New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-05
A TALK WITH 4 THEATRiCAL COST UMEh

"That vounq man has more ambition than dra-
matic ability.p said the cosumer looking over the
too of his spectaces The young actor referred TO
was one of tho bandbox sort. He wore high col
lar sly-blue crayat and split-ail top-coat that
struck his heels.
GLOW do l know ?" resumed the costumer. L
can always tell how long man has been on inc
stage by the kind OF toRgery he buys. beginner
always attaches great Importance to dress 50 much
in fact that he loses sight Of what is more lmpOr-
tant When young Frederick Paulding began his
career he spent money lavishly on his outht. lie
had a vaulting ambition; his mother had money.
His costume for the Prince Of Como in the character
of Claude Meinotte cost more than $500. 1t was Of
the best material and lined with satin. His other
costumes were also elegant. He had great conf
dence in his dramatic ability. He Is still strug-
Cling"
Is Edwin Booth careful about his dressing"
Ear from IL. He is quite right. 1t is the man
and not the clothes he wears on the stage as III the
street"
"Has Mr. Booth a green room attendantT
Eyes; he has dresser who goes with him every
where and has been with him for years"
"Does not Barrett care great deal for dress IN his
performancesp
VERY much; he is almost fncal. The most
minute details OF his costumes receive attention,
and he insists on having his own ideas embodied in
them But Lester Walack Is more scrupulouS re-
gaIding his dress thin Barrett, If anything"
Have you ever made any OF his c0stunesT
"Not for years. His theatrical wardrobe is kept
nm. think. by his dresscr-Miss Flannery we call
him. He has been Mr. Wallack dresser for years,
and has remarkably good taste"
What actress has the most expensive ward
robei'
Al ato NJ MatlpT recently
debut in Chicago than that of any other actress
i'm this country. Her Juliet dress cost ~ 900. 1t
wa. made by a Partisan dressmaker Tor spanish
lady of rank, who MAS to have been married to u
rich grandee. some accident prevented the ccie-
mony from taking place. and thedresS found It's way
to this city. IL made OF the lnest satiD, orna
mcnted with most exquisite lace andalmost covered
I5w does Mary Andcrson's dressing compare
with that of other leading actressesP
when she began her career she did not dress
with much art. Her dresses were made-sO the
story goes--in her family, on by her maid. After
her visit To Paris there was marked Improvement
i'm her costumes. The great French actress, Sarah
Bernhardt no doubt gave her some points on The
Importance Of using art IN dressing Tor the stage.
do stars employed by managers furnish their
Managers Of operas and spectacular plays fur
nish the outfits for the whole company In ali STOCK
companies like those OF Wallacks and the Union
square, aud IN all travelling combinations playing
dram as each person furnishes his own wardrobe"
"Who designs the costumes for "a company
Much Is left TO the cOstumer, who makes a care
fuI study of the play. of the characters and condi
tions OF the people persOnated IN II, Of Their
manners and customs. and of the PAGES
and times III which the scenes are land"
is the outht usually ordered III advance r
No costumes are always knocked together IN
hurry Manager, 90 uotgive their orders usually un-
Ill the last moment and our tailors and seausresses
have 10 work day aud night 20 get the costumes liu-
i,hed for tho opening Performance. There Is
scene of confusion throug .out whole establish
meni and all engaged the work are 80 nervous
that their teeth knock together
DO ople IN the theatrical line pay their DIS
promptly =
The cosiumer immediately became sad and mel
ancnoy.
rs an unhappy experience that we costumers
have he faiG. My blacklist is a long one. and
contains names that thcatrc-goers would never
dream ol ~ being gu IL. never 60 to q theatre
without seeing somebody Oh the stage whose namo
i, on that list Tor which reason | seldom 20, and
take little enjoyment when do GO
How are amateur clubs furnished with costumes
for their performance y
In some cases a club buys its outfit ont and ont.
as did tue company which gave an amateur per-
formance last winter at Chickering Hall. The
Indies who belong To aTistocratic dramatic clubs
have their theatrical costumes made by their dress
makers As n rule amateur societies secure set OF
costumes for their public performances irom cos
tuner"
WHAT effect has Mrs. Langtry's appearance here
had on amateur thcatroalsT
" IL has inoited them TO great activity. The de-
sire to shine IN amateur entertainments Is becoming
"A mania among young women"