OCR Text |
Show ON PANTOMIME. Ill PART THE THIRD. ON PANTOMIME, AND THE STUDIES NECESSARY FOR A PANTOMIMIC PERFORMER. " atto degli occhi e delle membra." L E TASSE. " art ing^nieux De peindre la parole et de parler aux yeux." BREBCEIT. H A V I N G frequently reflected on Ballets, and the usual method of composing them, it has as frequently occurred to me, that their prevailing defects might be separated from them; and that, by enlarging the pantomimic department of them, and by improving the incidental dancing, they might be advanced to something like perfection. Pantomime is, undoubtedly, the very soul and support of the Ballet. The art of gesture possesses powers capable of raising an interest, unknown to the generality of artists ; and it is to the slight attention paid to this department, and to a want of useful information in composers, that must be attributed the glaring imperfections that prevail throughout the greater part of those pieces improperly styled |