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

writer in the London Daily News gives
some interesting details of theatrical man
agement, from which we make few ex-
tracts:
| In large, frst-class West End theatre the
nightly expenses average about f7O or ESQ., and
| the receipts vary from ESQ to f30O, according
to the success OF the entertainments. AS rule
made up by some lucky hit, when they are
| largely in excess. Christmas is the best thea
| trical season in the year. Summer is the worst,
| except when it is wet. In winter, however,
| every wet night costs the manager about f2O.
Nothing. however, is more deceptive than
full ''house;" for no one, except the manager
ana the acting manager, knows whether 1t is
filed with money or paper" Paper is the
slang term tor Nm order. AS the general public
dislike void, it that void be not filled up with
persons who have paid for their seats. it has to
pc hlled with persons who have not paid for
them large and by no means q poor lass
never pay to go lnto a theatre; indeed, thor
oughly to understand the parslmony of the
human species. man must have been the
manager Of o theatre. His table is covered
every morning with letters asking for orders,
on all conceivable pretexts.
THE STAGE.
Everything connected with bringing out a
piece is under the control or the stage mana
ger. In first-class theatre the company con-
sists OF at least, the following artists: One
leading mau, one llgnt comedian, two old men
three walking gentlemen, two character actor 8,
two low comedians, one leading lady, one old
woman, one young leading lady, one singing
chambermaid, one broad chambermaid three
walking ladies. utility men, male and female
supernumeraries. Salaries OF stock actors and
actresses vary from f12 to ca. They are by
no means easy people to manage. They live in
world apart. and their ideas OF their own
merits are frequent y at variance with those of
the stage manager. No part is too good for
any OF them, but few parts are good enough.
Those who are "cast" in bad parts IN play
usually announce their intention to leave
rather than play thom, but on reflection they
generally think better OF their decision. No
one, however, will ever play part q hairs
breadth out OF his own particular line. Ifa
first walking gentleman were asked to play o
third walking eentleman's part. he would be as
indignant as an attorney general were he call
ed upon to def-nd pickpocket in police
court.
Managers are often blamed because minor
parts in piece are badly played; they cannot.
however, help themselves. because good actors
will not play them. Actresses stand even
more on their dignity than actors; their mutu-
al jealouSles exceed even those OF fiue ladies.
Audiences must ofen have remarked that in
buriesques, songs and dances are Introduced
IL defiance OF tne reqnirem ont, of the situa-
tion. The reason usual is that Miss A. re-
fuses to play unless, IlAe MISS 3. she be given
q song, or, like Miss c.. o dance. The great
difficulty in bringing out burlesqnes is to find
an,resses whc I'LL Play ttii;s part OF gl is. They
all want to be boys, to show their legs, which
in nine cases out Of ten are padded. Tue pad
ding Is woven into the flesh. colored leggings
which they wear, so that it is almost i'm possi-
BILE to detect 1t.
THE WARDROBE.
AT the head OF this department is q master
tailor and mistress OF the wardrobe. The
silks and satins used on the stage are usually
bought Wholesale. The dresses tor large
buriesque or pantomime COST many hundred
pounds. Actresses are obliged to find their
own bonnets, boots and gloves. Actors ia
plays Of modern life find their own dresses.
THE BALLET.
Ballet girls are seldom required in theatre
except When bnrlesques or pantomimes are
played. They receive about twenty five shil-
lipgs week. II is IN error to suppose that.
as rule, shey are fast" On the con, n,rary.
they are usually the daughters or nieces Of
aci ora. and they work honestly for email pit
tanOe. .'SD
Besides the persons already. enumerated.
there are, on the whole working staf of thea
ire, dressers, gas-men. hremen, check-takers,
cleaners, one or two messengers, q hall por-
ter, prompter and cal-boy; altogether