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Show ON PANTOMIME. 125 personages. The theatrical system of the present time is not the same as it was formerly. Now, each actor and actress always takes one particular kind of character, by which means our dramatic representations are more naturally, and therefore much more perfectly, performed. In France, the parts and lines of actors have been divided and sub-divided in the minutest manner, that all may be in a sort of exact accordance. The following is a classification of some of the principal parts: Jeunes premieres; jeunes premieres ingenuites; amoureux; amoureux marques; coquettes de Marivaux; grandes coquettes; petits maitres ; marquis ;premiers roles;peres nobles; meres nobles; roles a manteau ; duegnes (Spanish personage); financiers; sou-brettes; valets; Figaros; soubrettes de bon ton; grandes livre'es; servantes et valets de Moliere; travestis; Crispin ; Scapin; caricatures; Cassandre; grimes; rois; reines; princesses; chevaliers;grandspritres; confidents; utilit^s, tyc. Sfc. This example deserves to be followed in every branch of theatrical art. But it frequently happens that, through motives of interest or ambition, an actor is induced to aim at acquiring a talent as universal as possible. This is well enough, if he finds himself really endowed with the requisite qualifications. Indeed I would then advise him to imitate every thing, to render himself a perfect master of mimicry in every kind. It may be here remembered that the Greeks called their players hypocrites. Among the ancients, one and the same actor used generally to represent a great number of personages (see Lucian, Cassiodorus, and others). Sometimes, also, two performers undertook to play every part in a piece ; but afterwards, their number having increased, there were as many actors as parts; still this was not always the case. A player ought to study the genius, character, manners, and customs of the various nations, the natives of which he may have to represent. |
