Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-09-05
ssSUPERS" ON THE STAGE.

Comic DOings of These Humble Players.
Supernumeraries on the stage. ordinari-
" called 'supers," says Chambers Jour-
nal, receive small pay, but are not reck-
oned within the roll of actors. They
make up crowd, when a crowd is want
ed in piece, and so on. Though viewed
as kind of nobodies, they cannot be
done without, and managers need to take
care not to give them offence.
These humble players have been aptly
described as serfs of the stage, for whom
here is no manumission. Let them work
as hard as they will, play their parts as
we'll as they may, their merits meet scant
recognition either before or behind the
curtain. For the wages of some three
pence an hour, they have to submitto be-
ing bullied and badgered. and put to all
manner Of personal discomfort. Still,
with sense of inferiority, the super con-
siders himself an actor. He treads out
the lowest rung; but his foot is on the
theatrical ladder. The climbers above
may superciliously ignore the connection;
but he feels that he, too. is an actor, and
sometimes asserts his fellowship-like the
poverty-stricken fellow who publicly hail
ed David Garrick as his "dear colleague"
on the score that it was his growing that
made the ghost of buried Denmark start
like guilty thing upon fearful sum-
mons; and the less obstrusive super, who,
when told of Macready's death, exclaim-
ed:
"Ah! another of us gomez
1t is recorded that q French super,
playing an assistant footman in a popular
oprea bouffe for the first time, fell down
in fit, brought on by the excitement
consequent upon his having to create a
role.' Too much zeal is always incon-
convenient At performance not very
long since of Richard ILL.," the armies
contending at Bosworth were so carried
away by professional ardor that the
mimic tray came very near the real
thing; and one gallant archer introduced
himself to the managers notice with an
arrow through his nose, so astonishing
that gentleman that he salved the wound
| with half sovereign. The next evening
the casualties rose to such alarming pro-
portions that like treatment would have
well-nigh exhausted the treasury.
Considering how often the super
changes his nationality, one would ex-
pect him to be too thorough cosmopoli-
tan to cherish any insular or continental
prejudices. They nevertheless have their
sympathies and antipathies.
"Shure, SIR" said an Irishman who
had for some nights died a glorious
death fighting for Fatherland, ''it's
mighty unpleasant 10 have to be a Ger
man; I'd rather play Frenchman."
He had to be contented by receiving
the managers assurance that if he con-
tinued to work up his agony we'll, he
might be permitted to change his uni
form at the end of the month. Greater
success awaited stalwart navy, who.
after crossing the Danube several times
at Alexandra Park, declared he must
"chuck it up" if he he could not be a
Turk. His desire was granted, and the
next afternoon he was pitching Russians
, into the water with will.
Somebody-we think Mr.. Dutton
Cook--tells good story of an accessoiYt
, once attached to the Porte st. Martin
: Theatre. M. Fombonne had won man.
agerial praise for the adroitness with
, which he handed letters or coffee-cups
+ upon salver, and his excellent manner
! | VI duuOuuCluS lllO udLlcS VI SIdHc SuSSts
Z and visitors Naturally enough, ht
I thought his services might be more
a lliperally rewarded, and made his though
known.
Monsieur Fombonne," said the man
ager, 81 acknowledge the Justice of YOU
q application. / admire and esteem you
You are one of the most useful member
of my company. well know your worth
b no one better"
Glowing with pleasure at this recog
Q milton of his merits, NJ. Fombonne, witt
:, one of his best bows said
II may venture than to hope
! by all means, Monsieur Fombonne,
Q interrupted the manager. Hope sus
: tains us under all our Affections. Alway
hope. For my part, hope is the onl
n thing left to me. Business is wretchee
The treasury is empty. Icannot possibl
II raise your salary. But you are an artii
y and therefore above pecuniary conside