Norwich bulletin., 1914-05-16
GOT

comedian should not be gifted with too much intelligence. Many artists
 are in the same box as these comed-
 ians. I know many sculptors and
 painters of real talent, who, outside
 their metior are stupid as geese. Here is another observation winch l think very true. The breathing plays great part with comedian When he is on the stage he must husband his
 resources-vulgarly speaking he must
 save his wind. For it is strange
 thing, when one speaks. even if the sentence is a long one. one finishes it without difficulty. It is not the same on the stage, if the artist does not
 know how to store his breath, he has to stop half way and ends by fatiguing
 the public as well as himself. Oh it is not easy to succeed in the thea tre, because not only great and ex- haustiye work is required, but the
 right opportunity. a word that counts so much in our lives. must be near at hand.
 When a young man comes to ask
 my advice. my reply is invariable.
 My friend. if you can do anything
 else do it, and do not enter the thea
 And does the young man listen to
 Never" replied Got smiling, "that is why there are so many novices, who
 never amount to anything" Can you tell at once if a pupil will be success
 ful?'
 Tmmediately-he has not had time to recite a sentence before hs is 1 judged" I am rarely deceived It is the same with theatrical pieces.
 often listen to a paly. thro' politeness or deference to the author, but from the first scene know if the piece will be a success, but I am not always right in judging it a failure
 For example, when Scribe read to us his Tales of the Queen of Naverre,
 which he wrote in collaboration with absolutely ridiculous, and that sur
 prised me, as Scribe. at that time was very famous. At the end of the read ing we all had to vote- tho't every body will blackball 1t, l must put in.
 at least one vote for poor Scribe. A white ball would be too much, l will put in a red one.
 when upon opening the ballot, nothing was to be seen but white balls with the soie exception of my red one
 The ''Tales of the Queen of Navarro had an enormous success. However
 this has never changed my opinion, have always tho't the piece poor, and
 still think its success due to Made leine Brohan. who made her remark | able debut In the title role. How did you learn your different roles, we asked Got
 T never learned, that is to say, never studied as children do who learn 1 a lesson I used to read 1t over once several times, and then I knew it ali and tried to live my hero's life, and to I individualize him until I felt 1 was | indeed that person.
 Got usually arises very late, unless l he gives some important lesson at the conservatory on Mondays and Thurs 1 days. TheE he is ready at eight i o'clock, and at nine takes the omnibus | Passy-Louvre, and rides on the inn 1 periale when weather permits. He 1 also takes an omnibus when he acts al 1 the Theatre Francais. never a carriage l thro' principle and economy both. AS soon as he arrives at the conservatory 1 his pupils salute him respectfully 1 Got responds with a slight inclination l of the head, and sits down at his table l in the middle of the room withou ! speaking. He waits somewhat impa- 1 tiently until the roll call is finished l and the servant leaves, then the les ! son commences, and by degrees Go becomes interested and his good humol 1 returns, and his witty cutting remarks l please not only himself, but his pupil: still more. He does not object t( | rather coarse jokes and makes then l upon occasions. He is very frank anC
 severe with his pupils, and does no hesitate to speak out very plainly l heSeven gives advice to the actors, al 1 if they were still pupils of his.
 l Often he Is asked to put some new | piece on the boards. This is not al