. Players and plays of the last quarter century; an historical summary of causes and a critical review of conditions as existing in the American theatre at the close of the nineteenth century. ied colouring,plain of face, small of stature, of unimpressivestage presence, handicapped right and left, soit would seem, by these physical disabilities,Mrs. Fiske, nevertheless, is to be counted oneof the most versatile, one of the most satis-factory, and assuredly, one of the most origi-nal and unconventional actors in the UnitedStates. Nor is there any mystery why this should beso. Mrs. Fiskes stage
. Players and plays of the last quarter century; an historical summary of causes and a critical review of conditions as existing in the American theatre at the close of the nineteenth century. ied colouring,plain of face, small of stature, of unimpressivestage presence, handicapped right and left, soit would seem, by these physical disabilities,Mrs. Fiske, nevertheless, is to be counted oneof the most versatile, one of the most satis-factory, and assuredly, one of the most origi-nal and unconventional actors in the UnitedStates. Nor is there any mystery why this should beso. Mrs. Fiskes stage career has been nothingshort of extraordinary in its versatility. Be-ginning as a child actress, and playing allsorts of characters, from Shakespearian boysto melodramatic old women, she first starredas the rival of Lotta and Maggie Mitchell insoubrette or protean parts. Years of hardwork have given Mrs. Fiske her present posi-tion. She is not weird nor strange nor incom-prehensible. She did not flash before one asa phenomenon, fascinating because unknown,alluring because unaccountable, interesting be-cause unexpected. She is there to be studiedand to be understood; and the more she is. LOTTA From an old engravings Mrs. Fiske 297 studied, and the better she is understood, themore potent becomes her spell, and the morecertain her attractiveness. Mrs. Fiske is not afleeting impression, she is not exotic, she isnot morbid, she is not sensational. Her art issolid fact; her reputation has been a steadygrowth; her accomplishments are the definiteresults of definite purpose. In short, not only has the artistic temperament,but she has as well the technical equipment tomake her temperament do the work that shewants it to do. Actors depend on various factors for theireffects. Some rely almost entirely on person-ality, some on physical beauty, others on win-some ways or dashing vigour, or droopingsentiment, or flamboyant advertising. Allthese things are undignified, trivial, wit
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Keywords: ., bookauthorstrangle, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookyear1903
