The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-08
by II. BRUCE cuEsTER,I,N


rF ONLY those who were called"
II would take UP the stage as pro-
J fession, there would be a great
j reduction in the ranks OF the
Thespians. AS rule il Is those
who think they are called and rush
before the footlights to give vent to
their souls yearning, who really have
little or no talent. Miss Clara Blood
good, one of the most prominent ac-
tresses now before the public. who is
playing the Clyde Fitch drama, The
Truth" does not claim to have pos
sessed any peculiar temperament
which fitted her for the stage or TO
have had any talent which would have
assisted her in her work in that pro-
fession. She say she went on the
meaning of the word She knew that
people received eighteen and twenty
dollars week for dressing UP and
walking around creditably on the
stage, and as she had been doing that
for some time off the stage and without
pay, she thought she would turn ii to
account.
1t does not necessarily follow, how
ever, that because one makes good
appearance in everyday life, that he
or she Is capable OF walking through
q DaEI ana pItStIllits lIIit SAINT az
nearance upon the stage. The mere
act of walking across the stage is an
art In itself. One might suppose that
q society woman If she had no lines
to speak, might at least appear natural
In a drawing-room scene on the stage
and move about with the same ease
and grace that she would employ We're
she at some social function. However,
there Is not one in ten who could do
s.t,, u.slr. - "a
rank amateur. 1t has been demon-
atrated time and again in amateur
productions To appear perfectly at
ease upon the stage is the first difficult
TASK with which the young aspirant
for stage honors is confronted II is
an obstacle which many a professional
Is long in overcoming, and some OF
them never accomplish it. Suppose.
for instance the stage manager wants
scene
He may take one right from the
forge. and when the curtain is up and
the scene is on. that 'smithy" will be
IS awkward and as unnatural as he
can wei be, in doing just what h. does
every day of his life in his own shop
A society man, with many seasons to
his credit, may be cast IN play in
which every scene is j drawing room
and yet tie chances are that he would
really appear more al home In cow
boy part, and would give q more cred
liable representation OF the latter role
The reason for this is not HARD To find
for in the character part. in the task
of losing his own Identity. he would
necessarily be less conscious, and would
find some Use to make OF mis- hands
and feet which, would. be sadly in MS
way when -Hpetsenit!ng The society
man.
OF course. many men and women are
equal to the transition from the draw
ing-room 10 the stage, and q case in
point was the notable production in
this city number of years ago. when
clever Richmond amateurs presented
The Highest Bidder" perhaps the best
thing in the shape of play ever done
here by local talent
Chorus Girls scnrce.
II is said that chorus girls are very
scarce this season. What has caused
this deficiency is not stated AS far
as the public can Judge. no unusua!
conditions haze arisen to affect the
chorus girl market. Judging from the
ensemble OF many of the musical pro.
auctions that have been touring ,he
onc-night stands for many seasons
back. chorus girls have been scarce
for 10, these many years. 1t is said
that some of the original chorus OF tbs
Devils Auction nov in It's twenty.
sixth year. are still before the foot.
lights in the same capacity
Twenty-six years chorus girI-tninl
of that. 1t would make a good tn.
for book Of "reminiscences. Thos
at the head Of some OF the larger must
cal productions insist upon having ;
blithesome chorus. The Anna Hell,
productions have been notable for this