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Show CONCLUSION. 535 representing him as being endowed with extraordinary height. Kings and heroes are but men; they are subject to the same passions as their fellow mortals ; education and rank only render them a little different from others in their manner of speaking and acting; nature is the same in them as in us ; she m ay vary, but she never changes. Talma and the best English tragedians have felt the truth of this assertion. It is not forced and exaggerated action that is required on the stage, but sufficient energy of gesticulation, to express the passion of the moment to the distant spectators; it must at the same time be so restrained by good taste, that those who are near may not take offence at its extravagance. The actor should possess the qualities of receiving and conveying impressions. There are some performers who, while they rouse the feelings of those who behold them, are perfectly cold and void of passion themselves; art enables them to express, by outward signs, what they do not feel, but nevertheless well understand. There are others, who are in a considerable degree affected by the sentiments which they wish to express, but they are totally unable to manifest them. For the stage, of course, the former sort of persons, although objectionable, are to be preferred by far to the latter. Nature furnishes us with abundant means of interesting an audience. A n actor should profoundly study the human heart, and the various pictures of life which the different classes of society present. The art of imitating nature does not consist in merely moving and speaking like such or such an actor, or in dressing a character like one who is celebrated for his performance of it; this is copying a copy, the vice of mediocre artists and men of little mind or originality. W e should go to the fountain head 34* |
