The record-union., 1897-09-22
A Violation of Dramatic Art Re-
quirement.

Eds. Record Union: To present
and preserve the Illusion and to sus-
tain the idea of the unity of the picture,
it see MS to me are among the essentials
of correct dramatic representation. In
deed so eXacting are some particular
critics that a drama which demands
that the mimic stage shall witness any
departure from this unity referred to by
the Introduction of scenes widely sep
arated in time and space, is enough to
make it the subject of unfavorable
Judgment.
1 am induced to state these facts as
preliminary to a little criticism upon
too frequent practice of late, by which
this illusion is lost, and this principle
of unity is violated. l refer to a habit
which is becoming a vogue, of actors
coming before the curtain, dressed in
the costume of their respective parts,
to make announcements of interludes
or of future entertainments.
1t is difficult enough at times, except
when rare and recognized artists tread
the boards, to feel that any illusion is
even suggested; but acknowledging and
at the same time excusing many nee
essary shortcomings. it is difficult to
see Why the principles of art should be
so strangely violated by the intrusion
upon the audience of gentlemen aban-
doninS the characters they are sup
posed to represent, but retaining the
comic or tragic makeup of their re-
spective parts, for the purpose Of max
ing announcements which are Valueless
as advertisements, while at the same
time they offend the good taste OF
many of their auditors. In the more
pretentious fields in the metropolitan
cities the requirements of art are bet
ter observed and out of the recogni-
ton OF these requirements has doubt
less come the repetition of the tableau
in response to encores, with such slight
changes of attitude and position only
as the small interval of time would nat
urally bring about. A dead Hamlet
or Julius Caesar, OthelIo or Macbeth is
not thus revived to mar the complete
ness of the Illusion which should be
the actors great ambition to sus-
tain.
Some years ago in San Francisco 1
witnessed the presentation of Twelfth
Night" by a competent company, and
for couple of delightful hours | lived
in a foreign land It was an evening
of romance, of enchantnlent, of almost
perfect illusion. 1t was Illyria, its
people, it's life, the happenings Of an
other and earlier century, that were
having a complete and satisfying rep
resentation. Something of the memory
yet remained, when the company was
announced for appearance here, and
thinking the sweet deception would be
repeated, / went to place myself again
under the influence of the spell But,
alas, for my dreaming. The local or
chestra appeared with recognition of
friends among the audience. and con-.
versation with others nearer at hand;
[ was in Sacramento, and some fea-
lures of old Illyria might be having
painstaking delineation on the stage,
but the unity Of the performance was
violated and the illusion lost.
1 write in no ungenerous or unreason
able spirit Frequently the price we
pay could not command the highest or
der cf dramatic excellence, but there
are offenses, the correction of which
would elevate such art as we can com
mand and add materially to the play
goer's qualification. c. 2. M.