Another actor of this class is Gandusio. In Italy
his reputation is a high one : standing in relation
to Falconi something in the relation that Hare
stood to Kendal; though the comparison must not
be pushed too far. Gandusio is what is known
as ' brillante,' 1 and certainly is a player of unusual
versatility. I heard him play in three different pieces
for his ' Serata d'Onore,' all totally different in character,
and all with success : the chief one being Arlecchino, in a
Goldoni comedy. To say that he was an outsider, play-
ing before a Venetian audience, and that the performance
was received with much laughter and applause, is to
make any other comment unnecessary. He has, beyond,
perhaps, any other, that actor's confidence which will
pull through somehow a performance of doubtful success,
and sometimes even one of doubtful taste. Probably,
a simple straightforward gentleman, such as Kendal
excelled in representing, he would find most difficult of
all to play. He has easy, rather than graceful, manners
on the stage ; and is capable of speaking faster than any
other actor I have ever heard.
> See p. 258.
220 PLAYS AND PLAYERS IN MODERN ITALY

No doubt there are many more of the same class on
the Italian stage equally, or almost equally, deserving of
mention and criticism. Opportunities of theatre-going
have not been infinite, nor is space unlimited. It is in
reparation of any such injustices that the dedication of
the book is offered. We must get on now to a description
of the two great actors, worthy rivals in the public
estimation, whom we have left till now.
