The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-17


tons, are valuable factors in the
development OF the born actress. who Is per-
haps not all that she might be made That
at least is the opinion OF one Indianapolis
girl. who is a graduate OF one Of the
dramatic schools, and who is sure that
she will find her two years training there
of great value to her when she gets into
1.-THE profession" In talking about the
matter, she said:
Lots OF actors and actresses will tell
you that the time spent in dramatic
school is time wasted; that one loses his
individuality; becomes wooden and ineffec-
tive in following the precepts OF the in
structors In dramatic art; that the way to
act IS to go on the stage, if one get
lthere, and act. But / know that | shall
never regret my two years course in the
school. Nobody claims that school can
teach you to act IL you have not the power.
but 1t gives you confidence in yourself, the
ability to face an audience without those
dreadful pangs of self-consciousness that
assail the novice, the physical training
gives you a mastery over your muscles and
limbs. and the vocal training is of in
-estimable value"
Most women think they are born actresses.
The idea takes possession of them very
early In life-usually their first childish
view OF play. Who that happens to be
woman doesn't remember trailing round in
nondescript trains composed of kitchen
aprons, or cast-off skirts of mothers, and
going through all the stages of passionate
love, or vindictive hate, at a time OF life
when love and hate were mere names: of
representing in ones pudgy person wronged
and long-suffering innocence, or sneering
jealousy. II she that is woman happened
to be blue of eye and fair of hair she was
always the meek and mild heroine, perse-
cuted and abused, but I'm the end crowned
with love and joy; If she had dark hair
there was no help for. her; she was of ne
cessity the lady villain of the play, and
she was cruel and wicked and impolite
until the end. where she died TO the accom-
paniment of slow music and many tears; IL
she happened to be tall for her age she
was always cast for the part of the lover"
and her distinguishing mark usually
q scarf knotted about the waist, essentially
masculine In effect.
DRAMATIC SCHOOL VIEW.
But the dramatic schools do not take the
same broad view that the embryo Juliets
and gypsy queens have. The dramatic
schools have a theory that by means
every woman is a born actress. and they de-
cline to try to do anything with material
to which nature has not given a start. The
better schools have rigid examinations and
admission is conscientiously refused to those
applicants who do not meet the require
nents The young woman who thinks she
can play Lady Macbeth convincingly be-
cause she has recited "Curfew Shall Not
Ring Tonight" with great success is given
little encouragement in her aspirations un-
less her rendition OF the tried and true
"Curfew'' gives a hint of originality and
power Most of the dramatic schools have
q one-year course in which the pupils are
Get directly to acting once they have passed
their examination
The American Academy of Dramatic Art
In New York. OF which Miss Margaret
Taylor. of this city. and Miss Alice Fischer.
Of Terre Haute are graduates. is one of the
few schools. If not the only one that has
q twc-year course. Three classes enter
during the junior year-oue in October one
I'm January. one I'm April From these classes
are picked the students who will compose
the senior class OF the following year. The
work of the junior year is almost entirely
in the physical and voice work and in pan
tomine work which gives the pupils facil-
ity IN expressing emotion, and the exhibit
ton play given at the end of the term is
IN reality the examination of the class In
the second year plays are given constantly
and every one has several chances at
leads" Many OF the plays given in
public and the school work Is almost equal
to the actual experience of the same time
spent on the stage.
According 10 the dramatic school graduate
the life in the school is most interesting
one. It's workout nobody thinks IL Is
because IL is so interesting" the Indianap-
oil iref 4 he. ole
works at the school from TO l o'clock each
day; in the second year the study takes
I'D the entire time Rehearsals are apt to
be called at any moment and one must hold
ones self in readiness for any emergency
New parts are TO be studied all the time and
apart from the actual work in the school
there is a constant seeking after ''types"
and characters" on the part of the alert
student During the latter part OF the
course too. each student has a taste at
managing a play so that If he she ever
attains 10 the proud and dizzy height OF
actor--or actress-rnanager there will be no
difficulty In taking hold of actualities I'm
my play / had four bells to look after in adj
ditfon to holding the prompt book looking
after the raising and lowering of the cur
tain. and playing part myself" says the
dramatic school graduate. But that was
little TO the troubles OF one of the men who
In his play had twelve entrances in one
INTERESTING FEATURE.
The study OF the men and the girls in
interests of the school life. Most of the
girls sigh 10 play emotional roles. The
stout young woman who. when she lets
herself be herself. is as amusing 10 her
fellows as rollicking May Irwin. insists that
her genius is OF the Mrs Ffske or the Fan
ny Davenport order and convulses her
audience Internationally when she is given
the chance. by her very heavy emotion
another girl. a little Irish maid with touch
OF the irresistible brogue, whose every
speech and motion makes for the merri-
ment OF audience and players, proclaims
herself fitted for heavy tragedy. AS Lady
Macbeth she SCOTS across the stage. strikes
pose OF which the most effective part is
the outstretched foot resting the heel,
and exc,aims: Give me the dagger in
staccato tones-and is perfectly happy Ac-
tors successes usually lie in precisely the
roieS they do not want. this pretty Irish
maid will probably make her hit as a come
dierfe. air the time signing TO move her
eudYnce TO shudders rather than to smiles.
Many OF the men In The drama 10 scbaala