New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-15

FUTURE Ju11rrs WEEP RIvULETs OVER THEIR
ROUGE. AND FUTURE ROMEOs TALK
THROUGH CLOSED TEETH EARN
EST PURPOSE EVERYTHING.
''rhree indispensable requisites for student taxi
Ing course in dramatic ar: are temperament
good voice and earnestness of purpose"
Tie speaker is Mrs. Adeline ope-Wheatcroft'
~he scene is one of the studios Of the S;anhope-
Whea;croft Dramatic School in the Holland Build
ing A dainty. dimplcd soft-eyed Attle Southern
maiden has Just departed after making application
70 compete for one OF the two scholarships offered
for 1875
The girl has put forward some uncommon claims
20 consideration which. quite apart from an unusu-
ally attractive personality. fine feeling for AFT and
a delicious enthusiasm. have oppeaed strongly 10
the womany sympathy % Mrs Wheatcroft-a sym
patty however, O. which 40 sign appears while the
applicant IS present. The woman is to all appear
ance only a calm. grave, exacting critic. and ne
child takes leave with fororn droop 10 he corners
OF her pretty mouth flushed cheeks and misty eyes.
But an opinion has been formed. and Mrs Wheat
croft knows wha, she viii Do with her.
Since Mr.. Wheatcrott's death his wife carries on
the work which in fonr years they together de-
veloped into what II IS only Just TO describe as the
most successful school Of acting in America.
The !mparl.ng eff knowledge is the antithesls OF
acquiring Il. The work requires many qualities
ranging from tender pity 10 critical faculty Keen
cold and answering as the surgeons steel. incud-
ing a knowledge Of human nature informed by both
experience aid sympathy Mrs. Wheatcroft seems
possess all these qualities. so one understands
why pupils come TO her from all over the country,
confident that she discover and develop the best
that Is in them. But all her gifts are kept strictly
for her work, and It Is only on rare occasions that
she can be led 10 tax about II in way which
gives one glimpses of the true nwariness OF the
Stanhope- W heatcroft Dramatic School
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS.
mil NJ
cessity very severe The pupil is understood 10
have education. refinement and the evidences OF
good breeding. There is also much more to he con-
sidered. Purity OF enuncation must be attained,
and sometimes the outlook in that direction is ut
terly dishearening. Pupils present themselves with
such marked prOvinciasms and mannerisms
TO defy all efforts at reformation. For in
stance. charming girl had great aptitude for
leading parts, and her appearance and intelligence
fitted her 10 undertake them: but she would talk
with her teeth shat We worked for months until
almost despalred before the habit was overcome
In one OF my special classes-those for which no
examination IS required designed for students not
wishing the fun school course. and only requiring
instruction along certain lnes-was a clergyman
forty years Old Habitua intoning OF the ritual mad
impressed him that he intonod everything ne ut
tered. even the mos; trivial remark or salutaiion
told him beforehand that Il would be very embar-
RAISING to me 70 have reverend pupil, but II he
decided 70 into the class he must expect 10
sgbrnt 10 a ordeal He expressed entire
willingness. and the resu. was gratifying"
What the examinatiOns?'
They preliminary; and ali applicants for the
regular school course must pass them satisfacto-
rlly before being admitted to study. At the first
examination require the applicant 20 rec!.e
with such action he chooses, several selections
OF varied description giving scope FOR defamation,
emotional power and expression In lighter work
These selections are, Of course. those with which
the pupil Is already famillarlzed At the second
at{Op Ia "a for tha
pupil. and those with which he IL unfamiliar
They given TO test originality and nexibility."
SOME APPLICANTS REJECTED
DO you sometimes refuse applicants for IN
structlon. Mrs. Wheatcroft"'
Il have refused great many Modern stage
craft grows more and more exacting. The stage
of to-day is moro refined than of old there are
more educated people In all ranks OF the profession
Competition raises the standards and certainly
dimnishes the chances Of success. But while the
competition Is undoubtedly great. It must be borne
In mind that there is still room-plenty OF it-at the
top. Genius will infalliby assert itself: while TO
those lacking that. would say hard work Will
accomplish wonderful things
But try TO be conscientious about advising
dramatic career-it is such a grave responsibility
TO take young lives into ones keeping-I am chary
Of encouragement and may sometimes in this
direction: but am glad 10 be able to say that
nave not yet once been mistaken as to the talent
Of those have advised 10 go
Occasionally students with good abilities are
faint~hearted and fall by the way. They lack ap-
plication and perseverance, Then the first month
Is the crucial test. one hears a great deal about
s'ages'ruck people seldom encounter IT. When
DO there Is strongly pathetic side Tho young
and inexperienced who dream that they can decide
to become actors over night. make up, dress the
career are doomed 10 swallow a large dose of that
oisappoin tment which IL the base OF most human
experiences. When these dreamers find out that
dramatic art means work work work they are
apt 10 lose heart Others perse we're and gain their
reward"
ONE TERM ENOUGH
How long period Of training do you believe
necessaryr
zone term Is sufficient. When IT is completed the
student is thoroughly equipped for professional
work after ten years of that experience behind
the scenes, which. In other days when I learned
my art. the only good school OF acting ayaia-
bic. Then the bill changed nightly. A novice was
given the opportunity - see many plays and a |
chance at some part in most OF them With clever
ness and faculty for observation, much knowl- |
edge Of stage art could be picked up in a desuory
fashion. But unsystematic work reaches results
these latter days, and in no branch has pro-
matte art
To question as to methods Mrs. Wheatcroft re-
piled:
Actual methods vary TO suit individuals. But |
every student 10 exercised along all lines Of stage