What Shall We Act ? By M. C. James. (George
Bell and Sons.) —The plan of this book is to give an analysis of the plots of a hundred good comedies and farces, more or less suitable for the purposes of amateur acting. The question which supplies a title is continually being asked, and is often answered by the selection of plays that are imbecile, or even worse. (It is quite surprising what noxious rubbish quite respectable people will utter, if it is put into a dramatic form.) Mr. James's book is most useful in its way. Besides the plot, brief directions are given for the acting and for the scenery ; and there is also a preface, with " Hints to Beginners " on the "Stage," " Make-up," "Scene-painting," and not least important, " Dramatic Authors' Rights." Of course, these have to be considered only when a piece is acted for money.
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