File:Costume- fanciful, historical, and theatrical (1906) (14596641807).jpg

Identifier: costumefancifulh00ariauoft (find matches)
Title: Costume: fanciful, historical, and theatrical
Year: 1906 (1900s)
Authors: Aria, Eliza (Davis) 1866-
Subjects: Costume
Publisher: London Macmillan
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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tion to certain emotions, moods, andtraits of character. Who would think of playinga murderer in sky-blue satin and silver ? Sir Henrysaid. And not pausing for my reply : Of courseone expects a woman to go mad in white. Canyou picture Hamlet in colours ? Surely he demandsblack clothes, indeed the text says as much,—although the colour for the expression of mourningin Denmark at that period was, I believe, red. But, after all, the first thing is, or should be, tofit the personality to the character, and then thequestion of dress is comparatively easy. JohnRyder, by the way, used to explain his protractedengagement with Charles Kean as being solely dueto what he was wont to call his arch^ological figure. It has been questioned whether the publiccares, or knows, much about the details of stagedress, upon which so much time and thought arebestowed ; but then it is recognised that amongstthe neglected arts is the art of costume, and pendingthe establishment of the Royal Academy of Dress,
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\ XX OF THEATRICAL DRESS 241 over which, of course, Mr. Percy Anderson shouldpreside, visits to the theatre may offer to thestudent considerable instruction. In other days thescholar resented any incongruities of stage-costume.The satire of Pope pictures them vividly in theearly eighteenth century : Such is the shout, the long applauding note. At Quins high plume, or Oldfields petticoat ! Or when from Court a birthday suit bestowed. Sinks the lost actor in the tawdry load. Booth enters—Hark ! the universal peal ! But has he spoken ? Not a syllable. What shook the stage, and made the people stare ? Catos long wig, flowered gown, and lacquered chair. Imagine an ancient Roman in a periwig andflowered gown after the Queen Anne fashion ! Nowonder Addison, as he sat in a side box with twoor three friends to watch his tragedy on the firstnight, needed flasks of Burgundy and champagneto support his spirits, for had he not pleaded in anumber of the Spectator for the poet against thecostumier

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