AMATEURS ON THE STAGE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1127, 28 July 1883, Page 3

AMATEURS ON THE STAGE.

From The Theatre we take the following pointed remarks regarding the craze of amateurs to take part in dramatic performances: — The modern matinee is the unwholeson.eoutcome of the craze that has befallen society since Mrs Langtry made a temporary success as an actress. Every impecunious person thinks himself or herself capable of making a fortune on the stage when the ordinary chances of life are played out or obliterated. Scarcely a week passes but the public are summoned to see feeble and immature efforts of vain women, who have at least some excuse for their excessive ambition, and vainer men, who are so steeped in egotism that reason appears to have temporarily deserted them. Such persons are from first to last worthless. They may suit the dramatic coach or trainer ; they may please the fussy ladies who patronise the stage and mnnafacture benefits ; be convenient to the hangers-on of amiable incompetency—but, as a test of talent, they are childish and absurd. Genius is not a purchaseable commodity, but genius alone of an extraordinary kind would warrant the overflow of these budding Juliets, these feeble Romeos, these wearisome Julias, and these sucking Claudes, who have tested the patience of their ft lends and naturally provoked the severity of all who have made a study of the stage. Acting cannot be learned in a day or a week—it cannot be mastered by a course of lessons from any master without they are supplemented by hard work and incessant praotiee. It will certainly be a bad day for the stage when—for want of a better word—amateurishness is allowed to get a footing on the legitimate stage. There is far too much of it floating vaguely about just now—far too much of it encouraged a,nd petted, and unquestionably there is as much attention paid to flabby feebleness as there is to sound, hearty, and robust work. Amateurs are no doubt very well in their way. They are harmless enough in their own circles, and they only borrow a reflected light from the egotism that is inseparable from the dramatic calling. Indirectly amateurs encourage a love for the theatre; there are no more constant playgoers in existence than your self-satisfied amateurs, That amateurs shqujd like to go upon the stage is no doubt natural enough, but if they do so, why not submit to the trying ordeal of a regular public performance, instead of being forced forward to an unwholesome growth by the forcing house or conservatory process of a matinee packed with efJusWei friends who are obyiptisly insincere. These people fqol the amateur, or the amateur turned actor, to the top of his bent. They tell him he can play anything, do anything, rival any actor or actress whoever lived, until at last the poor victum is led to believe that it is true. The stalls of oiir metropolitan theatres, swarm, with detached outposts of mutual admjra'ion societies. Suddenly comes, the day when the bubble bursts. An, actor or actress tries some part for which they are ludicrously incompetent. The truth is told, and they receive the least pity from those who have flattered them in the most slavish manner. The stage is open to any one, rich as well as poor, but the possession of a testimonial of competency, signed by society, does not relieve the actor from the necessity of hard and determined application.