Should you enter from the right (R) your movement would be towards the left (L) so you would advance with the left foot, arriving at the centre (C), your left foot still in advance, make a slight turn towards the right, and by the same action with heels and toes as explained above, you would be in the correct position.

In making an exit off right, you would make a half turn towards the right (R) and advance your right foot, slightly raise same as explained before, and exit, the right foot always in advance.

(In other words just the reverse of your entrance from the left).

TWO PEOPLE ON STAGE

One enters from the right (R) the other from the left (L), they meet in the centre (C) of the stage. As they meet they stop. The one from the right will have the left foot in advance, while the one from the left, will have the right foot in advance.

They are both in the correct position, and all action will be easy and free.

But if the one from the right should stop with the right foot in advance, it would place you in an awkward position.

Or, if the one from the left should stop with the left foot in advance, it would also be an awkward position.

Try this with some one in your home and you will see for yourself how awkward it would be.

Now, there are two on the stage, it will be impossible for both of them to have the centre (C) of the stage, so they must both stop just to the right, and left of centre. Let the centre be the dividing line between them.

In directing a play, the positions would be spoken of by the director as Left, and right centre (L. C.) and (R. C.) the one coming from the left would be (L. C.) and the one from the right (R. C.).

The space between the centre of stage or platform, and the right (R.) will be known as right centre (R. C.), the space between the centre and the left of stage will be known as left centre (L. C.).

These terms are thoroughly understood by all professionals as well as by amateurs, who have been under the proper direction.

Having met at the left, and right centre, you are now to seat yourselves at the right and left centre.

The one at the right centre will make a half turn towards the right, advance with the right foot to the front of the chair of sofa, stop, make a half turn towards the left, sit down with left foot in advance.

The one at left centre will make a half turn towards the left, advance with left foot in advance, stop, make a half turn to the right, sit down with right foot in advance.

You are now facing each other in a natural and easy position. The party at the left centre is to make an exit through the centre door at the back and go off left.

Rise, lift the right foot slightly, advance with the right foot towards the door at back, upon reaching the doorway, with the right foot still in advance, make a half turn towards the left, you are now facing the other party at the right of you; make another half turn, which will bring your left foot in position, slightly raise it, and walk off left.

Kindly try all of these movements in your room, and firmly fix them in your mind.

KNEELING

There are times when you will be called upon to kneel, the same rule applies to this, should you kneel facing L. you will sink on your right knee. Facing R. you will sink on your left knee.

This will place you in an easy position for any gestures you may have to make, and will also be the correct and most natural position.

FALLING

There is a right and wrong way to fall. You will, in all situations, fall either right or left. If to the right, sink on your right knee, then on your right hip, and let the body go.

This is easy after you have practiced it, but "knowing how" will save you many a serious jar.

When you practice this have something soft to practice on. The situation and the cause of the fall must always be taken into

consideration, but no matter what the cause or situation may be, there is the right and the wrong way to fall. I have given you the right way: first the knee, then the hip, then the body. Three distinct movements, but by practice you see only the one movement.

Remember the stage or platform is always the same no matter where you may be. Be it in the street, or in the home, people who approach you will either come from the right or the left. All of your gestures will be made to the right or the left.

This will be taken up in the study of gestures later on. Arrange the stage, or platform, in your mind always, so that you can apply the things of every day life to the study of "The Art of Expression" and there is no better teacher than nature.

Practice Makes Perfect.

Constant concentration will help you wonderfully.

Have you mastered the study as to centre (C.), (R.) and (L.)?

I shall now take the liberty of using the conversational form in many places, as being the most familiar and the best adapted, perhaps, to arrest and fix the attention of the student.

If I repeat, many times, things through the lessons that may seem unnecessary, it is for your good, as I wish to impress these lessons upon you, so that you may teach others.

Picture yourself in the studio, with other pupils.

Teacher-I want you to make an entrance from left (L) of stage. (You are out of sight of the audience.) Go to the centre, and take your position, ready for an address. Is there a right and wrong way of doing this?

Pupil-Yes sir.

Teacher-Explain.

Pupil-I will enter from the left (L), I am going towards the right, but I will stop at the centre of the stage. I will start off with my right foot in advance, when I reach the centre, I will stop with my right foot in advance. I will then make a half turn towards the left (L), this will bring me facing the audience, my heels will be close together, my feet pointing to the right and left slightly.

Teacher-Had you started with your left foot in advance, and stopped with your left foot in advance, what would have been the result?

Pupil-I would have been in an awkward position.

Teacher-Is there a remedy for such a case?

Pupil-Yes sir: Simply draw my left foot back in the correct position.

Teacher-Why is it best, not to do that?

Pupil-It makes an unnecessary movement that is not required by those who know the correct way of doing it.

Teacher-I want two of the pupils to go on the stage, take their positions one to right centre, (R. C.), the other to enter from right, and go to left centre. Kindly tell me how they would make their entrance, and what would be the correct positions they should assume?.

Pupil-Those who are on the stage right centre (R. C.), if they have entered from left, they will enter with right foot in advance, for they are going from left to right. When they stop, they will have their right foot in advance. If they are to face the audience, they will make a half turn towards the left, and thus be in the correct position. Those entering from the right, are going towards the left, so they will advance with their left foot, as they are going towards the left. When they stop, they will make a half turn right, and be in the correct position.

Teacher-What do we understand by the centre (C) of the stage? Pupil-The dividing line between the right (R) and left (L). Teacher-What is the left of the stage?

Pupil-That side which is to my left when in the centre of the

stage facing the audience.

Teacher-The right side?

Pupil-That side which is to my right.

Teacher-What is the definition of the word "Exit"?

Pupil-Direction to an actor to go off the stage; departure from the stage; any departure; a passage out.

Teacher-What do we mean by the word "actor"?

Pupil-One who acts.

Teacher-Define the word "action".

Pupil-State of acting; activity; gestures; the movement of events in a drama; novel, etc.

Teacher-What do we understand by the word "Gesture"?

Pupil-A posture; or movement of the body; an action expressive of sentiment or passion.

Teacher-Would "walking" come under the term gesture?

Pupil-Yes sir.

Teacher-What do we mean by Posture?

Pupil-Attitude; to assume an affected manner; to pose. Teacher-Do you think it necessary that an actor, or in fact, any one who is studying "Expression" should know anything about such things as "Gesture," "Sentiment," "Passion," "Posture," etc.?

Pupil-Yes, sir, they are part of his work.

Teacher-What do we mean by "Enunciation"?

Pupil-The whole art of action, Mind, Voice, Look and Gesture. Teacher-Our next lesson will be on "Correct Gestures" and their meaning. Kindly look over the question sheet, and send in your papers for examination.

EXERCISE

(To be memorized by the pupil, applying the methods of
Voice, Look and Gesture.)

SHAKESPEARE'S ADVICE TO THE PLAYERS

Hamlet. Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue; but if you mouth it, as many of your players do, I had as lief the town-crier spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus, but use all gently; for in the very torrent, tempest, and, as I may say, the whirlwind of passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness. O, it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, who for the most part are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb-shows and noise. I could have such a fellow whipped for o'erdoing Termagant; it out-herods Herod: pray you, avoid it. 1. Player. I warrant your honour.

Hamlet. Be not too tame neither, but let your own discretion be your tutor suit the action to the word, the word to the action; with this special