Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-06-14
Paul Gilmore Talks
To the Stage Struck

NO n a become a good actor
unless he Is borne with talent for the
art; In other words, the diamond must
be there In the rough, to begin with"
says Paul Gilmore, who starred in
"The Mummy and the Humming Bird"
the past season, and who will next
season appear in a spectacular produc.
ton of Captain Debonnaire.'
So many letters asking advice have
been written to Mr.. Gilmore that he
has prepared a circular letter of re-
ply, which he sends, unless the occas-
ion demands a personal letter or mer-
its such a reply. 1t is as follows:
To begin with. the diamond must be
there in the rough. The diamond
must first be cut. by years of exper-
fence under good instruction: then
polish the diamond until it shines as
a star, and this polish process should
last until the end of time, for no one
can ever be perfect.
u is easier TO detect a flaw in an
actors impers0nation than an i'm.
probability in a book. The man en-.
'tt' Wv ~ ! DClOIc IIdIlt-d
false information jars Immediately up
on the ear. an unnatural look Or GEES
ture Is promptly %convincted by the
eye. The cooperation of s~ensibility
and intelligence has thus to be On
Quoted under the most exacting con-
ditions. There must be no suggestion
OF effort. The essence of acting is it's
apparent s~pontaneity. Perfect illu-
sion is attained when every effect
seems to be an accident. If the decla-
nation is too measured, the sense of
truth is at nee impaired: il, on the
other hand, 1t falls only the shadow
below the level of appropriate express
sion, the auditors sympathy Is in
stantly checked.
The end of all acting is ITO hold
the mirror up to nature" Different
actors have different methods, but
that is their common purpose. which
can be accomplished only by the
closest study and observation. Acting.
like every other art, has a mechanism.
No painter, however, great his imag-
NATIVE power. can succeed in pure
ignorance of the technicalities of his
art and no actor can make such
rro"ress till he has mastered a certain
mechanism which is within the scope
of patient intelligence. Beyond that
is the sphere In which a magnetic
personality exercises a power of sym
pathy which is within the scope of
natien Intelligence. Beyond that Is
the sphere In which a magnetic per-
~sOnality exercises a bower of sym
nathy which is irresistible and in
definabla, That Is great acting: but
though 1t is Unborn. and cannot be
taught, II can be brought forth only
when the actor is master of the meth
DDS of his craft, Like Talma, I have
no pretension to be an orator: all ely
studies have been directed toward my
calling. Every actor ought to he his
own tutor. II he has not In himself
the necessary facilities for expressing
tho passions. and painting characters,
oil ~ lessons in tho world cannot
give them to him. Genius is not ac-
ouirod. This faculty of creating Is
| born with MS: hut If the actor nos
! eesses II. the counsel of persons of
taste then guide him: and ae there is
IN the art Of rncitine verse n part
IN some degree mechanical. the les
O n of an actor profoundly versed In
his art NAV save him stndv and time.
When we consider all the qualities
necessary 70 form an excellent actor,
all the gifts which nature shall have
bestowed upon him, can we be sur
Orised that they are so rare? ! trust
that in these few thoughts Of mine
and quotations from great men | have
given to those who SO often ask for
the experience | have derived during
my career devoted entirely to the
BEAUTIFUL art | love so deeply, may
prove of some benefit to them.