Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-03

interesting of subjects and themes, and Corio-
lanus has ever been a notorious money loser
Many living stars in this country and England
have had similar experiences.
The demand for amuSementS has Superim-
posed a still greater activity upon the theatrl-
cal situation. Musical observation-disclosures
operas and the like-now obtain in incredible
numbers. To this form of entertainment the
tremendous success of the Gilbert and Sullivan
operas gave great impetus, and enabled local
producers and authors to turn what had
formerly been an exotic form of amusement
into a definite line.
Seven thousand Histrions
THERE are about seven thousand legiti-
mate actors and actresses in the United
States to-day This is apart from musical
comedy and vaudeville people and takes no
account of those known as Supern itineraries. 1t
means only those that have aspirations and to
a degree a sense of dramatic art Where these
people came from IS as mysterious as where
they go to. Some come from the main walks
of life more from the byways and hedges
Curiously, from the latter element spring most
of the successes of the stage. 1t has
always been a problem with managers and
with soclologlsts as to what becomes OF the
vast hordes of persons who attempt the drama
for brief period then drop out and disap-
pear. Many of these have received education
abroad. Others are up in elocution and stage
tricks. Flattered for their talent in their
social sets, they seek bigger fields.
And now the aspect of things suddenly
changes. They find that the stage is a serious
proposition not continuous, loosely organ
led picnic affair. Discipline and hard work
obtain. Instead of being made stars at once,
they are 81 ven parts involving not over half
a dozen lines perhaps. Here they find their
true worth. and if they stick to it long enough
they go up or remain down. While the critic
who is supposed to be the car of the situa-
ton may pass upon the greatness of an actor
the public alone settles the matter of his or
her popularity, and that instantly. This is
feels that he is being kept down by his manager
Obviously it is to the managers advantage
to discover and exploit genius.
But even if it was not so. he could not keep
him down. He may deem it wise to hold a
budding actor back until a more suspicious
occasion comes but once the public approves
the man, it takes the matter wholly out of
the hands of the manager. and compels his
immediate exploitation. sometimes before he
is actually prepared for it. 1t is proba BILE
that all of the greatest artists of the drama
and the opera were discovered by the public
before the manager actually realized that he
had treasure in his hand. Why: Because
united to such skill as he may betray, he pos
Sesses that mysterious quality of personal
magnetism.
Good Chance for Young People
THE stage offers a vast field for young and
promising people There is no end to the
output of musical comedies, and while the
supply of persons to maintain these is always
greater than the demand, the opportunity for
the young man or woman who is well equipped
physically and vocally is splendid. The vaude-
vile stage is not only good field for the sea
soned artist, but for the beginner who is in
genious enough to devise some form of enter
tainment that will please the public. Every
body wants something new, even if it's a
burlesque of an old subject. For man or a
woman with ingenuity along these lines,
| there is much money to be made in this branch
of the stage. 1t also happens that many ex-
quisite bits of legitimate acting seen in
one-act plays in vaudeville
The practice of sending out three or four
road companies to play popular successes has
vastly increased the demand for legitimate
talent These are the best recruiting schools
for the stage nowadays. The small companies
located in towns playing past successes at
popular prices are not to be despised as train
ing schools for the drama. Reputable dra-
matte schools have proved blessing to students