Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-06-02
THINGS SEEN FROM STAGE
Description Of Various People in an
Audience as Viewed by
Performer.

81 remember having heard Joseph
Jefferson say once that comedy was
serious business" says Sam Bernard,
comedian, according to the Chicago
Chronicle Il didn't understand the
paradox then, but do now with all its
force. Comedy is the hardest and most
serious work that | know. In comedy
one must always be on edge. You must
do more than merely read lines and
declaim. You must be fit and enter into
the proper spirit of your work.
ooh, yes, it is very pleasant to cause
people to roar with laughter and to know
that you, as an instrument are affording
them happiness. There is another side
of it, however. Imagine playing to a
cold and stony audience that looks at
you blankly all through what you know
is your most effective work.
"It takes whole lot of people to make
up an audience that will fill the average
theater. Consider first the box party; it
comes in with a flourish and sound of
rustling skirts, laughter and half fin
ished conversation. There is always
that little by-play among the ladies as
to who shall sit in the front seats, which
invariably distracts the attention of the
audience from the stage to them. After
the party is at last seated the ladies
belonging to just as likely as not will
turn their backs to the stage and enter
into animated conversation with the
white shirt bosoms behind them.
"The front rows of any theater are
most prolific of curiosities. 1t is there
that the first nighter-more often bald
than not-loves to display his keen in
terest in the drama and incidentally his
admiration for pretty actresses. The
nervous old man, who has got seat by
the drum and cymbals, is not much bet
ter off and winces visibly every time a
point is emphasized with clash and a
bang. 1t is about this time now for the
theater party with seats in the orchestra
to come in. They are late, of course.
They have been dining at fashionable
restaurant and reach the play just at
the finale of the first act There are
eight of them and their seats are in the
center of the row-theater parties seats
are never on the aisle. So everyone in
that row has to stand up as they slowly
squeeze into their places while the peo-
pie behind are of course for the time
being cut off from view of the stage
I'm front of this party is generally to
be found the bumptious, sanguine man
who delights in everything, laughs i'm
moderately at poor jokes and claps his
ponderous hands on every possible occa-
sion. to the great annoyance of everyone
near. Yet he is no worse than the
chronic. bilious faultfinder with his
'bosh' and what rot and what fright
There is the chap that | like to get at.
for when DO get him going he is angry
at himself for having stepped out of his
shell and become his real SELF Just such
a fellow do remember during the run
| of The Girl From Kay's' at New York
last year. He seemed to look me straight
in the eye with an expression that said
as plainly as if he had bawled it out,
You cant do it! No one has done it
vet 1t took me an act and a half to
accomplish it, but | finally made him
unbend.
1T is the family man, who once a
week or once fortnight, visits the
theater, who is source Of joy to the
actor. This man isn't burdened with
money and always sits in the balcony.
He isn't there to analyze or criticise, but
to seek enjoyment He is really your
friend before you get started, and when
the play is over you feel as if you want
to 20 up and shake hands with him."