The sun., 1897-03-21
ROBSON AND sHAKEsPEARE.
Tho Modern Actor Rejects the ADVICE to the
Players I'm Hamlet
Stuart Robson IN the Karsa. CITY Times.

Stuart Robson IN the Kansas CITY Times.
Hamlet says: Speak the speech. pray
you. as pronounced It to you. trippingly on
the tongue; bat II you mouth II. as many of
your players do. had o. lief the town crier
spoke my lines That's all right. but when he
says: Suit the:Action to the word. the word to
the actton'-never. Nothing could be worse
II one did that he would run the risk Of being
natural. and. say what you please. to be nat
ural Is TO DO inarttstic.
You hear q man soy. I like Jones; he is q
good actor why2 Because he IS so natural
As o matter of fact. Jones isn't natural. He
simply seems tn be.
''As to the word and the action. tho action
should always precede follow tho word.
Never 70 with It For example," and Mr..
Robson took his hands out of his pockets.
lets take q line from real life. We are
talking together and you insult me. 1mmedi-
ately l exclaim. You - scoundrel.' and as
say II strike you. That would be natural
but itwouldn't do for the stage. It would too
quick for an audience. Both the word and tho
action would be over before an audience had
comprehended what It was all about. and the
dramatic effect would he lost You insult mo
on the stage. say. not In the sane tone
would use in the.heaI OF the real pa. sion. q
little slower perhaps. but moro Impressively.
You scoundreL' Here leave n pause of q
IoW SECONDS anu Lncn ucIlN CT lHo DlOW-
Jucklins.' " said Mr. Robson. II. in tho char
acter. with others OF the family and friends
am awaiting the verdict in the trial OF my son.
i stand at table in a prominent place in tho
ceatre. My actors arc arranged about the
effect. Over in:that corner.is the old mother
sitting. the arm Of her daughter about her
standing and people sitting. Every position
goes to make up an artistic and dramatic
whole. Here It 10 my instruc ton that every
hipv arfn hA n mi M
EXPRESSION. BIZ enters with the neTs. l
staad still by the table fearing to ask the ques-
tion almost. Bill;throws his hat upon tho
silence for n moment before Bill replies tho
one word. Convicted and his head q second
later drops upon his breast.
There is the dramatic effect, but II is not
nature. Imagine. IL YOU will. a dozen people
in real life awaiting In a room verdict that
means life or death to ono so dear As son and
friend. Arc they .Guiet2 Here IS one pacing
nervously 10 and fro. perhaps more than one.
Here IL the mother warning. she may be cry
ing. Here are two or three little knots OF peo-
pie talking together In an undertone. What
auden"el Bill ru.hes in cry!ng almost before
he gets through tn. door. They've CONVICTED
him. In an instant there is tumu I. Three
four of the men swear. The mothe- Is cry
three run TO hsr 10 soothe aud ,qu!ethr 1t
Is a scene audience wouldn't have.
"fn Shakes speAre's time RctiAR was forced.
Now 1t is not forced. but It is not natural. You
admire great painting: YOU think It looks OK.
actly like nature. but II doesn't An artist
uses his Imagination to create artistic effect.
You SEQ pictures OF a battie. Take the picture
OF Napoleon after Waterloo. Itall looks very
nice and very artistic. Here he Is with his
poieon and his oificers ever stood in a group
After all. It is the audience you must please.
Tho audience Is the jury"