The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-04-14
THE ART OF THE ACTOR

August strindberg in the Bellman.
| TIME art of the actor is the most diff
ficult and at the same time the
1 easiest of all arts. But 1t is like
all beauty, almost impossible to define. 1t
is not the art of dlssimyfation. for the
great actor does not dlssemble: instead,
he is sincere. true, undisguised. 1t is only
the lew comedian who does everything to
disguise himself by mask and costume. 1t
is not imitation, for bad actors often
possess a demoniac ability to initiate well
known personages, whereas the true art
list lacks this gift. The actor is not en-
tirely the medium of the poet, but only
to certain extent and with certain re-
strictons.
The art of the actor is not reckoned in
esthetics as one of the independent arts
but as one of the dependent ones. 1t cam
not exist without the text of the poet
An actor cannot do without the poet
whereas the poet can do without the actor
in case of emergency. I have never seen
representation of the second part OF
Goethes Faust" nor Schiller's Don
Carlos. nor shakespeare's Tempest"
but still / have seen them when / read
them: and there are good plays which
should not be performed; they cannot
stand it, they cannot bear being seen.
| But there are many bad plays which
must be played in order to live; they
are only perfect through the art of the
actor and can thus be ennobled.
| The poet is generally aware of the
thanks which are due to the actor, and
he is usually grateful. The clever actor
| is also grateful to his poet. and 1 would
like to see that they thank each other,
since the obligations are mutual They
would live in still better harmony il this
uncalled for question were never put; but
| it Is often brought up by conceited fools
| or by the stars when 1t happens that
play has been brought to honor which
really deserved TO sink. For such actors
the poet is a necessary evil, or just some
body who is writing the text to their
part since there must be a text
| The art of the actor appears to be
| the easiest OF all arts, since every man in
everyday life can speak, walk. stand,
make gestures and grimaces. But then he
plays himself his own part; il be is to
| learn a role and to represent 1t, and is
admitted on the stage. 1t is soon notice.
able that the most knowing. profound and
strong character may find the situation
impossible, whereas a very simple nature
feels at home at once. To the one. the
art of representation is innate the other
has not got this art But it Is always
difficult to judge beginner, for ten
denotes may exist without their being re-
vealed Immediately, and often great tai
ents have had very meager beginning.
Therefore, director and manager must
be very cautious in their Judgment, for
they hold the fate of young man In
their hands They must test and observe;
have patience and leave the verdict to
the future
| What really makes an actor and what
qualities he must have Is very difficult to
say, but / will try to state a few.
| At first he must have concentration: ne
must be able to concentrate his thoughts
on his role and not permit himself to be
diverted in the least. He who plays an
instrument knows what it means when
he let's his thoughts stray. Then the
notes disappear. the fingers wander, make
mistakes and halt, even when they know
their piece.
The second condition is to possess mag
| nation, which means here to be able to
| realize expression and situation in such
a vivid manner that they can make form.
1 believe the artist is put into a sort
of trance, forgets himself and finally be-
comes the one whom he is to represent.
This reminds one of somnambulism, but
it is hardly the same. II he Is disturbed
In this condition orNis brought to con-
seriousness. he stops-is lost Therefore.
I have always hesitated to-fnterrupt
scene at a rehearsal J. have seen how
the actor suffers when he is awakened;
he stands there as If drunk with sleep,
and it takes some time for him to fall
asleep again. so TO speak, to find the
same atmosphere and tone.
| No art is SO unindependent as that Of
the actor; he cannot isolate his work of
art: he cannot show 1t and say, This
| is mine" For instance. II he does not
ind resonance in his fellow actor. If he is