The Washington times., 1901-12-22
News Of Plays
and Players.

Now that Andrew Carnegie Is donating
miiliousSfcr ithe establishment of ma
tioual university. James X. Hacke.t is
looking for some wealthy lover of the
drama TO whom he may present his plan
for university CT acting. This is a
plan whiSh Mr.. Hackett has long had in
mind. and oHo to which he has devoted
considerable time and thought. While
others have been advocating the estab-
nshn.ent OF national theatre, ssfrs
Haekett mnintaiEs that the essen .iaI ebres
requisite Of such an institution is a school
OF acting. where young players may be
trained to the methods of the higher
drama, such as, it is 10 be presumed. a
| national theatre would attempt TO foster.
Witheut specially trained players. Mr..
! Hackctt maintains. such an Institution
woul1 he long time in getting started.
and would probably defeat its own end
through sheer inability TO secure actors
qualified 10 present COED plays.
Mr.. Hackett points out that this is the
age OF specialists, in the play world as
veil as in other professions. and that it
would be too much to expect established
stars. who are making fortunes on their
own hook, 10 abandon their interests in
order to help establish a national the
atre, wni.c the younger generation of
players have not the opportunity for all
a-ound training which should prepare
Them TO appear to advantage IL the high
er drama
In the days OF the old stock companies
stage aspirants were compelled TO serve
long apprenticeships in the ranks. carry
ing spears. going on in crowds" Joining
the si'outs outside" and otherwise learn
ing The very rudiments of the stage before
they. were entrusted with lines 10 sneak
IN the meanwhile they had the oppor-
trnity Of playing with and studying the
methods OF the most celebrated stars. who
travelled from city to city. accompaaied
only b. some of their leading people.
The modern stock system so Mr. Hackelt
Faainta!ns. and he has had considerable
experience in ii. having been a stock star
for several seasons in Canada, as well as
a member OF DAYS and the Lyceum com
Panies-1ocs not achieve similar results.
Modern stock training" says the actor.
''is too much matter of mechanical
drilling en- the part Of the stage manager,
and parrot-like imitation on H.. part of
the player. II the stage manager be a
good enc, the training is valuable for a
time, bit good stage managers are rare,
most OF thcm being content 20 follow the
lines laid down by the original producers
OF the play. and as the time for the deyci-
opment OF character and ensemble work
is limited, the tendency OF stock work Is
eventually to make The player careless
and slipshod Ike a lightning sketch ar
tist,' instead OF careful student of char
acter drawing and coloring To continue
the metaphor, stock training Is like the
stu1y OF drawing and perspective to
painter. while it serves to ground him in
the rudimeptss bf his art. 1t will never
make him 4 greater painter IL not supple
moEtcd and heightened by the study OF
life colur. and composition And. to quote
the old cayirg. 1t is better to paint little
and paint that little well than to paint
great deal and paint IL badly"
The only other recourse for the begin
ner as Mr.. ffackett points out. Is to enlist
az an extra" in some travelling company,
with the chance OF being appointed under
study for some part and the remote pos
sibility OF playing it some time during the
season, owing 70 the illness or retirement
OF the regular actor OF the part But ex-
perience sainedsat the rate OF one bit"
per season Is necessarily slow and dis
couraging. and before he arrives the
young player is apt to learn the truth of
the saying1 that Art is long and time
is feeting." especially in these days Of
long runs for plays.
These facts have forced Mr.. Hackctt to
the conclusion that the remedy for cx-
isting evils and the hope for the future
Of the American stage lie in college.
or. perhaps better. university OF
dramatic art. which shall provide literary
and technical training for the stage as
pirant on the same high plane that is af-
forded ty institutions devoted to the
sister arts.
1T may be argued that there are al
ready dramatic schools in the large
cities" says Mr.. Hackott. Il have no
wish to dscredit the excellent institu-
tions already in existence, but their scope
is so much narrower than my ideal that
there would be practically no rivalry be-
tween them, any more than there IL be-
60 numerous preparatory schools
universities of our country.