The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-27

A writer in the London Daily News gives
some interesting details Of theatrical man
agcment, from which we make few e1-
tracts
In largo, frst-class West End theatre the
nightly expenses average about f7U or ESQ and
thu receipts vary from ESQ to f300. according
to the SUCCESS Of the entertainments. As rule
the receipts arc below the expenses; the loss is
made up by some lucky hit, when they arc
largely III excess. Christmas is the best thea
trical season in the year. Summer is the worst,
except when il is wet. In winter, hoYcver,
cyory wet night costs tho manager about f2O.
Nothing howevr is moro deceptive than q
full "hOuso;" tor no one, except the manager
and the acting manager, knows whether 1t is
filled with money or paper" Paper IL the
slang term Tor IN order. As tho general public
dislike void, ii that void be not filled up With
persons who have paid Tor their seats. it has to
be filled with persons who lavc not paid for
them A large and by no mems po'r lass
never pay to go lnto d theatre; indeed, thor
oughly 10 understand the parsImouy OF tho
human species. 4 mln must have been the
manager of 0 theatre. His table Is covered
every morning with letters asking for orders,
Oh all conceivable lrctcXts.
THE STAGE.
Everything connected with bringing out o
pieco is undcr the control OF the stage Inanl-
ger. In D tirst-ciass theatre the company cou-
siats of ut least the following artists: One
leading man, one light comedian, Two old men,
three walking gentlemen, two character acio;s.
two low comedians, one Lending lady, ono i
woman, ohc young leading lady, one singing
cnambcrnlaiu, ono broad shainbcrnLld three
walking lauios. utility men, male and female
supcrnumcrarics. Salaries Of stock actors ard
actresses vary from f12 to e.. They arc by
no means easy people to mana;e. They live IN
q world apart. and their ideas OF thor own
merits are r,qucnt y at variance with those of
the stage manager. Nc part is tco go I'd for
any OF them, but few parts are good enough.
Those who are "clso" in bad parts Ill plhy
usually annolhce their intention to leave
rather than play thom, but on refccton they
generally lliEk better OF their decision. No
one, however, will ever play q part hairs
breadth out of his own particular line. IL
fist walking gentleman were asked to play
tnlrd walking Gentlema Is part. he would be as
indignant as Ill attorney general were he call
ed upon 10 def nd q plckpocket in police
court.
Managers are cf.en blamed because minor
parts in piece are bldly played; they cthnot,
however, help themselves. because 20 III actors
will not play then. Actresses si"nd even
moro Oh their dign;y tiIaL aciors; thor multi u
al jcaiOuslos exceed even lhoae o. h!c iauics.
Ailu!ciicUS must VI ell uitfc IcIualACu 'ItV il
buIcsqucs 30 6, aud Ianccs are i.tro.. ..aced
in dcu. ncc OF 10 req lire rsnt of thc situa-
tiop. The reasui usil '!ly il that Mlss ~. r,-
fuses to pl IS Unless. liac Mss 3. she be given
Il s,ng, or ka Miss -. i lance. The great
diff. .ufy in b.lu.iIiE ona DurlesqIcs is 10 hDd
actrys"sw..s' Will lty the part vi 81 Is. They
AL WANT 10 lie boy. 10 Slow their legs. vii ch
nlno CASTS out oi ten arc padded. lie pad
drg Is woven Iuto tbs q ISL cJure,i leg ings
wInc! rliuy var, so that 1t is almost lpi ossI-
blc ~ dc, ,cctlt.
TIE WARDROBE.
At the head IT this department is master
tailor aid lnisres, Of tho wardrobe. The
sihs auu satins nsu,l on tie staSo are usually
bought wholcsa.o. The dresses ior u largo
ur,csqno or n pantamlue cost nlany hun lrcd
pounds. Actresses are Obliged tv Fl III tlelr
own boncis, boJis aud gloves. Ac ors il
pays oil modern iife1;a :her Own dresses.
THE BALLET.
Ballet girls are seldom required in theatre
except Wien barl:squcs D- rantbniIma5 are
pla, cd. They rec Tvs about .woEty-iire Sill
Ilrgs week. L. is n er; or 70 suppose tEat.
as ruic, they are fist" On tna CON rary.
they arc u-unlly Shc daugh ers or iiccc5 OF
aclors and they work honestly for o small PIT
tance.
l;esldas the pcranns ALREADY rnumrra' cd.
tlsrc gro Oh the who.c working STAFF uf L lh,a-
,re. dressers. els.ln III. ilr. IL Il, oheck-iaktrS
cleaners, one oc two ulo5scnGers, hall l,or-
ter, prompter aad cal.-oo,; aiteee'ner