New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-23
THE AMATEUR ACTOR.
THO Books Written for His
Benefit.

COMEDIES IN MINIATURE. BY Marsaret Cam
12mo up. S7e (McClure. fhiiiips q Coz
MODERN MoNoLoGUEs. BY Marjorie Benton
Cooke Pp. viii 500 CThe Dramatic Publishing
Company
Mrs cameron's plays were written for acting
ana are here set forth with the thought Of sup
plying material for informal amateur perform
ances. They are light and pleasant In tone.
The emotions portrayed are in the April weather
OF feeling occasional showers and plenty OF
sunshine and make no demand for the sort OF
acting which amateurs attempt only at the
peril OF their friendly audiences. The costum-
ing and properties required are such as young
people who live and have their being among
the incidents Of the well appointed dining ROOM
the shopping day. the club summer hotel ana
business with now and then q wedding, will
easily supply. The settings have similar char
acter. and could be arranged without scenery
though four OF the seven comedies could haroly
be played on a stage that lacked room. In the
number of performers required there is a good
variety.
OF the eleven titles four are monologues Five
OF the comedies preserve an even balance De-
tween the sexes. Three call for only one I'M
discovered Garrick and one newly come out
Mrs Siddons. though in "A Pipe OF Peace"
some one who should be in the company at the
final curtain call. and yet breads to appear. can
make the hit Of the evening. IN demure cap and
snron with one silent entrance and one routine
sneech in the third part Of Molly, the maid.
"A Christmas Chime" needs two men and TWO
girls and Miss Doulton's Orchids" three each.
The remaining pieces. The Burglar" and The
Ileptornaniac" require no men, the cast num-
herring five in one and seven in the other. ana
ere unusually good of their sort. The dialogue
in these two. however. is Of the kind that even
professional actors often make mess of-ner-
z-ous short full Of interruptions and false
starts. and Astounding in bursts Of ensemble ex-
citeuent. In places, too. some Of the characters
,,ould snd themselves on the stage unemployed,
q SAD trial for the amateur. and as likely TO
p-ove a blernish on the performance as the task
also set here Of budding in groups or trooping
fn or out. All the plays are in one act, except
the first in which two headed jealousy is con-
WINGED OF its sad wrongs in the morning, and
sni,,red young fidelity shifts the weight Of GER
tain suspicious orchids upon outside shoulders
in the evening.
Marjorie Benton Cooke collects different sort
Of entertainment in her volume OF Modern
Monologues" A preface informs US that the
publication has been prompted by the present
cav interest in monologues. This may account
for the title. There is indeed a Modern Becky
Sharp as if Becky Sharp were not modern
enough in all conscience. The author has ideas
on what the raonologist must be. In the first
place he must observe habitually, in every
streetcar on every corner. In the second place
ne must be able to portray character in act
ing. Then in the third place he must not fail
.n pantorninnic powers All this may be grant
ed When we read opening the book how
ever that a rnonologue is the apotheosis Of
chosen individuality" we sit up suddenly. With
out this rather startling word in anticipation,
these rronoiogues would do well enough. They
are not particularly clever always entirely
gentle But they have impulsive, vigorous
tone TO them. The impression gained from read
ing is that they would work out with decision
~ without remarkable grace, would serve TO be
amusing IL not often subtle or marked by any
short and crisp. They are not all properly
rnonologues. Some Of them include several char
acters which have to read in turn with change
of tone and characterization tragedies
gone through with at Shakespeare clubs. These
dialogues for impersonator half way
between the nonologue and the little plays Ital-
ian actors have long made notable, wherein one
actor reappears constantly on the scene in
rious characters and DISCUSSES. But, OF course,
play. they overlap the right artistic limitations
in any case, for reading in the ordinary sense
they neither engaging nor keen. AS the
preface has il. monolOgue may be simply a
rough sketch or it may be a finished miniature
1T depends entirely upon the monologist"