The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-01
@. n. SHAW ON AMATEUR ACTORS.
Vents FITS spleen on Their TheiIricsIs and
Their Demands on Authors.
From ne london Tribunc.

wv - W ANf 49, ~
amateur actors, because they habitually
insult the art they dabble In by assuming
that II Ia a elm which can only be covered by
charity. IL Ia quite o common thing Tor
organizers Of amateur performances 20 APP
peal 20 the author TO foreRo his fees on the
ground that the proceeds are 10 be given 10
some oharita bile institution. That IL TO say.
o popular author is asked 10 hand over some
hundreds q year to amateur societies to give
to their pet charities, and that. too, without
the slightest guarantee that the management
OF the performance will be buslnesslike
enough TO realize for the charities the whole
value Of his contribution. or. indeed, any
part Of II at all. more unreasonable demand
can hardly be imagined within the limits OF
practicable human audaolty. Even profess
sional millionaire philanthropists like MIR.
Carnegie and Mr.. Passmore Edwards reserve
the right TO choose for themselves the objects
OF their endowments.
Besides. the charity Of amateurs Ia hardly
ever really charitable In It's motive. II Ia q
mere coat OF whitewash for an indulgence
which Ia regarded as questionable, II not
positively dIsreputable. II IL also adulter-
ated by a desire for the acquaintance OF the
titled patrons and patronesses Of charities.
And the economic effect Of the performance.
when the expenses leave any surplus, Is sim
ply TO relieve the ratepayers Of their social
obligations by helping 10 keep hospitals out
OF public hands and In private ones. Why
on earth should a playwright be expected to
contribute TO the rates Of places he has never
lived In?
What makes this additionally exasperatinE
10 that while there Ia little difficulty in raising
vast sums Of ransom and conscience money
from the rich In the form Of charitable sub
scrlptlons. IL 10 hard to get q farthing for the
starving art Of the theatre either from public
or private sources. If all the money that has
been wasted on charities by amateur actors
had been devoted 10 theatrical art by build
ing up local dramatic societies with roper
torres. wardrobes. and even theatres Of their
own. not only would dramatic art be much
more developed than II is now in England
but other arts would have grown up round
the local theatres. just think OF what a
1t had Its own dressmakers. its own tapestry
weapers. is own armorers. Its own embroid-
e eni ,s,. and Its " dreSs designers y
ignorance that is content with. a basket Of
sent down By a london eostumier and hired
out for q night at about treble. the price the
T T6SndlPS HttSssii o Do rubbish S6s s1 mould m sell Of for ANN IN
dramatic author TO be lenIsnt in the matter
Of fees T. people who ksep, ug these nasty.
heap crushing sxaetions on them and stsrSs
their folly 70 death,
Almost all amateurs desire to initiate the
actually call their performances "theatricals,-
and are az proud OF that illiterate Insult as
a any febp 81 L. df FheS lose srt ai t TSqld o BE out,
selves SsfSa' up ip' 70 What Z" they ta'i priVat sasy tEEfinff f Is The
morbldly particular about the cut and At OF
their oats and trousers walking on the stage
In ludLGr9usly mis4tt In t9nics from Tie
spear for the 6lfe, Of which Sc has paid more
KIM i fore l q real Ria spsar. lT Sonls nave WSo Sn %oSSid
die rather than be dowdy In church or at a
garden party face the footlights in costumes
in a penny waxwork would tolerate. Reach
me-down dresses. reach-me-down scenery,
good enough for dramatic masterpleces-are
positively preferred to decent and beautiful
thines because they are 30 much more
hand reaeh-ne-downs. Your amateurs don't
representatien ifoTs the sake Of the hsi life they
IL thts or nd Ellen n Tegry XII part ~ :, that, or eyFil
and CoauelIns. The enormous and over
the advantage SY being free from comners
cial pressure and having, unlimited time for
rehsarsal-is the last one they think Of using,
SPAR OF actors. but which they must produce
or starve. are the favorltes OF our amateurs.
lney 40 out OF sneeT IOly anu VulRarlty Wnat
our real dramatic artists do Of necessity and
give some saving grace and charm to In the
Of the great masters is kept alive not by
professional concerts and opera speculations
but on the cottage piano OF the amateur.
| wish l could say as much for the amateur
theatre. As 1 cannot. 1 shall only beg your
amateur, clubs, to let my plays, alone and to
assure them that as long, as they persist. in
in tive matter Of fees Is the part Of Shylock.
Cipher Letter in Code Used by Washington.
To IHE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir; Perhaps
some mathematical friend Of The Sun can
read the cipher IN the letter enclosed. |
found II in a Isnlarkable collection of letters
TO and from Gen. Nathaniel Greene which
recently came into my possession. II was