The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-12-10

Ao
work, the opera of "Alda,'' with its
marching armies, gorgeous scenery, and
rich costumes, has already become a
favorite with the opera goers Of the
city, thanks to the enterprise Of Mr..
Strakosch, but those who only view it
from their seats in the auditorium of
the Academy can form no very correct
idea Of the work involved in putting an
opera on the stage. 1t was the writer s
ing the rendering of the opera. AS he
entered the stage door he was stopped
by the vigiant door tender, Mr.. Ere
ligh, but word not only gave him ad-
mission, but seat by the doorkeeper S
side. 1t was early, and the performers
were just beginning to arrive. Stage
carpenters were hurrying to and fro ;
scene Shutters were setting the scenes
for the first act. Calcium-light men
were rolling retorts Of oxygen and n.y.
drogen into position and fitting the re-
Electors, and property men and super
intendents of wardrobes were hurrying
through the doorway with loads of
pasteboard armor, wooden spears and
swords, and heaps of gorgeous clothing
for.
THE GRAND EGYPTIAN ARMY.
Potentini, Cary, Carpi, Del Puente,
and the other artists were in their
dressing rooms, but the chorus, ballet,
and army were clamoring for ad-
mission. 1--WE have seventy 'Supers,
lot of extra orchestra, carpenters, and
ballet, and am expected to know them
part in the performance. We have
some people here you wouldn't expect
10 see. That good-looking, well-dressed
Young fellow that just went up stairs to
the dressing rooms is a clerk in dry
goods store. He comes here night after
night. getting forty cents for his cutles
as super There was ool-keeper
that came last season, and paid
boy fifty cents night to watch his
clothes while he was on the stage. He
said he was willing to pay ten cents to
ste the opera, and that's why he came
As the deor-keeper said this, a neatly
dressed, lady-like young woman enter
ed. "She's trying to support her old
mother. They arc very poor. Yes
terday she said she hadn't only seven
teen cents in the world, but Mr.. Stra-
kosch has hired her and she gets dol
lar night for appearing as priestess
and waiting lady, and She as happy as
she can be. They used to be well off,
and she's perfect lady. No, she
doesn't sing-she's only super.
NOTES OF PREPARATION.
The time drew near for the first act.
Mr.. Van Hamme, the stage manager,
had come. Signor Muzio, the director,
on whom so much depended. was on the
stage drawing on his white kids. The
first call bell rang, and from their dres-
sing rooms above there came host Of
strange iigures--Egyptian priests and
priestesses in long flowing robes and
picturesque turbans Ethiopian slaves
with corked faces and red gowns; Egyp-
tian soldiers in shining armor ard fierce
false boards; ballet girls who shivered
in their thin dresses. : We're the
dancing boys" said small voice.
"There are twelve of us. and dozen
small, black-legged, black-armed, black
faced youngsters trotted in. All
little girls" said Freligh, land regular
monkeys, too. You can't do anything
with them IRA la-la-la," sounded
a deep voice, and a swarthy-faced fig.
urc in gorgeous robes stalked with
stately strides across the stage. singing
gayly. 1t was Fiorino, the bssSo. RAM
fis, the priest, when the curtain rises.
And then came Potentinl, picturesque
in gay feathers and Egyptian orna-
ments, with bronzed face and sandeled
feet, talking and laughing with Carpi.
the tenor. In moment more she was
to be Aida, the Ethiopian slave, and he
Redames, the Captain Of the Guard.
Then Cary, the stately Amneris, daush-
ter of the king. and Scolara, clad in
purple and gold and glittering crown.
With him talked Del Puente, who wore
the tiger skin Of the Ethiopian chief
tain. In the meantime the stage man
ager was not idle. His quick eve
seemed to see everything and every
body on the stage, even to the minutest
detail.
THE REAL MONARCH
"You have on the wrong waist" to
. ballet girl where are your brace
letsl That's the wrong dress en-
iii civ to another. "you are 4 priest