The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-29

Gold Coast where the fevers come from. and
when the elders demur at this Cynthi;. prepares
to go the music-hall stage as skirt dancer
In horror at this the STERN father reients. ana
when he takes them back they resolve to be wiser
and less extravaganza children
Before the graduation class. OF the Empire
School OF Acting. in New York, Wilton
Lackaye spoke. 1t was sensible. we'll
grounded talk, and two Of the arguments
this excellent actor made are well worth
reading inasmuch as they deal in a new
way with hackneyed subjects.
You are advised not TO talk shop he
said. IF you have 4 shop worth talking
about, talk about It. Nobody ever succeeded
in the world except the man who loved his
shop and lived in 1t.
do not occupy yourself with detail; 1t
makes not the slightest difference. But
about acting; about how to act: how you
have seen people act; how you think they
should act; the comparison of the perform
ances Of different artists in the same role
talk about 1t all the. time and when you
don't talk about it think about il.
"There is another expression which have
heard-'stage-struck.' / hope you are all
stage-struck. II you are not, let this day.
which Is so happily called commencement
day. be the commencement of the end for
you. Go back home Do not go on the
stage If you are not stage-gtruck. Unless
you can put your hand on your heart and
say, i am staSe-struck; / would rather be
an actor, with all these things against me.
and with failure to fight, than be a success
in anything else in the world go bome!'
Otis Skinner. when interviewed on the SUBJ
ject of national theater. said: America
is not the place for a national theater. The
project Is not plausible.
1.-The theatcr-going public as a whole has
no desire no tastes; 1t takes what is Of
fered.
TN Offering the public a play or star
II is the same as q household soap--if the
public wants it. it takes 1t; otherwise, no.
''There is no such thing as public taste
as regards worldly entertainment" Mr.
Skinner said. People take what is offered
them and are pleased.
There is. of course. at this time trend
toward the music plays, and am informed
that there are twelve music plays In New
York to-day, but that does not signify that
public taste. 50 called, is the means Of
holding them there Every individual. as
you and /, has taste. but if that Is not
gratifed We do not bemoan the fact.
1t Is almost a certainty that the veteran
actor, J. II. Stoddard will make but one
more professional tour Seventy-eight years
old, over seventy having been passed upon
the stage, this dear old man is the admra-
La Shelle produced 1.-THE Bonnie Brier
Bush he made known his desire to star"
Mr.. Stoddard. but. mindful of the actors
advanced age. asked the veteran how long
he felt able to play.
Mr.. Stoddard replied: II should like TO
play The Bonnie Brier Bush for three
years before retire. and will promise you
TO play that long. God willing" Next sea-
son Is the third year of The Bonnie Brier
Bush and Mr.. La Shelle- feels that it is
| more than likely to be Mr.. Stoddard's last
in active work
| During the first act OF "Mr. Pickwick''
| recently. while Louise Cunning was sing
! ing her Speak Low" song, the tinkling of
| an alarm clock was heard. At the familiar
sound OF the morning call to toll the spec
| tators turned to see whence it came. while
| Miss Cunning in confusion ceased singing.
| At last the ushers, who had been
| searching throughout the house. located the
1 offending timepiece In a bag belonging to a
1 woman and while the clock still continued
| its internal racket It was borne out of the
\ theater by its shame-faced owner.
! Julia Marlowe is said to be the most sue
| cessfuI star of the season. Her profits are
/ declared to exceed $4,000. remarkable
i showing, in view Of the fact that her, first
production of the year was unsuccessful
and that through overwork in connection
Herewith she was obliged to remain idle
for seceaal. weeks before. she bad, sufficiently
recovered to resume her stage duties. All