The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-09-14

fq'hat's the idea.st enthused the original
questioner.
We'll. the question is easily answered. -
$40 the manager. You may count them
may enumerate those ] have in mind on a
single set Of digits-Marie CahiI Marie
fces Of others may be endowed with an as-
sured sense OF humor and may be equally
capable of ins.nuating their comedy. but
at present they are not engaged in impsrt-
ing the fact TO American audiences
BEING-FUNNY IS SERIOUS BUSINESS
And from this II would appear that our
stage IL woefully lacking in condolences
sufncfently subtle and skilled in an art
munication of comedy to infect all classes
of theatergoers without benefit of stage
artifice.
The situation was laid before Miss Cahill
She sighed voluminously,
Being funny on the stage is very serious
business for woman" said she. That
SOUNDS parodoxical. no doubt: but il is the
pathetic fact. II is the hardest work i'm
aginable. at times-hsrd.- not because the
comedienne does not feel assured that she
is incarnate with the spirit OF comedy ana
able to express it-'Naught- ties her SOUL
her subtlefy is such'-but because she can
never be certain how sincerely her efforts
TO amuse VIII be accepted by her audience.
Large audiences are usually easy to
move: small ones are difficult. no matter
how superior the quality OF your offering
approached Tentatively. They freeze and
discourage the performer on sight and pre-
vent him or her. for both the masculine and
house. from putting forth his or her best.
Audiences. like individuals generally ad-
vince them from the beginning that you
are funny-catch them on the jump. is the
vulgar parlance. deliver the goods on
E0ur i,ss,e,,a entrance, another somewhat uncouth
gers. Subsequent attempts TO establish
Yourself IN the good graces OF your fun
insufficient TO eradicate the initia, preju-
dice.
WHEN AUDIENCES ARE ININICAL.
Intuition at times apprises you that GER
tain elements in the audience are inimical
70 you. These must he appeased. and that
instanter. else they soon affect other por-
tions. II not the whole of the house ana
cause your choicest comedy bits TO fall Nat
or meet with feeble demonstration of &C.
ceptarce most humtliatinE.
NO two audiences are alike. They differ
entiate as widely as the positive and mega
tive poles of the magnet. Their demands
OF the comedienne are never the same.
Wit humor and comedy are easily de-
nned-in dictionary: Not SO ON TIE stage.
exploitation OF either. / mean the material
exploitation: hence the cnmedienHe Who
would inspire her auditors with the belief
that she is the embodiment Of one or all
must needs be subtle and dependent upon
her subtlety: She must be unctuous to
degree. Quick to feel the audiences mood
and versatile enough to meet ali the exieen-
eies OF Its erratfc changes. The delivery of
ner nrSt comic line CT song. the develop
ment 10 her first comic situation. must car
~ conslction- II IL easy after that TO win
lsvor and applause. sweetest OF music to
the. artistic who conscientiousIy strives.
Il do not believe thai exaxgeration of
gesture, drusua.. and therefore unsee,nly.
racial contortions. or situations wholly
ncutious- when resorted to BY the come
oienne really provoke the audiences mir-h
Nor are they necessary IL you have the
genuine element OF comedy in YOU Re
motto Sincerity land certainly all positive
VII hufnor and comedy are so dlstinsuished)
or Its stimulation increases the audiences
interest ana lends emphasis to your conf
Often. even when you feel that your
piaywrfght's lines or the composers music
interleres with wour prosection Of comedy:
the. lines msy be irane or not compatible
With your IDEAS Of the droif. or IL may be
that you fail to comprehend or properly
appreciate them The music may be be-
yocr conception OF harmony
PLAYWRIGHT NOT THE
FUN PR0JECTOR.
ouibss and speeches which actually inspire
the csmedienne and help her to success%'
sNonsenset Perhaps IL Is rank heresy to
deny u. but, all the same. the playwright
has not half as much 10 do with the
triumph OF the comedienne as Is popu-
wright Yet I frequently hear little OUT
bursts Ike thig: Dear me! No wonder she
made such a hft In that comic song, The
wcrds are bright and witty, the music ap-
propr5ete and excellent Or. again. sonfe
Thing Ike this: OF course II was TO be