The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-12
AMATEUR ACTORS.

Where twenty years ago there were
nearly 800 well-established, successful
and popular amateur theatrical COM
panies. made up of men and women
more or less conspicuous I'm the social
life OF the large cities. and particularly
New York, Brooklyn, Boston, Philadel-
phia and Chicago, there are now scarce
ly a dozen. Brooklyn Wed with Boston
for many years i'm the number and i'm
portance of it's amateur theatrical So
cieties. All such companies were much
alike i'm makeup. There was the stall
wart young leading man, who had in
yariably the choice OF parts and Of
plays. There was the gifted and ac-
complshed leading lady, who persisted
in selecting heroines attired i'm the most
expensive fabrics and in the latest
style. There was the invaluable stage
manager. who played small parts or no
parts, but without whom no represent
alton was deemed complete. There was
the low comedian, who was the life and
spirit at rehearsals. If not always the
most efficient member of the acting
cast on the night of the performance.
There was the plump and good natured
young man with a changing voice and
a total indifference to appearances, who
gave evidence OF his amiability by play
| ing old men. and there was the sweet,
fresh face who looked well (and knew
she looked WELD i'm a gray wig. curled
a little on the sides. and surrounded
with becoming cap. She played the
old woman. Then there was. of neces-
sity, the gay soubrette,, who always
quarrelled with me low comedian at
rehearsals. burying usually the hatchet
OF amateur theatrical jealousy in a
phlopena or supper These perform
ers were the fixtures of each company,
but there are others who filled out the
remaining parts. particularly the heavy
villain, who was in almost every case,
Ii was observed, a Woodworking and
deserving bookkeeper in some business
house, while the dashing adventures
of the company, who plotted the ruin
of the hero and heroine, was in private
| life devoted to charitable acts of use
full character. a member of a sewing
society and of a Sunday school class OF
teachers, too.
Ostensibly organized for giving anna
teur performances, these societies were
rather OF a social than OF a theatrical
character. OF 100 members perhaps, not
more than twenty-five or thirty In eacn
actually participated in the perform
ance there was a reception and dance
and these spectators took a more ac-
tive part, usually, in that function than
did the stage performers.
BY degrees amateur performances
ceased to be given to a select few. In
stead OF being by invitation price was
charged. Entertainments were not
given for the satisfaction of the MEM
bers. but for some public purpose, and
as strangers attended-total strangers
TO the performers and their friends in
many cases-these amateur theatrical
entertainments were divested of one of
their chief titles 10 popularity and there
were many Withdrawals from member
ship That was the beginning of their
decline and IL was further accelerated
by the success OF some of the members
who remained and afterward found
recognition on the professional stage,
which has been recruited considerably
from amateur societies during the past
ten years. Some of the best amateur
performers withdrew entirely for the
reason above stated, believing their at
tendance at public entertainments for
which a price was charged involved a
sacrifice OF privacy and decorum. Others
went on the regular boards.-The sun.