Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-10-19
AMATEUR THEATRICALS.
BY H. Addington Bruce.

@URING the last three or four years and in
] many sections of the country there has been
- a noticeable revival of interest in amateur
theatricals
More amateurs now acting than ever before
and in uncommony high-cass plays. This is
fact of educational value to the communities in
which they give performances, and it is a fact OF
educational value to the amateur actors them
selves
From an educational standpoint, in fact anna
teur theatricals valuable to those taking
part in them that | hope steadily increasing num-
Der of people will get together to form amateur
acting companies.
ter how small, at least one company of amateur
actors. might be organized.
For one thing, amateur acting is of real and
great help in developing the power of self-ex-
preston.
There are many peope-including really tai
ented people-whO are handicapped in every
day affairs by of inability to express them
selves we'll
They speak badly because they have never
been taught to speak correctly
Possibly they addicted to the use of slang
Possibly their principal trouble is failure to enun-
ciate their words clearly. Or possibly they are
weak in the requirements of grammar
These defects which cause those whom
they meet to rate them below their true worth
and to pay little heed to what they have to
say.
If only they took pains to improve their man
ner of speaking their chances for recognition and
appreciation would be markedly increased. Anna
teur acting offers them an easy and agreeable
for training self-expression.
Other people are handicapped by abnormal
circumstances.
They may even stammer, blush and otherwise
behave awkwardy when. they feel themselves
center of attention. AS unfortunate said to
when | go into company | act like perfect
fool. do not know whether / am standing my
head my heels | am altogether ridiculous"
People like this it must be admitted, would at
first find it hard to take part in amateur the
atricals
Yet if only they would take part and would
persevere in the effort to acquit themselves credit
ably the stage they would be greatly helped
toward behaving naturally when off the stage.
Amateur acting, again, tends to develop the
power for sympathetic understanding of others.
Taking different parts, throwing himself enthu-
siastically into the task of making his different
characters realistic, the amateur actor necessarily
gains increased insight into human nature
Where before 1t might have been quite impos-
sibe for him to put himself 'in the other fellows
place in business transaction, it becomes
possible for him to do this.
And in proportion as it becomes possible for him
to do this, he finds it easier to transact business
smoothly, and to the mutual satisfaction of himself
and of those with whom he deals. Amateur act
ing, that is to say cultivates the fine faculty of
imagination, that indispensable factor in the win
ming of success and happiness.
Finally, apart from it's direct educational and
cultural significance amateur acting is to be
mended a sociable and wholesome of
recreation.
This surely is not the least of its benefits in an
age tense and complex as has become.
Copyrighted, 1917, by the Associated News
papers)