The Detroit times., 1917-10-18
Amateur Theatricals
nv n. ADDINGroN nRUCE
Author Of The Riddle OF Person
atty" Psychology and
Parenthood. etc.


Daring thu last three or four
years and In many sections OF the
country there has been a noticeable
revival ~ interest IN amateur the
atricals
More amateurs are now acting
than ever before and M uncommon.
~ high class plays This Is fact
of educational value 20 the com.
munities IN which they give per.
formances. and II IS fact OF edu-
cstlonal value 90 the amateur &C.
tors themselves.
From al educational standpoint.
In fact. amateur thcatricals are so
valuable 20 those taking part tn
them thaf 7 hope steadily .ncrcoa
ing number oi peoplc Will get 90.
gcther TO form amateur acting com
panies.
could Wish that IN every com.
munity, no matter how small. az
least one company % amateur ao-
tors might be organized
For one thing amateur acting Is
o. real and great help in developing
the power az self expression.
There are many people-includlng
really talented people who are
handicapped IN every day affairs by
reason ~ Inability 20 express them.
solves well
They speak badly because they
have never been taught 20 speak
correctly
Pos b.y they are addicted 20 the
use az slang Possibly their prin
cipal irouble ia failure 90 enunciate
their words clearly or possibly
they are weak In the requirements
of grammar
These are defects witch cause
those whom they meet 70 rate them
below their true worth and 20 pay
little heed 70 what they have 10
say
Z, only they took pains 20 i'm
prove their manner ~ speaking
their chances for recognition and
appreciation would be markedly in
creased Amateur acting offers them
an easy and agreeable means FOR
training ln expression
Other people are handicapped by
abnormal seifconsciousness
They may even stammer. blush
and otherwise behave awkwardiy
when they feel themselves 4 center
~ attention As one unfortunate
said 20 NE:
When 20 into company act
Hike perfect fool DO NOT know
whether I am standing on my head
or MY heels l am altogether ride
llogs
People llke this. z mus, be ad
mitted. would az first find q hard
90 take part IN amateur fheatricais
Yet II only ,aey would take part.
and would perF ere In the Effort 90
1r'qui themselves creditably ON the
stage. thew would Do greatly helped
toward beha ing naturally when Of
the stage
Amateur acting. again tends 70
develop the power FOR sympathetic
understandings ~ others.
Taking different parts, 'hrowine
Ut - = l-z-aztl cALly nto tho
task o. making his diTeTeQI CI-TrT--
ters realistic. the amateur actor
I necessarily gains Increased iustE'r
into human nst%Fe
Where before & might havu been
quite Impossible FOR him 20 par him
sels in The other fellow s place" In
a business transaction. q now be-
I comes possible for him 20 do this
And In proportion as q becomes
possible for him 20 do THU. he finds
II easier 70 transact business
smoothly and ~ The mutual sat'a
faction 81 himself and OF those with
whom be deals Amateur acting
! that is 10 say. cultlvates the fine
faculty % lmacination that lndis
pensable factor In tho winning o.
success and happiness.
Finally, apart from ia direct edu
cational and cultural significance
amateur acting "a 20 be recommend
ed as sociabie and wholesome
means %, recreation.
This surely IS not the least % ifs
benefits in an axe as tense and com
plex As ours has become