Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-06
DECLARES GALLUS WAS
FIRST GREAT PLAYER

To Cicero are we indebted for what
we know of Quintus Roscius Gallus,
the greatest actor of his time, and un-
questionably the first great actor the
stage ever had. Born a slave, for in
those days none but slaves were per-
mitted to attach themselves to an art
which was placed under the ban of in
fanny. The praetorian edict stigmatized
certain classes as disreputable; for in
stance, thieves, robbers and all those
who mounted the boards as actors or
reciters. But in spite of the general
contempt with which actors as a class
were regarded. the individual dramatic
performer frequently succeeded in ris-.
ing above his colleagues and in gain-
ing wealth as consideration.
Karl Mantzus in his estimable work,
''The History of Theatrical Art" IN
speaking of Gallus, says: "No other
| Roman player obtained popularity and
esteem equal to his. He was a comic
actor and possessed a power over the
public which was simply astounding.
The favor in which he stood was even
transferred to his pupils, and anyone
whom he protected was pretty sure of
future success on the boards. Roscius
himself might even play less we'll
without incurring the displeasure of
the public. If for once he happened
to be less successful than usual people
only said, He would not play" or he
was not quite WE'LL"
Part of his outward circumstances
we know from a speech made in his
defense by no less a person than
Cicero, on the occasion of his suit
against one EanOiuS Gbaapao v,fboca
slave, Panurgus, Roscius had instruet-
ed. Among other things we are i'm
formed of his colossal income His
salary for one performance was one
thousand denarii (about eSD, and
during his maturity his annual income
amounted to about five hundred thou
sand sesterii (more than e4A25l.
However, he was anything but BITS sp-
ing; and next to his art, his noble,
honest character went far to raiss his
class to a higher position in tt, sen-
eral esteem. For a long time aft.r
having gained a considerable fortune,
and as earlv as ten years before tie
lawsuit conducted for him by Cicero
he acted without remuneration. Sula1
appreciated him highly and bestowed
the golden ring upon him, by WHICH
he was raised to the rank of a senator.
The art of Roscius kept decidedly
aloof from the method of the earlier
period. The principal aim of the first
Roman actors had been to gain
ground, to find an open ear for their
art. But the refined Greek method of
acting was incomprehensible to the
Roman public, l1hich demanded
coarser food the comedy, therefore,
resorted to coarse jokes, tasteless
fighting scenes, oVerdrawn caricatures,
the tragedy to bombastic, exaggerated
acting Great honor is due to Roscius
for having placed artistic moderation
in the front rank, for having followed
it as his leading principle, and for hav-
ing impressed on the public that the
highest art lies here, and not in the
clown like eXaggeration which had
been in favor hitherto. His diction as
we'll as his gesticulation remained un-
surpassed on account of it's graceful
yet truly comic power; and Cicero
himself, who cannot find adequate
words to commend the noble art of
Roscius, admits having learned much
from his technique, which he had in
troduced into his own rhetoric. Ros-
cius died about the year 62 b. G.