New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-04
Do1okAz Love, SzZ2ze HU~<e
Mz1zazz Czenze1zkS z,e Ike A1s95oxS
.Mkke E17S0z7e
WITHOUT THE MASK AND WIG
Players as They Are-Bilie Burke Likes Being Boy
John Emerson Would Have Rich Men Found
College of Dramatic Arts

ers TO ship their goods 10 Europe h,n
them marked with a European label AZ,
then shipped back again This Euro,4,
label was supposed TO be a mark Of g.
periority. and Of course II still is in q.
tain things. but the feeling Is dying o.
about as rapidly as anything very v.
can. The idea seems 10 have the create,
persistence I'm the matter Of wome
clothes, but even in that field there is
distinct tendency toward American ida,
In the drama the tide has even turs
the other way. ! think J am safe in "a
ing that last season and this more Ans'
lean plays have been produced a5rcs
and fewer European plays produced :
America than i'm any previous season q
our history. Twelve American plays vv
produced in London. ! defy you to fs |
twelve successful English plays or tvsT
successful foreign plays of any kind N
duced in America during the last tyslr
months. and this. mind YOU. In spite &
the fact that compared with the Ell
pean product our plays are crude.
There is just one thing lacking be-,
and that is technical proficiency W.
der If YOU realize how many Of our ss |
ors and actresses and our aspiring, p |
tential dramatists utterly fail to comgs
bend that there is a technique Of pa
construction and a technique of setIs
You know the old tale about the IA
who was asked IN DE- could play the "
lin. + don't know he answered. / nsw
tried It's a silly story. but It's impaa
ton is terrific Can YOU imagine n
depths of the ignorance Of the art Of V
lin playing implied iu such an ansSg
And yet this is the attitude u tholsa-
and thousands of people in America b.
on and off the stage. toward the On
matte arts
The great trouble with most yO.s
American actors is that they take tas-
selves too seriously and their work .
seriously enough. And in this, | rsg'
to say. the public is very prone toe
courage them. An actors personally
TOO often exalted above his art. We ~
in the theatre entirely too much for @
artist. II an actor or actress is ses
looking and possesses certain cham
manner We insist that he or she sa
exhibit those good looks and that char
on all occasions. Just as long as o
public demands personalities rather "a
artists they will get them lou MAY rs
assured
The remedy is in the hands Of
rich men Of the country. as most tax
are y few years ago number OF pga
spirited and generous men FOUNDED "
they called The New Theatre. They
gan at the wrong END. What We ne
what We must have. is great scho@
the dramatic arts. which will be to Az
lea what the Conservatory 81 Pars
been to the drama Of France ssel
school would set a standard. and SUI
ard is what We need more than anyi'-
else
"A beginning has been made In the "
ter OF instruction for play writer's
feSsor Baker. Of Harvard Professor
thews. OF Columbia. and others are 20 81
their best with the means al
command. In the matter oil
Franklin Sergeant has for tweho'I
years done yeoman service WIZ
American Academy OF Dramatic
But no art school can exist ana ~
its purpose with no other resources y
the tuition fees OF its students. II
be endowed. and heavily endowed
is to have any lasting effect
81 sincerely hope and believe IN"
fore long some OF our puolic-spin'e'
OF wealth who truly love the thealf'
the art OF the theatre. VIII res'''
need in this country Of great
for the training Of dramatic aru'~
all kinds. a school which viii oe '' Fl
OF a university 10 extend It's
also TO the public. And when thes.
do realize the need. the need W"
met. am convinced that eve"
mark the beginning Of a drafls~
in America which will compare iS
with any that the world has ever
Viola Dana. acclaimed as br0s Ar
Youngest star. has a grievance anu
test. Every night and every nis"ss
fifteen weeks she has appeared SUI ~
and stockingless. or course, az ". .,.S
rich girl. she wears both shoes a'' 4
ings. but as the poor little ricn
would much prefer to be In her % =,
like other poor girls and oo!s -
parents are not rich. But out OF arr.
little Miss Dana has persons' p
for shoes ard stockings. -
I've almost always played ro'e'
declared. that compelled me 70 ~,
bare feet. For instance. there "a. ~
character OF the little girl IN -.
Winkle.' Next came Virgle 10 - y
tlest Rebel And in between ~
lots OF movies bare w. y
came The Poor Little Rich' o. .os.
now there are to be two more se,,dpS
that-two seasons more OF oarei0 nst