Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1884 — A Professional View of Stage Life. [ARTICLE]

A Professional View of Stage Life.

“Looking back upon your life, would you be inclined to encourage a young woman to go upon the stage ?” “I have a young sister now playing with Fanny Davenport, and that, too, by my advice and with my approval. I think if a girl feels that she has a talent for the stage, she should cultivate it, not for the sake of notoriety, suppers, popular admiration, or anything of that sort, but soberly and after consideration, with a view to making acting an honorable profession. If a woman does this, she does wisely to go upon the stage, for there are greater rewards there for a woman than any other walk in life. “You ask if it is not well for a woman to start at the lowest rung in the ladder instead of coming out as a star, as Miss Anderson did ? Some people say it is; but lam not of that opinion. I think a girl who feels that she possesses a taste and ability for the stage, and has had a good school training, will do herself no good by burying herself in the chorus or ballet. If she does so, it will be thrown in her face by the press, by the people, and especially by the managers, whenever she tries to become a star. ‘She was in such and such a ballet,’ or ‘she supported such an one,’ or ‘she was a member of a stock company,’ will be remarked. “A member of a stock company is hardly ever allowed to star without a general remonstrance from all sides. I advise a girl to strike right out for herself.”—Annie Pixley, in the Neiv York Commercial Advertiser.