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Untitled Article
talent For acting will be found amongst the educated classes of society , who are at present especially shut out . Setting aside the immorality prevalent amongst many of those who follow the profession of acting , and of whom it may be doubted whether after all they are more immoral than the rest of the
community , and especially such parts of the community as possess temperaments equally excitable with theirs , for the business of an actor or actress has a tendency to bring forth to the public gaze all their private actions as well as public ones , and set them in a strong light—setting this matter aside , as belonging not to the art , but to the individuals , what is there in the art itself , in the use , not
the abuse of it , which has a tendency to foster immorality either in the professors or their audience ? Is not oratory oratory , whether it be poured forth from the lips of an actor , or a barrister , or an M . P . ? Is not the influence of music , which brings forth the perception of the beauty to be found in the creation , is it not a good influence , even if not equally powerful , whether the locality
be a theatre or a chapel ? Are not moral sentiments equally moral , whether they be found in a play or in a sermon ; and is not that morality the most useful ,, which , being conveyed in a palatable form , is the most likely to be imbibed , like the Political Economy of Miss Martineau ? No one doubts that the student would glean most knowledge from Adam Smith , and Kicardo , and Malthus ;
but unfortunately , the mass of mankind are not students , and if they will not take strong mental medicine in its naked form , it is better that they should take it wrapped up in literary currant-jelly than not take it at all . Is ndt the exhibition of living beauty in 4 ' s own image * more likely to rouse the imagination of the sculptor and painter , than the forms of the academy in clay and
plaster , and marble ? Are not the lights of a theatre as good and wholesome lights as the lights of a chapel or a church ? Let there be no misunderstanding here : I deny not the utility of churches nnd chapels , and should rejoice to see the beautiful spirit of Christianity more rife in them , in opposition to the trading spirit of religionism , but I abhor the cant which would , for interested purposes , assume , that because a church is good a theatre must
necessarily be bad ; that morals can only be taught within consecrated walls . What is there in the beautiful scenery of a theatre to give an immoral impression , more than in the adornments of a Catholic chapel , or the pictures at Somerset House , or the National Gallery ? What is there more improper or ridiculous in stage costume , than there is in the robes of a Catholic or Protestant priest or bishop , or the judges and counsellors of the law courts ? Nay , the former is commonly in good keeping , whereas the latter are most absurd . Is an actor , of fine person , and noble countenance , clad in a handsome costume , in the character of a good and wise man , and giving forth truths in the modelled tones of oratory , is he less likely to make an impression on his audience , uniting the powers
Untitled Article
Oft Theatrical tlefortn . 556
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1833, page 555, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2620/page/43/
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