New-York tribune., 1909-11-21
STAGE DICTl0N
Mr. FOrbes-RObcrfson Tells
HO7c TO -icquirc II.

spsnser has been called tho poets poet:
SapoIeon fhc soldiers soldier: Forbes-
Doi,ertson might be called the actors actor
~ our day. Ills master hand as a stage
r,arager. ms dramatic power and superior
diction entitle him 20 the nrst place among
r,,nscnt English speaking actors. lie was
seiefted "a The New Theatre TO read Ham
let's Address 10 the Players az the opening
II the new playhouse. dedicated 10 tho SER
vices or tho drama and the citizens of New
York.
Ar Forbes Robertson was asked the
other DAY in hts dressing room al Maxine
FfHotts Theatre. where ~ Is playing in
..The Passing ~ the Third Foor Back"
WY il Is that the stage diction OF so many
sectors is imperfect. lie tacifuIly and cour-
-sously discussed the subject fn its general
anplication 10 the theatres both in England
and the United States. lie said:
The trouble comes from the actors very
desire 10 act well In his efforts 10 appear
natural he mumbles his words as TOO many
people do in everyday life Much Of this
can be corrected by constantly bearing in
i..ina the true value Of vOWels. the percus-
sve value 81 consonsnts and the impor-
tance OF Keeping up the voice until the
last word Is spoken. There must be plenty
~ ktilN aA ANAF AfAAAnHH 20 ~ NlftaA- AAte
Great thing is 20 have the sound cone
f-am tie front of the mouth. As the sen
tcnco Is spoken TIE breath il being eN-
hausted: the voice naturally goes down.
Tie actor must learn 20 breathe deeply
f-am the diaphragm and take his hreaths
a. TIC proper time. Too often the last
word is not held un. and that IS very often
tHe Important word. n the audience loses
20 they miss the thought. In q speech OF a
dozen lines a dozen words are often dropped
and rhe result is disastrous
correct speaking can he acquired only
BE- kcep.ng a it, by practising constantly
Tne actor must have certain standards:
30 must avoid anectauou and mannerisms
He must have The proper pronunciation.
v.lc. IS not always 10 he got from die
-i0ua~ics by the WAY, but from the accept
~ uaaee among people of culture In Paris
fre best French is spoken. There the
French actor should get his standards In
Tsud1n -he hest English Is spoken-the
English actor should speak as the most
cultured 90 there. In America ID is differ
-rf- f.ere rs not much 10 choose between
rre English spoken A. Boston New York.
Washington and other cities. The Ameri-
can actor should follow the best practice
among tEe cultured ~ an cities
Instruction helps. but the player must
work out for himself the best method q
srcairur The trouble with the instructor
Is r.at he Is too seldom % the cultured
c.ass lTe himself may not know what is
-f-r- and when he does know has instruc-
-ior Is TOO arr 20 - formal and affected.
To 100 frequently teaches Pedantry 81
s-e... u--ieh Be- intolerab.e. The schools.
rsarrr- can do . lot 10 help. But they
rfr.-.- -.c essentials ~ speech IN the
,~o-- -a teach subjects that can never be
~ r-srrlcsl value
= racls for acting are valuable. We
have ore .a London which the actcr-rnan-
sa-s Isrs supported fog number of
,aar-. Blr. after an. the actors. like other
fs-k come from the people, and they must
RI. t.--tt lew 70 speak az children in the
rH-rr -- school and I'm society
aT-c-- is one difficulty that is almost
trs-ru8uuta1Ic On acquiring correct utter
arrr-- aJ is tone deafness. I md that
s-rs a.tors cannot distinguish sounds. just
o. others have not an ear for music They
sueas -ue after line in The same way
vhers tEr-c should be variations and they
srt ignorant ~ their oan defect When
-tsI- Intention is called te this fauit they
eve a-4f1c 90 correct o.. and they keep on
rrres ing ft-
-Tr- people - tho Latin races are. as
r-e her-rr speakers than We Anglo
-sE.-- Tg.cr speak merc distinctly au1
Vr-r "a better sense ri tho value of SOUNDS
and words They eliSe their words 10 he
SIRE r-r rfev do it beautifully. We are
-..re.-- ar --a.lh. We drop our rs ano
ignore our sings not only among tne IN
tutr-rG rrlr more and more among me
.lferes especially iu England And mu~h
cans rreep> into our language. But ] 90
rot rear rr.s De- much ss some people 90.
T.r-e words and phrases. especially when
tls- a.e -iEuidCsut. are often incorporated
.rrH correct usage
sArro.-r rucderu fnglisI a1d American
actor Earr thelr fsllt-, believe ihat
-re- er.ak better than The actors ~ past
generations The latter beloved and SPOKE
u-H goo much formaity and pedant2- j
I.I -.. -lol fortune 70 get lnF ialnilH
..r-- -ru.utI Phelps. Tire great ttaEedian,
rHH supported Mti'rDacy iu ms eaii'-
cas- Ar-r ready said that N b. haa ans
r..er-'a q would faI uVou Phelps. lflfiie
81. lset .lE wears ~ phelps IRE Iee4
eli ur uarre 20 h.El. His insif ..il.-h p.
s-.r'-.-r -ud li-tiuCtuess ot uiferance
an