The Washington times., 1923-04-04
ADVICE FOR
AM ATEUR
ACTORS
Capital Director Begins Series
of Articles for Local
Torchbearers.
By DENIS E. CONNELL


by that deadly insect, Actorii
Amateuribus. Fortunately, in
most cases the attack is not so
successful. the patient recovering
shortly after being bitten. In a
large percentage of cases, how
ever. the incubation is complete,
and the patient never fully re-
covers. a recurrence OF the fever
being likely to occur, without the
slightest warning or provocation.
Up until a few years ago the
victim of such an attack was
considered more or less unfor-
tunate. a pariah, a thing to be
laughed at upon occasion. In
later years. thanks to the devoted
and untiring efforts OF few
earnest research artists, the here
tofore considered incfrable anna.
tenr actars have been greatly
helped IN overcoming the terrible
misfortune that hangs over them.
d
almost willing to take them to it's
bosom and be glad to claim
parentage.
For slowly. but none the less
surely. the amateur actor is be-.
ginning to be recognized as an
earnest, Woodworking student of
the drama. and not merely an
individual seeking a little per-
sonal glory. The honest amateur
actor of today plays not merely
: that he or she may be seen In all
the glory OF the sock or buskin,
but that he or she feels that the
play, as such, has a purposes and
to properly exploit that purpose
he or she must intelligently de.
liver the burden of the character
intrusted to presentment All of
which brings us to our initial
query: why give play?" Il:
As a general rule, the amateur
play is given, primarily, to raise.
money for some worthy cause;
and. secondarilv, to keep the
young folks OF the community
together" Both OF these are good
reasons the Second ofs which,, to
my mind. Is by far the better.
The first reason offered would
seem the stronger. but reflection,
would show us that if we concen.
s trate on the second, and succeed
at all, we cannot fail to accom-
pfish our first purpose. And. by.
the same token, we will have
builded better than we knew. be-
cause it cannot be denied that a
good play, well cast. intelligently
directed and staged has a tremen.
dous influence for good. not only
on the, actors themselves, hut
upon the auditors likewise. But
it Is sad to relate that only too
often the general thought behind
the amateur production is don't
worry. They'll come to the show.
all right. Look why we're giving
it. Thaf'll bring EN-"
Yes, it ..hrings 'en1." but they
20 away dissatisfied with the
show as whole, but feeling that
their particular friend in the cast
was the only one that was worth
seeing And what is fhe result?
The play is given for one per-
Torrance. A great deal of work
baseheen put into it. and after it,
is over the cast disba I4ds. and as
Il matter of fact nbtbinG has been
accomplished. Now, mind you,
all this has reference to the
average amateur production Of
several years ago. and / know. of
my own experience, the same
situation obtains in a somewhat
lesser, degree today. And as ii
consequences the amateur player
has had the fight OF his life to
convince the public that he is
really sincere in his present day
effort to present a carefully
studied Characterization in his
carefully directed play.
But as noted above, the anna
terr actor of today has sDlendid
chance Of being recognized for
his ability, provided he demon.
strates that ability Of his own
self, and not through the medium
Of some one eIse's efforts.
So / say 10 the amateur pro-
Queer. keep this slogan in mind:
What am I producing, and
why?" In another article ] shall
present my views on Selecting
the play here I would keen
before YOU the question. "Why?"
For the sake of the play. the
players. the public. the producer
should Ice able to answer himself
very clearly. He should keep
paramount in his mind the mes.
sage that the play carries. Be
il ever so fragile, keep that
thought. uppermost. Bend every
effort TO produce for the sake Of
the play. players. and public, and
it will be found that success
attends the work. But II you
carry the thought that "anye
thing will go over, it's for a good
cause: and we are only amateurs
after. all, then rest assured that
nothing will go over, and you
viii remain amateurs for all in
all. It has been the amateurs
own fault that he has been the
butt af fidicu!e so long. and If
any thought that is presented in
these little splurges can make the
cock-surn amateur 500 himself
or herseIf-in different. and
better, light. then the writing has
not beeu in vain.
E In, other articles I shall try TO
present the nanv angles Of pIav
producing. They offer the opinion
Of one man: are worth that much
and no more Tho subjects are
pc follows: "Selertjn" the pIav."
Casting tho Plav'' "0irectine
The PLAY" Staging. CosturninC
Makeup" "Whef Becomes of the
Players. and Why"
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Norma Pa Ina S50a,S ,ao,,4t ,