest and least disagreeable way to
put stop to their cIamor.
Personally every artist prefers to main
tain his impersonated character through
out play without interruption. 1t per-
mits him to do better justice to his role by
presenting to his audience an unbroken
and, therefore, artistic delineation of the
part, and adds almost inconceivably to the
enjoyable impression made on the people
he is seeking to please.
ITO be compelled suddenly and inappro-
priately to cast off the simulated charac-
ter and appear in propria persona is
always as undesirable as inartistic. But
the public is an ungrateful creature and
refusal to respond to its requests is viewed
as display OF ohurlishness. If they, how
ever, best consulted their pleasure and
that of the artist they would absolutely
refrain from doing that which certainly
though unconsciously lessons the full
measure of their enjoyment and ADDS
nothing to the gratitude of him they seek
to honor. ALI demonstrations of approval
should be withheld until after the final
drop of the curtain.
Applause at the climax of scene of
solemnity which demands absolute quiet
is one of the most distasteful and en-
barrassing manifestations that the actor
has to encounter. Such eruptions are as
incongruous as cheers in place of wor-
ship during an invocation. Yet they are
'.As said before, there appears to be no
remedy unless one has the hardihood to
offend ones admirers and patrons. Edu-
eating the general public up to true APP
probation of the demands of dramatic
situations is a herculean and / Judge an
almost impossible task, yet it may be
done, and hope at the same time to be
able to do my share toward bringing it
about. Audiences are like the individual,
however, and always prefer something
delectable, no matter how injurious, to
something bitter, despite the highly bene-
fetal results that may come from the
latter.
"I can say this, though of San Fran
cisco audiences, that while their apprecia-
ton is even more marked than that shown
elsewhere they are less frequently guilty
of these offenses. Then they have the ad-
ditional incentive OF personal friendly feel
ing for me, having seen and known me for
many years while l performed at other
theaters in this City.
"Indiscriminate applause during the
presentation of tragedy is the result of
habit acquired by attendance at other
classes of amusements. Many people thus
become imbued with the idea that the
only way'to signify the measure of their