Wilbur Arthur

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WILBUR ARTHUR


WILBUR ARTHUR READER AND IMPERSONATOR
THE BEAUTIFUL in Art is beautiful in proportion as it is full of meaning and suggestive of law.  The art of the Public Reader eliminates characteristics which betray a violation of law, harmony and symmetry, and embodies a cultivated taste.  The art is radiant with meaning, the artist realizes his mission, and in satisfying the Dramatic Muse labors to fulfill it.  Without the aid of theatrical accessories, he succeeds in bringing vividly before the public eye the different characters in a play, each clothed in its natural garment.  His purpose is to hold as 'twere the mirror up to nature, show humanity its own image, and, in so doing, meet with public approval.  The desire for the fulfillment of his mission becomes a thirst to be satisfied only by the exercise of the will under a clear perception and sound judgment.

Mr. Wilbur Arthur holds a prominent place among the Public Readers of To-Day.  He is a product of the naturalistic school of training, and his readings are effective because they are free from any false or theatric effect and seem to be the spontaneous outgrowth of feeling and emotion.  Without the aid of wigs, scenery or accessories of any kind, he presents a play with such naturalness and artistic skill that the various characters he impersonates seem to be real living people.  Mr. Arthur has acquired a masterful technique, is gifted with a keen artistic instinct, and is possessed of a magnetic personality, evinced by his never-failing power to claim and hold the attention of his hearers.  These qualities, and a rare natural talent and creative temperament, are assets which have forged their possessor to the forefront and success.

The Bureau takes pleasure in presenting Mr. Arthur to its discriminating public.




PROGRAMS
In addition to the following featured programs Mr. Arthur offers, for special occasions, a program of miscellaneous selections, including monologues, short stories and selections from the standard and modern poets.


MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE
A MAN IS NOT HIS FATHER BUT HIMSELF

Booth Tarkington's delightfully interesting and entertaining story.  Dramatized for the late Richard Mansfield and recently revived with great success by James K. Hackett.  A dashing story of adventure and romance.  A sterling character who holds honor above love, manhood above nobility.  A masterful rendition.



THE MAN FROM HOME
THERE IS SAND IN YOUR GEAR-BOX

The dramatic success of the century written by Booth Tarkington and Harry Leon Wilson.  A play with a phenomenal record.  Over a year in Chicago, a whole season in New York and Boston.  A play of to-day.  A satirical comedy of the social ambitions of Rich America in Europe.  A clean, pure, amusing play—teaching a moral without preaching.



MADAME X
By ALEXANDRE BISSON

A remarkable and powerful play.  It reminds us that there are heights to which even the meanest can rise if the motive be God-inspired—divinely planted in the human heart.  There is a line of James Whitcomb Riley's that contains the same philosophy:
Remember that no human being yet
May fall so low but love may lift its head.

That is the moral and the lesson of Madame X—that God is love and that love reigns supreme.





WHAT PRESS AND PEOPLE SAY
Walter Kunce—Principal, Huntington School, Montpelier, Ind.—To say that Mr. Arthur maintained the high standard set by him heretofore in his readings is stating it too lightly.  His rendition of Monsieur Beaucaire last night was his crowning success.  It would be difficult to imagine a more masterful interpretation of Mr. Tarkington's delightfully entertaining story.  Mr. Arthur has a remarkable adaptability for character delineation and his transitions from character to character are effected with that degree of abandon and naturalness which mark the intelligent and trained artist.


Lynn (Mass.) Daily Evening Item
—The feature of the program was the reading by Wilbur Arthur of excerpts from the strong and stirring play The Third Degree.  Mr. Arthur impersonated all of the five characters widely differentiating each; thus displaying his scope of dramatic participation and power as a reader.

Victor H. Hoppe—Instructor of Public Speaking, Dennison University, Granville, Ohio—Mr. Wilbur Arthur has a fine dramatic spirit, an unusual voice and is possessed of a most pleasing personality.  His skill in character impersonation, his sympathetic rendering of emotion and his masterful handling of his themes stamp him as a reader of the highest class.  It has been a long time since I spent as enjoyable an evening as at Mr. Arthur's recent recital.


Windham County (Conn.) Obserber
—The program was an excellent one.  … Wilbur Arthur, reader and impersonator, was given hearty recognition of his work and held the closest attention of his audience from beginning to end, responding to encores that kept up the merriment.


New Orleans Dally Picayune
—The entertainment of the evening was furnished by Mr. Wilbur Arthur.  Mr. Arthur chose for his selections Booth Tarkington's Monsieur Beaucaire and Act 1, Scene II, of Hamlet.  In both of his readings the young artist acquitted himself admirably.  His character delineations were almost perfect, and his portrayal of every thought in his readings was a delight to his hearers.  Mr. Arthur was at all times well poised and his simple and unaffected manner of presentation stamped him as a reader of no ordinary merit.

William H. Greaves.—Lecturer on Public Speaking, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario—I have recently on different occasions heard the readings of Mr. Wilbur Arthur.  His work impressed me as being of an unusually high order, showing signs of power and artistic appreciation.


Boston Budget and Beacon
—… Mr. Arthur is a reader of the naturalistic school whose intense, vivid presentations of modern dramatic works have attracted wide attention.

A. B. Curry—Dean, School of Expression, (Boston)—Mr. Wilbur Arthur's success on the platform has been phenomenal, and combines the charm of the drawing room artist with the magnetism and power requisite for the platform.  From his quite extensive repertoire, special mention should be made of his original arrangement of Monsieur Beaucaire.


Cleveland (Ohio) Plain Dealer
—In his dramatic recital of Monsieur Beaucaire last night, Mr. Wilbur Arthur scored an artistic triumph.  His work possesses an unusual smoothness which shows exceptional training and artistic ability.


Boston Daily Globe
—Has the true Southerner's artistic instinct.

Putnam, Conn., M. R. Joy. E. R.—The committee for the entertainment of our Ladies' Night feel that they showed wisdom in choosing you to assist them.  Your selections were most enjoyable and ably given, and I have heard nothing but favorable comment.  You undoubtedly added much to the success of our evening.

Richard Whoriskey—Modern Language Department, New Hampshire College, Durham, N. H.—Mr. Wilbur Arthur's reading of The Man From Home at New Hampshire College, January 12, was splendidly done.  He held the attention of the students every minute of the time.  Everybody was pleased with his voice and his interpretation of the different characters.

RLB

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