The Washington critic., 1885-10-24

1t was announced in the papers the other
day that reading Of "Saints and Sinnersr
had taken place at the Madison Square
Theatre. How many people who read that
paragraph knew the correct application of
the term ms understood by professional
peopleY Not twenty-five per cent. of them
know exactly what the reading of play
really is. An author submits his play to
the manager of theatre that employs Il
stock company to be read over by him or
his adapter of plays. If the play is found
to be suitable to bis theatre and 1t contains
some parts that are adapted or can be re
written to fit the pecuiarties of his com
pany, the manager informs the author that
the play has been accepted and asks him
to call at the theatre to arrange
for its production. The manager
may either purchase the play outright or
pay the author a certain sum each per
fOrmance for its use, or he may give him
percentage on the gross or net receipts of
each performance. After these prelimln-
aries have been satisfactorily settled,
morning is appointed by the manager for
the reading of the play generally after he
has cast 1t with his stage manager, that is to
say, after they have decided what parts will
be played by the different members of the
company. The members of the company
are notified of the day on watch the rea ling
is to be held They all appear at the theatre
at the appointed hour, where they find the
author, manager and stage manager of the
theatre awaiting them. The reading either
takes place in the green room or on the
stage. table is placed in the center OF
the stage for the person who is TO read 80
gencrallyit Is the authOr-and the company
seat themselves about the stage TO listen to
II. The author then opens his manuscript
on the table and proceeds TO read from It.
AS he progresses, he explains the stage
business to be adopted, introduces any dia-
lCct there may be with appropriate
gestures and any other features that
he considers necessary to give correct un-
dcrstandng Of the different parts of the play
lie proceeds In this manner to the end of the
reading. The company makes no criticism
ON the parts or the play during the reading,
hut listens attentvely TO the author, laugh
ing at any situations that appear to be
amusing and applaudng IL they notice any
thing in the dialogue that is particularly
good. The day following the reading of
the play each actor is given his part to
study aud the rehearsas take place soon af-
terward, and are held daily until the play is
produced before the public The above IL
lustration represents the reading last week
OF ''saints and Sinners on the stage of the
Madison Square Theatre. The play was
read by Mr.. II, A, Jones, the author. Mr.,
"A, NJ, Palmer, the manager of the theatre,
can be seen seated at his right aud the
members OF the company who will appear
in II are seen near him, some seated aud
others standing, "Sealcd Instructions is
so very successful at the Madison Sduare
that 1t will be some weeks before it win be
Withdrawn to give eway for the new play which
Is now being rohearsed daily. saints and
Sinners is still running in London where
II Is great success, The author OF this
play also wrote the "Silrer King" which
has been well received In this country ana
abroad, The cast that will be seen at the Mad