The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-15

rally COSTS manager at least tZU week.
THE ORCHESTRA.
The band is usually contracted for with the
leader. Its costs about ESQ a week.
THE STAGE.
Everything connected with bringing out q
piece is under the control of the stage mana
ger. In first-class theatre the company con-
ssts of at least the following artists: One lead
ing man, one light comedian, two old men,
three walking gentlemen, two character ac-
tors, two low comedians, one leading lady,
one old woman, one young leading lady, one
singing ehambermaid, one broad chamber
maid, three walking ladies' utility men, male
and female esupernumeraries. Salaries Of stock
actors and actresses vary from fl2 to e..
They are by no means easy people to manage
They live in a world apart, and their ideas of
their own IdGrits arc frequently 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 q play usually announce their inten-
tion to leave rather than play them, but on re-
Election they generally think better of their
decision. No one, however, will ever play q
part hairs breadth out of his own particular
line. If q first walking gentleman were asked
to play third walking gentleman's part, he
would be as indignant as an Encouragement
were he called upon to defend pickpocket in
q police court.
Managers are often blamed because minor
parts in piece are badly played; they can
not, however, help themselves, because
good actors will not play them. Actresses
stand even more on their dignity than actors;
their mutual jealousies exceed even those of
fine ladies. Audiences must often have re-
marked that in burlcsqlcs, songs and dances
are introduced in defiance of the requirements
of the situation. The reason usually is that
Miss A. refuses to play unless, like Miss B.. she
be given song, or, Like Miss c., q dance. The
great difficulty in bringing out burlesques is to
find actresses who will play the part of girls.
They all want to be boys-to show their legs,
padding is woven into the flesh-colored leg
gings which they wear, 80 that 1t is almost i'm
possible to detect It,
These bright particular luminaries some
times receive as much as sixty pounds week,
or they share the receipts after expenses.
Their great object is to play in piece with
which they may afterwards make the tour OF
the provinces; they, therefore, as much as pos
sible, eschew those which require elaborate
and expensive scenery. AS rule, their
engagements are more profitable to themselves
than to the managers who pay them. Their
way Of their financial success. No play suits
them unless its whole interest Is concentrated
on themselves, and the public Will not put
up with what are called lone actor pieces"
THE BALLET.
Ballet girls are seldom required in theatre
except when burlcsqucs or pantomimes are
played. They receive about 25s. q week. 1t
Is an error to suppose that, as rule, they are
fast" On the contrary, they are usually the
daughters or nieccs of actors, and they work
honestly for small pittance.
Besides the persons already enumerated
there are, on the working staff of a theatre,
dressers, gas men, hremen, check-mkers,
cleaners, one or two messengers, q hall porter,
O prompter, and call boy; altogether about
one hundred persons find permanent employ
ment.
PLAYS AND BURLESQUES.
A play is either paid for by percentage on
the profits. or at q fixed rate per night or 1t Is
bought. 1t is by no means easy to obtain good
ones. The number of bad ones sent to mar
ayers is enormous. They are usually written
by aspiring authors, who know nothing OF
Stage effects. It requires not only talent, but
q vast amount of technical knowledge to write
well for the stage. Managers are almost al
ways obliged to fall back on experienced dra-
matte authors, and to accept with gratitude
whatever they may offer. Three OF five act
plays, when not paid for by percentage on
profits, usually cost from f200 to $500, or from
f3 to f5 every night they are acted. The price
of good burlcsque varies from ESQ 10 fl20.
Farces are seldom worth more than f19. Their
success usually depends more upon the actors
than the author.