Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-05-31
MISCELLANEOUS.
T OF VIC IHYUH q :
"BEHIND THE SCENES"
lay KATE KESNARD


TAI, and reader were you ever "bend the scencsi
Nor The scenes of real life for VIVA. woman s mol qucA
enough 10 de,ec, the rrong side Of things, when the glitter
and nain of social intercourse held up 10 her vis"-but
literally 'behind the scenes" OF Theuttl suspect not
or Won have little or no chance OF penetrating that abyss Vi
darkness which yuwns so myseriousy before our sideong
chances from the stage box.
That da.k opening Of which emerges, from time 10
time princess in silk attire flashing with Je~es some
chieftan Of old romance hemetted and piumed some no
saind or Lady Teaze; some Hamlet or Duke Aranza NY
rans Argves Romans, cham 1ermalds Vales pages &C.
&C., always 10 me mystery and source OF specua'
,on What undiscovered countries lay there ~hat accom-"
pdcons had these kings and prncesses what forests ano
rustic cottages these lovers sepherdesses; how did
these people who were careful keep of each Others
way in their crossings and urnnss who always gave each
other time speak, conduct themselves In those DARK pas
sages, Did they Josr against each oleri What became
of the rrains which on hr stage full swept
Did they quarrel in yonder dark corner aud then come tor
ward and make love 10 each other! These and hundred
equally foolish questions have passed through my mind du
ring the years whena child and woman the theatre waa 10
me a constant source OF wonder and delight. What won
der then it, when the opportunity offered caught eagerly
a, the privilege of going "behiud The scenes"
The first night how we'll remember itfrom the Devil
dered stumbling through narrow, dirty alley, into wha
seemed be magnfed lumber room, very Ike The
old garrett which the Of my childhood and peo
pied with figures fantastic any thing my childish ina
ginaton could raise.
The play ngoma (Which has lately been rendered ST
popular by the poetic and religious truth thrown into INT
character Of Parrhena, by whose loving anu purely
womanly spirit shines through each movement and Tone
The curtain up ul The Greeks the call boy grandl
ioqueny designated them the stage and was II
the middle Of the Alobroees
Alobroges indeed My thoughts back TO the graph
description Of the visit Of The Roman ambassadors 10 Al
tla King Of the Huns annexed 30 Nj Guzors Civi"auo
in France. had studied that well, and really 'houg"
myself well veed in the every day customs OF Inc Aoo'o
ges Aemanni Marcomanni Teu'ones, and Inc a'Sefs o'
ers Germanc l,ibes Who ae capves conqueors crow
the camp Of Ala; but soon found that phosoph'c ah
historical accuracy was very different Thing from lhea
cal correctness.
Ii was hot night in July and every side were unsE
by looking Irshmen enveloped In buffalo robes NO Won
der my first criticism was on costume.
"Do you suppose The Allobrogcs were fools enough
wear thc, urs in Marseilles7 If they had so little Po"t
adaptation 10 circumstances they would never have con
qucred those subtle Greeks"
"Oh assure you, madam" said the stage manager WI
stood BY my side this is cnely correct they play 1t
at Drury Lane"
"Bufialo robes and ALI"
ayes ma,arnI only when star plays ingosaas he wca
n tiger skin"
NV Geographical stand. points slipped under my fee
Oregon Hindoos,hn and Scandinavia were evidently or
and the same place in The theatrical whereabouts.
The managers polite and condcscending rebuse was
good though humilating, lesson TO me- His tone said
plainly "You know nothing about it,, that quietly la
aside my critical ucumen, aud gave myself up to the fun
The thing And comcal cnough was every thing nrour
me on one side the Aobrogcs some with spec,acles
nuse fairly earning their bread by The sweat OF their brow
as they vehemeny walked 10 and fro beating their breast
in the vain hope of beating in their parts on The other,
group OF carpenters and shftcrs waiting the signal
shout and clash their arms a screaming. shouting, sam
ing &c find ID always done by Supsrnumerares, proo
bly, save the lungs and muscles Of the actors while
hind me stood the promper, unmoved ny the eoniusio
around his eyes inenly fixed his book, his II
stage while every and then he seE iotlh lew words
sepuehral whisper this that actor seemed 10 hesits
in his part.
The curtain fell, and up the stage 10 Par,leoa
dressing roum AS rapidly up for "quick changes
we passed in the twilight of the passage who locke
IS be had just left his bed for midnight walk, aud NJ
finding his night shirt sufficient protection. had iooped
somewhat dirty sheet around him in most fantastic fesoo
.Yhnt on earth is ha?" "Oh that is severely Gree
costume" "Not half 30 tonight as those buha
robes" thoughts 1.
Next came the flower scene, and the side
where Parhena sends of Ineomar 10 gather CHOSE level
sed flowers" He rushed off, Lngomar, but on the nsta
stood before me the Mr. johnson revealed, whom, for u
whole season. had from the boxes vainy toiug
Hoeatio Orlando DC, support Murdoch, Alss Cushna
sad other sars who occasionally brighten our Tong nig
Of theatrical darkness here the West. "a warm nigh
MIR. Johnson, said l. wishing be aasble. "1es, naan
and THE dfess-excuse me- there's my cue-and ne usht
on.
Perhaps The strongest feeling in my mind during u
whole evening" Us we'll as the mos, natural The sense
incongruity The struggle 10 keep up the Illusion when the
SO much 10 "dsiusioaate;' 10 keep my mind an
mhese the poetic and artistic standard necessary
justice either TO autor actor while the working day
ates we're palpabe. This feeling oppressed me amo:
painfuRy nights afterward, standing at tn
swing during ae representation of Ion, ha, play so cass
IA s simple grace end dgny, that regards pec
OF sculpture Ia front ION AMI Cenanlhe; behind me
group reheasiu broad farce and the words tina, reache
nv ears were mingled somewhat 10 this fashion
Ion, lin the sepuichra tone CT high tragedy
.sWliie their ponderpus spe,
Fit organs oI ceraily. Enclosed,
And. az live tu tell thee murnlGred
Han liii Ion the pcvoedn