The Portland daily press., 1883-01-12
Stage Costumes.
Peculiarities of the Leading Actors and
Actresses in the NJ tier of Dress.
New York Tribune. ]

THAT young man has more ambition than
dramatic ability" said ne costumer, looking
over the top of his spectacles. The young ac-
tor referred to was one of the bandbox sort.
He wore a high collar, a sky blue cravat and a
split-tail top coat hat struck his heels
How do know" resumed the costumer.
s.I can always tell how long man has been on
the stage by the kind of toggery he buys A
beginner always attaches great impor 4ance to
dress, so much In fact that he loses sight OF
what is more important When young Fred
erick PauldiDg began his career he spent mon
ey lavishly on his outfit. He had vsulting
ambition; his mother had money. His Coz
tune for the Prince of Como in the character
of Claude Melnotte cost more than $500. 1t
was of the best material and lined with satin.
He had great confidence in his dramatic abil-
ity. He is still struggling"
rs Edwin Booth careful about his dress
ing?"
''Far from it, He is quite right II is the
man and not the clothes he wears, on the stage
as in the street."
"Has Mr.. Booth green room attendant"
Eyes; he has a dresser who goes with him
everywhere, and has been with him Tor years.
''Does not Barrett care great deal for dress
n his performances"
Every much; he is almost tinical. The most
minnie details of his costumes receive atten-
ton, and he insists on having his own ideas
embodied in them. But Lester Wallack IS
more scrupulous regarding his dress that Bar
rett, if anything"
Have you ever made any of bis costumes 2"
tNot for years. His theatrical wardrobe is
kept up, think, by his dresser-Miss Elan
merry we call him. He has been Mr. Wallack 8
dresser for years, and has remarkably good
taste"
"What actress has the most expensive ward
robe?r
$50 far as know more money has been ex-
pended ON that of Margaret Mather, who re-
Gently made her debut in Chicago, than on
that OF any other actress in this country. Her
Juliet dress cost 81 600. 1t was made by Pa
risan dressmaker for Spanish lady of rank,
who was to have been married to rich gran
dee. Some accident prevented the ceremony
from taking place, and the dress found Its way
TO tits city. 1t was made of the finest satin,
ornamented with most exquisite lace and al
most covered with pearls"
"How does Mary Andersons dressing COM
pare with that Of other leading actresses?'
"When she began her career she did not
so the story goes-in her family, or by her
maid. After her visit to Paris there was q
marked improvement in her costumes. The
great French actress, Sarah Bsrnhardt, no
doubt gave her some points on the Importance
of using art in dressing for the stage"
"Do stars employed by managers furnish
their own OUTFIT"
Managers of operas and spectacular plays
furnish the outfits for the whole company. In
all stock companies, like those of Wallack' s
and the Union Square, and in all travelling
combinations playing dramas, each person fur
nishes his own wardrobe"
who designs all the costumes for COM
| pany?"
much is left to the ccstumer, who makes a
careful study OF the play, of the character and
conditions of the people in it, of their manners
and customs and Of the places and times in
which the scenes are laid"
"Is the outfit usually ordered in advance"
mo; costumes are always knocked together
in hurry. Managers do not usually give
their orders until the last moment, and our
tailors and seamstresses have to work day and
night to get the costumes finished for the OPEN
ing performance. There is q scene of confu-
sion throughout the whole establishment, and
all engaged at the work are so nervous that
their teeth knock together"
do the people in the theatrical line pay
their bills promptly"
The costumer Immediately became sad and
melancholy.
TITS an unhappy experience that we cos
4umers have" he said. my black list is a
long one, and contains names that theatre
goers would never dream of being en- it. I
never 60 to theatre without seeing somebody
on the stage whose name is on that list, for
which reason 1 seldom go, and take little en-
joyment when do CO."
How are amateur clubs furnished with eos
tunes for their performances7'
I'm some cases a Climb buys its outfit out and
out, as did the company which gave an anna
teur performance last winter at Chickerng
Hall. The ladies who belong to aristoclatic
dramatic clubs have their theatrical costumes
made by their dressmakers. As a rule anna
teur societies secure set of costumes for their
public performances from a costumer."
"What effect has Mrs. Langtry's appearance
here had GU amateur theairicals?"
sit has melted them to great activity. The
desire TO shine in amateur entertainments is be-
coming a mania among young women"