The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-14

BEHIND THE SCENES.


for me an undiminished fascination. l was
mere school.boy at the time, and the first inside
view of theatre with It's dazzling lights, Its
tier tier of gilt and paint, its crowd of people,
Its mysterious "green curtain" its pompous
'drop" curtain, and finally the splendor of its
stage effects, the acting, and the play Itself
these furnished such an unexpected and marvel
lous scene of enchantment, that memory turns
to II even now, when judgment and experience
have long since formed more correct estimates
of the matter, with genuine satisfaction. From
that memorable night forward the word
'theatre" had a magic sound to me, and long
before my school-days were over / had become
Z actor and manager in more than one Dramatic
Corps" whose Juvenile performances in various
attics and barns never failed to "bring down
the house" with rapturous applause.
The most successful establishment with
which | was connected in that inexperienced
season of youth we named the "Star Theatre"
1t was located in wilkins mothers garret. We
had tried the gaTrets of other boys mothers; but
had seldom su cceeded i'm performing more than
once III eacu place. Either we made 'too much
noise aitOG ether, boys and disturbed the house
hold beneath, or 1t was found that the stair
carpets were too rapidly wearing out under the
constant tread OF the dramatic corps in going
up and down at rehearsals; or else the smell OF
the painted scenery; or the too great absorption
OF the chairs and sofas from bedrooms and par
lors to furnish seats for the audience; these, or
! kindred objections, drove us about from house
to house without rest for the sole of our buskins
4 At last that model of all patience and forbear-
: ance, Wilkins mother, permitted something like
= permanent establishment Of the drama IN her
third-story attic.
Think we had some dozen performances, and
emihently successful they we're too. | remem-
Der that The Forty 1hLeUeS had decided run OF
three successive Saturday afternoons II was an
exceedingly gorgeous affair. Charley Munson
-6denomipated in the pay-bills "Slgnor Palletti')
painted the scenery, and wilkins sister (del o.
minated Signora Festooni) made the costumes
as well as the stage curtain. The robbers cave
was pronounced to be the most remarkable imi-
taton of nature on the modern stage. AS we had
but eight performers in all, and could only spare
four OF them for there's, the entrance of the
shorty" into the enchanted cave was accom-
plished by reduplcatton; that is as soon as one
8 got into the cave and out of sight, he would
stealthlly creep round behind the scenes, and
appear a. ain before the audience, repeating the
performance until the magic number was accom-
pl shed.
) Before "the season" was over-whcb, blythe
way, was prematurely brought to close by
serious COntTetemps-we had ascended from
melodrama TO the walks of tragedy. OGteUO, if
1t had not been for white smutch occurring on
the nose Of the jealous Moor while in the act of
smothering "Desdemona" (and which created
litter and cries of "Black your nose, Hopkins !"
from the audience), was a great success. So
was Macbeth, only we had no trap-door for the
benefit of the ghosts, and 'Banquo" was obliged
J 10 CODCedl DlmSel1 OeneaUu tDe banquet table,"
which, unfortunately, he upset in rising there
from, causing three of wilkins mothers Bohe-
milan fngerbowls, which served as royal gob-
!ets,and her favorite cut-glass fruit dish to come
to an untimely end. Appalled, at the mischief
Z done, the actors stood not upon the order OF
their going, but went at once" and in this way
Z The ''Star Theatre" set, to rise no more.
From imitation to the real thing is natural
consequence in the experience of man. As
schoo-boy days gave place to the more indie
pendent and adventurous periods of the college
md hn l. W. 10 trn hppo mi
femptine place OF resort whenever my pocket
money and spare evening permitted the indul-
gence. From the front OF the house" curiosity
soon led me to desire to penetrate the mysteries
Of the stage; and how to get behind the scenes
during performance was for long period the
subject of the most anxious investigation. |
knew that no ''outsiders" had right there, and
also that a stern-faced man sat nightly at the
stagedoor in the of the theatre scrutinizing
the face of every one that entered. Besides this,
had seen, as | stood in the dark alley leading
thereto, a notice conspicuously posted over the
door, which stated in unmistakable terms that
there was mo admittance except for persons
having business with the Manager" This, how
ever cave me the necessary hint. Could not
make some business with the managerW
Days of thought, / remember, we're given to
this subject which should have been directed
exclusively to the copying of legal documents
in the office of my employer, Thomas Trust,
/ ESQ.,, Counselor, etc, No. Court Square.
The result of my cogitations was resolve, and
4 the result of the resolve a practical success
| One night advanced boldly up the alley lead
ing to the stage door, as if on business bent,
and without shade of eXpectant curiosity in
my appearance. There sat the Argus-eyed
porter, but I pretended not TO see him as
walked rapidly past with legal looking bundle
of papers, tied with red tape, in my hand. 1
4 had scarcely got three steps, however, into the
| mystery OF mysteries before was brought to
with "a
"Halloo, there who do you want?"
MIR: B, the manager. Is he on the
swell yes, he's on the stage; but he can't see
nobody now, cause the plays goin' on. You'll
have to call tomorrow mnrning."
''All right ~ said; III call TO morrow morn
ing. Let's see-what times rehearsalw
''Ten o'clock; you'll be sure to see him then.n
So off went. One point had been gained;
the porter knew my tace-knew had business
with the manager, and had actual permission
\ to go on the stage. Next day, promptly at ten,
was there. With familiar nod and good
4 morning" passed the Cerberus OF the stage
| door, and in a moment after stood in the
q 'twiDgs" upon the actual stage of a veritable
& theatre. .
~ light! Gloom everywhere; height of gloom
III above, a depth of gloom behind a
= vast semi-circle of gloom in the direc-
= ton of the boxes. | found myself standing
4 like pigmy between towering sheets OF daubed
canvas stretched upon frames, like gigantic
scafolds, and smelling atroclously OF paint and
! oil. With the scenery drawn closely back into
the wings" the stage spread its tremendous
proportions, and made the one little solitary
table by the foot-lights and the manager sitting
II by it, most Insignificant. A few seedy docking
gentlemen with their hats on were standing
n llstlessly about and three or four women in
e woollen shawls and plain bonnets, made up the
group on the stage. Apparently they were re-
. ceiving their parts as given out by the manager,
~ and discussing some changes to be adopted
Il In the play before the rehearsal commenced.
III xunaw haa Aha reln