The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-10

and actressee Of talent. They either quit tho
work altogether-by way Of marriage usually.
IN the women's case-sor else they drift down
lower rS ana howe, by degrees, and the tide sweeps
the dramatic procession to-day. or go under.
Inc character OF our applicants Is gradually
changing The Improvement In the tone Of
the profession and the broadening Of social
ideas account for II, I suppose. We get boys
and girls from the best families. and a great
many college graduates of both sexes come
a. ds, ouI T rsa, ,Ian{ TING th9qsh that we seldom ION
class. They do well in the modern society
play or light romantic drama; but for real emo
ton, high tragedy. ,pathos, humor, the prize
goes 10 pupils from the lowest classes. fancy
IL Is because. In that so 'ial stratum, instinct
counts for more than education. Emotions
are primitive and the lower classes don't hesi-
tate 10 express them in primitive fashion,
In the upper crust Of society. the gospel Of
repression has been preached for so long. that
every one Is incased In a hereditary and ac-
a terrible time chipping of enough Of the shell
to LEI emotion and sentiment leak through.
III tell you the hardest proposition In theat-
f f.lsnt tr ann nT,c E 2 qua Ss , pupil 3a s,1 ne nay "a i, haze I've
nature. education and traditions before he can
express natural feelings unreservedly. [ For
the last two years our highest honors have all
Side. That proves just what I've been say
ing. The students brought us temperament
and fire, but had no mental discipline. We
Ndh utFtl WV 'ftltlflR, Dut wv tbutuu .
have furnished the dramatic instinct and tenn
permanent, A good many Of our sweier pupils
bring us what we could supply, and haven't the
mixed blood produces good dramatic posi-
biliities, and a dash Of Hebrew is especially val
liable. The Hebrew temperament. is essen
more gifted dramatically than are the Anglo
Hungarian; and We lad a girl WHO was a. . com"
Gs.s vnndsrnH,Ii ~ Nns r. har aneer TN. viz
Women are easier to work with than men
quicker. more apt. The men seem less respon-
sivs' but In Tie long run. ! believe more Of our
women. 4 good comedienne y the hardest
high-class comedy is out Of the reach OF most
tragedy. for that matter. Eccentric character
work is the easiest thing In the profession, and
melodrama comes easily too. .lf, a pupil shows
a tendency TO exaggerated melodrama. at first.
we usually encourage it, TO give freedom Of ex-
preston and unconsciousness. Later We can
refine it.
are certain Instructive tenets of good breeding,
certain attitudes of mind and resultant express
sion that can't very well be grated upon an
UNFRAMED n ans ag nature, ,,,,n They sTs 2 matter MhS 9. @, herIt,
actors and actresses aren't convincing. in society
PLAYS They can study the atmosphere OF a
historical play, and, If they slip up. on little
ence. but a society audience knows what q mod
ern gentleman will do and will not do, and any
number Of clever actors fail. lamentably. when
they try 10 interpret an ordinary well-bred.
modern gentleman. II they haven't the in
stincts in themselves, they slip UP In a multitude
OF little ways.
We have a great many ugly duckling cpl.
sodes. I have even dropped girls at the end
OF their junior year. because / thought them
hopeless. and have seen them blossom out into
stars: and I have RrndGingly graduated pupils,
thinking they would never amount to much.
who met with lucky opportunities ard achieved
big regulations. 1t's a good deal Of a specula-
ton. A number Of our pupils are succeeding
famously. not 80 much through dramatic talent
as through an Infinite capacity for diplomacy
and handling their own business interests.
Others succeed because they have sense enough
to recognize their limitations and devote all
their energies TO perfecting themselves within
those limitations. Oh, the times we have per-
suadine girls who want to be Juhets that they
really haven't any special gift save for old
woman character roles, but could do very well
in that line! And the times we have convincing
understood men that they wont do for Oridndos
and D'Arfa0nans. but will make fairly good
French walters and Wallets!
by the way. lack Of physique Is the greatest
handicap among young actors. A very, large
proportion Of our men pupils are small. and
II counts against them: but 1t gives the few big,
fine looking fellows a good chance, even II they
haven't b~rains-they meet solittle competition"