Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1909-08-07
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Bullying the Vaudeville Audfonee-~
Where Pathos IL = Failure.
Some day I'm going to write book
and call 1t Audiences" said an old
actor, according to the New York Sun.
Critics of all ages. points of view
and mental calibers have been regu-
lnting the stage for years and it is
about time somebody who sees things
from the other side should tell few
things. Why. take 1t from me. there
Is nothing queerer In life than a the
atrical audience.
IAN audience is unable to keep still
In the dark unless there is something
startling going on This is true OF
all kinds, from burlesque to grand
opera. An audience will sit as still
as frozen gumdrop on marble slab
for an hour while there is something
doing. but you let a dark change come
or let somebody on the stage go to
sleep In chair by dark freight.
After never more than five or six
seconds of comparative silence some
feminine voice will be found feeling
around in feminine throat for a
local irritation that isn't there Then
comes a short. low. nervous cough.
Fine for the lady. The ball is started.
Then over In the other corner of
the house there will be an answering
cough. Pretty soon a man gets into
the game. He is usually louder and
| longer Next two or three of EN- try
1t at the same time. Then all hands
get together in, grand syncopated
chorus.
"Then suddenly the lights go on or
the burglar breaks in at the conserva-
tory window The hacking symphony
stops short. Not a single cough then.
''I1l tell you another fool thing
about audiences. All you have to do
to make EN- laugh is to say d
and If the comedian can by any vast
originality manage to say oh, d.
instead of the plain ID he'll get ap-
plause with the laughter.
Then look at the vaudeville audi
ence. The apparent willingness OF
that class of audience to be swayed
by the egotism of an illiterate man in
grotesque clothes who tells jokes OF
ancient parentage is almost disheart
ening.
THE variety monologist advances
confidently to the footlights and says
something intended to be funny. Al
first the audience maintains some de
gree of individuality and does moi
applaud.
Then the suave and elegant gen
teman who Is entertaining leans ovel
the lights and asks, Who brought tn,
dope into the houseY This makes al
audiences embarrassed, but they dom
usually laugh. Then he says, Say,
! disturbs youse. why don't you sleeI
IN the lobbyY The audience feels a
once that its ability to appreciate hu
NOR Is In question. 1t laughs. Well
, the rest of youse can think 1t owe
when youse wake up says the artis
and then the audience. goaded to des
: peration, laughs. applauds and In gen
eral misbehaves itself.
THE ten, invent. thfrt' folks ar,
Z adamant. If they want to laugh the.
will laugh. If they want to cry the,
will cry and In either case no powe
; on earth can stop 'em.
They carry their likes and dislike
and their individual judgment to sue
. an extent that they would break u
any band of performers who were no
used to them. Pathos is somethin
\ they cannot understand, They are NO
awed by it. Not at all. They cats
logue that along with everything els,
and II 1t seems funny they laugh at
approximately. II it seems tragic, the
weep at 1t loudly and contentedly."