London at the End of the Century:A Book of Gossip
a Beckett, Arthur William
1900
THE NECESSITY OF CAREFUL REHEARSAL.
And the attention I expended upon watching the progress of this small part made me consider the question of rehearsals in general and rehearsals of school theatricals in particular. It is some years since I rehearsed a piece of my own, and possibly matters may have mended of late. But in the fairly far away actors and actresses having "got their words and their crossings," allowed matters to drift until the hour of performance. It was assumed that The result of this system was this-the premier, when the Press and the critical public were present, became nothing more nor less than a dress | |
347 | rehearsal. Naturally, a new piece was heavily handicapped by the unpreparedness of all concerned. Until about the fourth representation it was imperfectly performed. These things are better managed in . On the Continent a play is most carefully rehearsed. All the actors and actresses (principals included) play at rehearsal exactly as they intend to play at night. As related when Charles Mathews took to the French capital in the translated form of , he was surprised to find that a rehearsal was played with as much care as a public representation. As I have said the French were equally astonished to see the great comedian walking through his part as if he had just received his scrip and had never seen his companions before. However, in the case of Charles Mathews the younger it all right at night. But the fact should not be accepted as the foundation for a precedent by amateurs. |
