THEATRICAL ART AND RIVALRY IN THE MEMOIRS OF ACTRESSES HYPPOLITE CLAIRON AND MARIE DUMESNI

Abstract

Taking as our point of reference the classic art/nature argument about the actor's stage acting, we analyse which theoretical approaches become defining and convincing in the Hyppolite Clairon style or the Marie Dumesnil style: intelligence, lucidity, reason,
self-mastery or mastery of the technical means of expression, studied acting (which places the role in its historical context), constant effort, attention to detail, the art of exact declamation (studied and studied at length) or, on the other hand, sensitivity, emotion,
spontaneous and natural acting, passion, imagination, authentic enthusiasm (really felt and not constructed), transmitted to the audience thanks to the inspiration of the moment? The analysis reveals antagonistic positions expressed by the two actresses, subtly revealing on the one hand, in Clairon – an authoritative tone, with a strong personality that carries the theatricality of her characters beyond the stage, into society, and, on the other hand, in Dumesnil – an analytical, meticulous, argumentative spirit, which draws on examples and situations borrowed from the world of theatre, to firmly support a more contextually nuanced vision that brings out the rivalry between the two actresses.