The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-09-22
Theatrical EHe cts.

Many of the peculiar effects produced
upon the stage, initiating moonlight,
sunlight, thunder, wind, rain and other
natural phenomena, are puzzle to those
outside of tho business. How such re-
alistic representations Of these things as
are often witnessed upon the stage can
be mado is q question that often enters
the mind of the spectator, and is seldom
answered i'll satisfactory manner. It
is always the ambition of the scene paint
ers and stage carpenters to devise i'm
proved methods Of initiating these things,
and hence the stage may be said to try
to hold the mirror up to nature in q ma
terial, rs well rs moral sense. Years of
experience have tended to bring these
limitations to high state of excellence 4:
but the limits do not yet seem to be reach
ed, and now are continually appearing.
The electric light is not yet used, but rs
its pale blush tint would DO serviceable
III particular effects stage machinists arc
now deliberating how it can be best en-
ployed. All Of the operations mentioned
together with some which will be de-
scrlbed, ore classet, under tho general
term, "stage effects" Authors, in writ
ing plays are always Oh the lookout for
an opportunity to produce telling effect
The amount Of work bestowed upon
their production in theatre is simply
astonishing to those unacquainted with
that mysterious realm known rs "behind
the scenes"
| Thunder is q common stage effect and
Is used with great advantage in many
plays. In former days it was produced
by shaking large piece of sheet iron
hung Immediately above the prompter's
desk. This contrivance produced a good
imitation of sharp, rattling thunder, but
failed to give the dull roar which is
always heard in storms. A continuance
tor this purpose was soon invented. A
heavy box frame is made, and over it is
tightly drawn calf skin. Upon this the
prompter operates with stick, one end
OF which is padded and covered with
chamois skin. A flash of lightning, pro-
ducod with magnesium, and sharp
crack OF the sheet iron, followed by q
long decreasing roll upon the "thundcr
drum, produces oh effect which is start
lingly realistic. Travelling companies
are compelled to be satisfied with the
sheet iron alone and the tragedian who
enters theatre provided with COM
plete thunder apparatus always is happy
to think that hig battle with the clements
IN liking Lear" will be worth fighting.
The rain machine in large theatres is
fixture placed high up in tho ''aics. 4"
A cylinder is made of half inch wood,
1t is usually five feet in circumference,
and four feet in lcngth. Upon the in
side are placed rows of small wooden
teeth. A lot of dried peas is placed in
the cylinder, a ropo belt is FUN around
one end of it md down to the prompter's
desk, and it is ready for drenching
shower. By turning tho cylinder, tho
peas roll down between the teeth, and
the noise produced by them makes n
good imitation of rain falling upon n
roof. A sudden pull of the rope. accom-
panied by agust Oh the"wind machine, I"
gives the sound Of the sweep of n blast
OF wind during storm. Travelling COM
panles often meet theatres where there
is no wind machine. A sufficiently good
one, however, is easily produced. A
common child's hoop is obtained, and n
sheet of heavy brown paper is pasted
upon it after the manner of circus
riders balloon. A handful of birdshot
is placed upon the paper The "ma
chine" is cantod from one sido to the
other, and the shot rolls around the pa
per, producing fairly good rain effect.
Wind is an item that is very useful in
heightening the effect of stage storms. 1t
Is often dispensed with III theatres where
strict attention is not paid to details, but
not without loss Of "realism." It has,
moreover, great influence over the
feelings of the spectators. The blind
Louise i'll the "Two Orphans" is much
more pitied when the audience can heor
the pitiless blasts that make her shiver.
Hence in every large theatre tho wind
machine plays an important part. 1t is
not stationary apparatus, but can be
moved to any quarter of the compass
from which it is desired that wind should
blow. In tho last act Of "Ours," every
time the door of the hut opens snow flies
i'll and shrek Of wind is heard. The
wind machine in that instance is placed
just outside the door; and the property
man works it while his assistant amuses
himself by trying to throw his paper
snow down Lord Shcndryn's back. The
wind machine is constructed in this man.
ner: A heavy frame is made, in whicl,
is set cylinder provided with paddles
and resembling very much the stern.
wheels seen Oh Ohio River tow.boats.
Across the top Of this cylinder is stretch.
cd as tightly rs possible piece of heavy
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