The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-16
.'sUPES.'
some Anecdotes CODcerDIng These
Humble Members Of the Dramatic
Fraternity.
chambers Journal ]

| huWUAe WemDtFA Of TIC REhHfAb2C
Fraternity.
| chambers Journal
Supernumegaries on the stage, orGlinaril.
called "supers," receive small pay, but ar
not reckoned within the role Of actors. The,
make up a crowd when a crowd ID wanted Ii
the piece, and 50 on. Though viewed as
kind OF nobodies, they cannot be done with
out, and managers need to take care not t.
give them offense.
These humble players have been aptly dis
cribed as serfs of the stage, for whom there II
no manumission. Let them work as hard q:
they will. play their parts as well 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 submit to being bullied and badgered
and put to all manner Of personal discomfort
Still, with sense OF inferiority, the super
considers himself an actor. He treads but
the lowest rung; but his foot Is on the theatre
cal ladder. The climbers above may super.
ciliously ignore the connection; but he feels
that he, too, Is an actor, and sometimes as
serts his fellowship the overty-stricken
fellow who publicly hailed David Garrick as
his dear colleague" on the score that 1t was
his growing that made the ghost of buried
Denmark start like guilty thing upon q
fearful summons; and the less obtrusive
super who, when told OF Macreadys death.
exclaimed:
"Ah another of us gonel"
1t Is recorded that French super, playing
an assistant footman In popular opera
bouffe for the first time, fell down In fit,
brought on by the excitement consequent
upon his having to "create role" Too
much zeal Is always inconvenient. At per-
formance not very long since of Richard
I'LL" the armies contendnQ at BOsworth
were 30 carried away by professional ardor
that the mimic fray 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 Salyed the wound
with half sovereign. The next evening the
casualties rose to such alarming proportion.
that like treatment would have Wel-nigh
exhausted the treasury.
Considering how often the super changes
his nationality, one would expect him to be
too thorough a cosmopolitan to cherish any
insular or continental prejudices They
nevertheless have their sympathies and an
tipathies.
some nights died glorious death fighting for
Fatherland, tits mighty unpleasant to have
to be. Q German; I'D rather play French
man."
He had to be contented by receiving the
manage. 8 assurance that il he continued to
work up his agony WELL he might be permit
ted to change his uniform at the end of the
month. Greater success awaited a salwart
NAVY who after crossing the Danube several
times at Alexandria Park, declared he must
...'chuckiit up" If he couldn't be q Turk. His
desire was granted, and the next afternoon he
will WIN "
Somebody-we think Mr.. Dutton Cook
tells good story Of an accessoire once at
tached to the Porte St Martin Theatre NJ.
F0mbOnDe had won managerial praise for the
adroitness with which he handled letters or
coHee-cupS upon salver and his excellent
manner Of announcing the names of stage
guests and visitors. Naturally enough, he
CnOught the services might he more literally
rewarded, and made his thoughts known.
Monster Fombonne," said the manager
II acknowledge the justice of your appifca-
tOn L admire and esteem you You are one
OF the most useful members OF my company.
L well know your worth; no one better"
Glowing with pleasure at the recognition
81 his merits, nj. Fombonne, with one Of his
best bows, said:
II may venture then to hope"
ny an means, Monsieur Fombonne," in
terrupted the manager. Hope sustains US
my part, hope is the only thing left to me. |
business Is wretched. The treasury is empty. |
cannot possibly raise your salary But You |
are an artist, and therefore above pecuniary |
| do not, / cannot offer YOU
money; but | can crafty a laudabIe amhi-
Ion. Hitherto you have ranked only al an
from this time you are an actor.
give you the right OF entering the green
Dom. You are permitted to call Monsieur
iamaltre mon comarade; to thee and thou
u ademOiselle Theodorine. / am sure Mon
lur Fombonne, that you will thoroughly an
reclate the distinction have conferred upon
'ou." NpoH
lhe manager read his man rightly; the
ronoted accessoTc was more than satisfied
Not SO well pleased was the English suner
no asked for rise, pleading that he had
zen paying his part with the utmost care /
1d zeal for hundred consecutive nights =
ne I. IN manager inquired what part he played. q
why, Sir, said he, 81 am in the fourth I
imbling scpne."
Very WE'LL" quoth the manager, "from !
might You shall double the stakes h
was ~ the same manager, we wonder, to n
loh MI SalaS super came crying for a is
dress OF MS grievance? He had been cast t.
animated dominoes; but the dresser had a
otted double four" to his brother Jim. and n
sisted upon his being contented with dom q
~ the tabard OF -four and a blank" He Ia
nched Jim's head, without effect" r.
What am to doY' the little pantomimist Of
ca. ia sooner give up the profession cl
IN be took down so many pegs without as
YER 'avin' done muffin" ca
Never mind, my boy" replied the amused Ell
e.. manager, you shall play double four: til
1 \ you behave yourself properly till box w
night you shall play double six" tn
nat little fellow would never have made h.
2 mess Of his business" as did street tn
hin who made bis first appearance on any Oh
ge under the auspices Of Mr. j. c. William W;
!, when the latter was playing "Struck sit
In country town. Led on by the ear by
~; re Stofel, and asked: co
what for you call me Dutchy?" the de- fri
ant blurted out. Cause you told me to- tia
he immense delight of the house. As soon W
ne act was over he was told he might 90 tn
ront; and before anybody could stop him tif
pulled back the curtain, climbed over the We
theatre. ''--N oo'AiS 10i' ~,
=, 90 mi
nat pleasure ii is to possess a picture of lea
you love, particularly if it be a correct leg
ness' Iheo. Lilienthal. whose Lambert Ne Ne
- nave created such sensation in New IL II,
ILL.,. not only takes correct and speaking TIL
uess' put lmparts a superb finishing topcb CHI