, 1872-12-26
STAGE.SLAflG.
The Technical Language OF tho The
atres
From the Ne,p YORK. JIaiI.

language of the drama than In that Of the ma
jorlty of trades or professions. And as there is
this. The stage Is an eminently practical" in
stitution after all, and devotes it's energies to
one sole object-the portrayal OF emotion aeri-
GUS or comic, by word, dress, or action; and to
this end all other purposes are subservient.
cal d member Of the theatrical profess
sion may be personally considered, he is
3 very definite individual indeed in his
professional aspects and hls business
communications when on dutyn On tue stage
sonal language that no uses is simple, direct,
and to the point. So that the slang Of the stage
is comparatively limited.
The manager or proprietor OF theatre has
use for little slang, just he has really little to
do with the details Of his theatre. The business
manager has nlso comparatively little need Of a
technical vocabulary. he has his "posters to
see to his "b1ll-boards" and show-cafds " to
look after; he is responsible for "streamero
$50 the long, narrow posters or adyer-
tisements are called which We. see dis
played on fences or dead walls), he also has
charge of the ssdodgers" or gutter-snipes
which are to be seen adorning the curbstones of
the the sds ads" izhort % g for advestisoments Il the
sorders" and " "bill-board tickets;" reads the
snotices," writes the "pufs," ':counte the
house" and performs kindred duties; but the
AAA A@*A
daily and nightly avocatious explain themselves,
like the terms we have already used, and are IA
1niliar to the general public while the treasurer
Of theatre-to many the most important post
"slang" in the discharge Of its functions, save
the ordinary phrases Of constant use in moneta-
~ and business affairs.
The Stage manager, however, being more init
mately connected with tho drama in it's profess
sionai aspects, has vocabulary somewhat more
technical, while tho actor and ACTRESSES Of course
employ constantly the cant terms Of their call
ing. TO them the terms "pnrt," ''1ines, u "bus-
mess Of the piece" '.cast," waits" "gags,"
"Eehesraa comparing the pars5
household words; and the phrases dead letter
perfect" (signifyiug perfect Hterdtina ct rerbut
in knowledge Of one's part), f'give him the
word" (signifying precisely, the opposite, imply
Is are the two prime terms Of the actor and &C.
tresses, which ore 'cues" Consisting Of the last
three or four-generally four-words OF the
"part" preceding one's own "Gnes'), and
..1engths'' CHE latter consisting of 1oTty,two
On an actors memory is measured).
The green-room slang, BY which q poor actor
is designated, is expressive. He is styled q
sistlck, or hduffer;" while the rich frequent
ers Of the theatre and patrons Of the actresses
are expressivoIy called "spoons." These sac
ond-c!ass swels who affect ballet-grls are styled
"mashors," while the heavily gotten up old fell
lows arc denominated "fakirs." Any one known
to the parties concerned, but not >, otherwise M
cant phrase "twig his nibs," signifylng f'lool at
him, is in current use.
The terms by which the different members Of
theatrical company are designated are peculiar;
though not unfamiliar a. "the Leading , @:R,a =; f.
The adjective ssheavy" is . tavorite one in
theatrical parlance, and is applied to lighter as
we'll as darker characters. Thus there il the
mind that the "heayy villain" differs from 4sthe
bold bad man." OF the 'D .. II" Of stage slang:
the latter being the instigator Of the vilany OF
the former, and therefore occupying higher
position in the company. The adjective :. walk
ing gentleman" walking lady" signifying
minor members Of the cast-whose principal
duties arc to display their figures and their
dresses The term utility" is nlso in general
use, and is applied to the most versatile and
paid members Of the company. Then there are
1.-THE soubrettes,' "the chambe1maids," etc.,
and those human odds and ends called "superB."
The dancing members Of . company are d.
rantes," rause s1 and deorps Do balet; the "co5y-
pheegh being educated to their profession, the
'.corps de ballet merely adopting it as tenn
porary livelihood, and the .' 'fgurantes merely
assisting in tableaux, marches, etc. ...
There is, OF course, o vast difference between
the pay and status Of the major md minor
members OF company, but then there is vast
difference in the work, too. Thus Lending
mans sveFags eonasts ftedn o.
| book pages. And the premiere danseuse studies
at Milan for years, while the 'super"' !" has but
| to say: "My lord, the carriage waits," and the
fgurante, OF q tsxtra ballet " girl has nothing to
do at I'll but to show her figure.
| Speaking OF figures suggests what are generally
| supposed to be worn over them (o1cept on the
| e)-dresses; and dresses suggest the fact
that the theatrical costumer has his special
"Hang," which, however, il chiefly composed Of {
% %iong stockings" galligasEena" (short drawers
demon eat.pella, sprite dresses spangles, y
"ballet-shoes," "gauzes," .''strip dresses y
| (Which are worn loosely over other dresses, and
contriyances), &c. Much Of tho costumer's par
lance is identical with that Of the ordinary tailor
or dressmaker, and therefore needs no special
! notice. .
| local divsions-its Topography, as 1t were-lt 1s
in these respects that the language or tho stage
is richest in slang, or, moro strictly speaking
| fullest in technicalities.
The stage Of theatre is divided into en-
trauceB'-in the new Nib1o's there are twelve.
They are designated from their position to the
| and 40. r." or ''opposite prompt side,
then there is the sMstago p1op3er roper, thsn
the "cellar," tho "sub-cel]ar;" then above
the stage are "the oove ga1lssfy sts d, "iss .Iss
in the way OF ropes, sceneo, otc-, are fastened,
and which is so-called BECAUSE il ls intensely So I
hot; the stage itself is divided into prompt,
Nprompt CENTRE" and 'scentre," on one side,
and 10. r." 20. p. centre," and "centre y
Oh the other.
Scenes which run in "grooves,' as "frst
HHfats, " "half-aats," etc, the 's wings" being
on each side Of the half-hats. Set scenes m
yolve = large portion of the, stage
and the disposal Of scenes and furni;
ture in various positions. "B9omerange 70,
tssuspsnding" people; "travelers are the t
which wat faEy being shs
| and Z. tail pieces," which 'nasIl" or "hide !
certain portions Of the SCENES Or Of essh othes
thing that goes up, or flies, as it we're; The1
there are the usual mechanical ''shaftings,
ny III