New-York tribune., 1905-02-13
THE DUTCH STAGE.
Hiss Schefer GiUes Interesting
Facts Concerning actors.

Miss Rudolphine Scherer. the young actress of
the Royal Theatre, Amsterdam who recited old
Dutch ballads at the benefit performance Of IAN
Enemy Of the People" last Friday. talked TO Trib-
une reporter yesterday Of Of the differences
between the lot OF the actress IN this country ana
her Dutch coupeer
One OF the drawbacks about going on the stage
IN Holland IS that Dutch society entertains truly
Pur.tanic prejudice against receiving it's player
folk socially
! lived Ike nun ali the time was acting at
The Royal Theatre said Miss Scheffer. The truth
k uanI just lately the Dutch stage has been re-
or1itsd from-well. not the lower classes. exactly.
but from very ordinary people It is entirely diff
1eTent from the stage IN London. which is per-
vaded and dominated By society as TO render it
auite artificial and unnatural
IN Holland the stage Is just beginning 70 make
its way into society You see the Dutch have their
OWL way OF looking at many things. Our
are feartuly domestic The moment girl uarries
Ehe drops everything. Not that they haven't good
minds and good edUcations-they read a great deal
and are Up in the literature Of three or four
tons Holland, being such small country is
obliged 10 learn the languages Of its big neghbors.
But they have nothing Of the brIiancy, the gayety
and wit Of the women have met in New-York
In Holland beauty IS considered 10 spell frtvolity
and Ugliness thoroughness
And a girl mustn't dress too much. either.
Strange. isn't il that. while are so artistic in
our homes. We frown On the adornInent Of the
person.
Financially too there is vast difference be-
tween the young Dutch actress standing the
lower rounds Of the professional ladder and the
American girl in similar position. The former
considers herself well paid q salary Of 500
yesy Of which she has TO furnish her costumes.
Although that sounds SO exceedingly modest"
SAID Miss Schefer, when measured by American
standards there several things to be taken
into account besides the actual amount Of salary
involved. The committee which manages the Royal
Sociery's theatres shows z consideration for the
members Of The company that is, should say,
this country. If is III, for instance, her
pay does not stop and II she IS popular she is
very likely 10 get sent off into the country or TO the
seashore Then. too. one always has q holiday
q TWO months in the summer.
The leading woman receives from $500 10 5000
year and the leading man double that amount
Ee does not have provide his own historical COS
TUNES while she does This is an injustice Of long
E-snding"
Dutch sectors must regard with aInazement the
Eghtness with which the profession" in America
makes and breaks contracts There contract Is
Solemn thing At the Royal Theatre, AInsteT-
dan 10 illustrate q contract is generally written
for four years. II being q stock company plays
60 not have q run Of 20 many weeks or months as
N tlis country, Miss Schefer says, but are Simply
ADDED % the repertoFy and continue TO Dob UP on
TIE boards II intervals indefinitely. A new piece
VIII perhaps be played for q solid week at the
start + happens 10 take. Then an old piece VIII
De puc on, the new play being given one or TWO
evenings IN the week. Young or unknown ines
plans about whose success the management does
year
Five times q fortnight the Royal Theatre stock
company Is obliged by the conditions OF Ks GU
Eltuttou 70 a. The Hague, being endoWso, % oy
ne Queen and supported by society whlch mas
b,SlcLes al over the country 49,, .ri.
4He stage school at Amsterdam OF "iliSJl 20
ScLefer IS a graduate. seems TO be very IKE l9o
'i-serFatCtre IN Paris. Eyery year u IIDiUs y-s
plSlc examinations. AZ which the managers OF Lho
Lleetres lake pains DO present. ana from Stlo
graduates The smaller theatres recruit their
TIE course" said Miss 5oheffer, lasts S IhlSSS
years. There resident professors, VINO ae1 le1e
voice production 6ictiOu etc. and then the great
Ectors and actresses come IN and give courses N
Ile4r own special lines. There are professors ~.
ceicing, fencing and AS the Dltcn bLe NJ -
naturally very graceful race, the school uiss -
aSke It's pupils Is graceful possible, anu S.li
Pioys sculptor 20 Teach draping. costuning ana ana
Sta~lLg, this last that we can kIloW W, 81
lie muscles and become proficient IA naAe1uP5 I5
The school Is small When l was theIe u io l.eIA
ely about fifteen students Boys ana gtAs HlAs.s
& year -,
IN order to insure the speaking OF pure Dulch
q tne stage and because many VINO present I1SIi
seiges have poor equipment in general educatloL4'
Ice with the school, with a two years couiSS+ +
--i-ls may enter at thirteen. but L!ley arc .toH
s-ioNed 10 acr. whereas once every three Hoh'i.s -
tle others give 4 play in their little IneAIS u
ne Royal Society OF the NetherIand Stage has
Ssntre. and give IL there"
1llss Scbefer was born IN Euitenzorg, java
,Haere her 70 Their director OF the famous DO
tseae6 70 the Royal Theatre IN Amsterdam, where
g played important iugenue and souoretts paLgeS
80 u a member Of the Lyceun Club n DDlloLs
- RelDed 70 found the Netherlands 1rAnen -oi