| Show What Actresses ThinK of Stage Kisses Hisses Mrs Kendal's recently expressed views on stage Kisses started out a London re reporter reporter reporter re- re porter to make some discreet inquiries of other actresses It was pointed Out but ut that on the authority of Charles Frohman Miss Gertie Gertle Millar and Robert ing lag the last four tour days of the rehearsal of ot The Merry Widow at Dalys Daly's theater actually rehearsed the longest stage kiss kisson kisson kisson on record This kiss lasts forty five seconds seconds sec SEe and lOd sixteen bars of music are played before It comes to an end One girl said Mr Frohman refused refused refused re fused to take the part played by Miss alias Millar because of ot the difficulties that kiss seemed to present Miss Millar of course regarded the kiss merely as a apart apart apart part of the acting and critics were agreed that both she and Mr Evett gave a perfect performance e F The fetn general t feeling l of actresses toward stage kissing is that it is merely a part of their business and they regard it in Just the same light as talking or singing As Miss Kate Kate- Cutler said when discussing discussing discuss discuss- ing the subject I think no more of kissing on the stage If it occurs in a apart apart part than of walking or singing Likewise Likewise Like Like- wise Miss Mies Violet considers the I stage kisses are all fh tb a days day's work I It would seem however that stage kisses are more often genuine than not Miss Evie Greene gives it as her opinion opinion opinion ion that if It a thing is worth doing it is worth doing well adding I believe belle In Inthe n the fhe genuine article Miss Isabel Jays Jay's reply Is delightfully diplomatic She frankly admits that she has not an any theories or advanced views on the subject of stage kissing If It It Is necessary to a part she says sas it has to be done and that's all about It According to her v view an n nc actress c- c ht has to t 1 identify identify til herself rf with the c character charac charac- ter tel she Is playing and ana if the part re reQuires requires requires re- re quires that she should be kissed it would be ridiculously prudish for her to object to what t is really all only a mere contact t of grease gre p paint n Personally ly It re Q quite spoils a It play play- for tor me n if It the hero and heroine ar are apathetic and dont don't seem really in love 10 and I always try to appear in earnest I earnestin in all I do on the stage a I l n M s Ada R ev s s. s one of our most charming g actresses s says I consider 0 11 r It a depends gg g greatly on n the h person to be kissed There are times when it is as pleasant pleasant pleasant pleas pleas- ant times when it is positively distasteful distaste distaste- ful times when it Is an absolute matter of ot indifference but at all times the actor and actress should endeavor that the great public b should think they were f really r In earnest Miss Compton on th the wife of t that clever d dramatist I mft R. R C. C Carton ar is like r e eclEo clEo Miss Reeve of ot opinion that the stage kiss kliss should be as realistic as possible s. s f I mato consider said Miss Compton it should be done like any other branch of stage business business convincingly It reminds one of ot the views expressed by the late Sir Henry Irving on stage kisses The actors actor's actors actor's actors actor's ac ac- ac- ac tors tor's art is never perfect said the great tragedian The finest t similitude of a kiss is always unconvincing A harmless salute when requisite to a play a should o 1 always be conscientiously 1 performed err erra le not acted Then rhen he lie jocularly continued An enthusiastic actor will take great risks If he loves his Ills art an actress endures endures endures en en- dures much And apropos of th the four days days' rehearsal rehearsal rehear rehear- sal al of the kiss in The Merry Widow the following remarks made by one of the most popular musical comedy actresses of ot today who however forbids her name to be mentioned are amusing amusing Do you ever rehearse stage kisses she was asked Not repeatedly she e eai said ai but just once I eg dont don't ed care to eb b be surprised by bya a peculiar sort of a kiss on the night of I the fhe performance so I always alwa's have an ana a actor ator tor show me beforehand Just how he is going g to do it The b be a nerv ner- ner 1 v ous nus man and pull away my wig If Im I'm wearing one or he way clutch me so soI I fight i that when he lets me go I lose my balance and get laughed at New at-New New York YorkI I Telegraph |
