St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-29
MAKEUP MYSTERIES.
skillful Transformations by Deft Artist
Witnessed BY Globe Repre-
sentative.
Appearance of the Stage and Dressing
Rooms Before Theatrical Per-
Torrance.
His Hfghness, Lord Koko. After He Is
Arranged in His Professional
Paint.
Reality Behind the Scenes and ko-
nance as Viewed From the Audi
tOrium.


CHICAGO. Nov. 27.-''Next to good act
ing good makeup is essential to the sue
cess of any individual whose ambition leads
him to tread the boards No novice so
ignorant, or critic however lenient, can pass
over a poorly-made-up figure, a badly
painted face or an improperly-adjustedw wig.
The costumer supplies natures deficiencies
in the way of undeveloped calves, distorted
hips, fiat busts and even badly-developed
tornures but the actor must exercise due
Judgment and discretion, or the costumer's
art is of no avail, and a travesty on the
(human) form divine is the result a lady
once said in my hearing, SOOTHING at the score
or more of sensitive creatures who were
weeping over the sorrows of Kate ClaXton
as portrayed by her in the Two Orphans
'Pshaw! it's only acting! Why make fuss
about it?' And yet she ridiculed unspar-
ingly the very evident carelessneSs Of make
up of two OF three leading characters in the
play. The sensitive, weeping women were
lnSensible to defects of presentation so far
as appearances went. The intense realism
of the rapidly shifting scenes gave them no
time to criticiSe mere outward forms. But
The fair critic, to whom emotions were only
acting peeping through the hazy glow of
sentiment and judging the play and players
rom a purely critical standpoint, saw
defects that a thoughtful artist would
never permit. | have been on the stage in
capacities varying from 'Supe' to star for
twenty odd years, and the older l grow, the
more | realize the good that dramatic critics
have done for the profession. 1t gals one
to be torn into bits by the newspapers, and
ofttimes find the choicest conceptions of our
individual parts ridiculed by holders of
cola nj fhn
yes, even the old-timer-when esSaying a
new role, is careful to conform to the judg-
ment of the best and most reliable critics.
and this leads me back to my original
theme of costuming and makeup" The
old actor put down his pipe and invited
the GLOBE man to accompany him to the
theater, where he promised to show up the
tricks of his profession in the way of paints.
grease and wigs. 1t was not yet o'clock
as we entered the theater, passing through
the dimly-lighted auditorium in preference
to the dingy alleyway that led to the stage
entrance. Nevertheless the stage was
scene of comparative activity. Carpenters
were busy making preparations for the
nights performance; chorus girls came and
went, chatting merriy; my Lord Koko, in
a tweed suit, was smoking cigar, while
ais protoplasmal
PRIMORDIAL CONTEMPORARY
discussed a sandwich with Pitti-Sing, whom
late in the evening he called young per-
Jon," and refused to kiss. Yum Y m and
2eep-Bo, two of the ''three little maidens
Ill unwary," were smart enough to snub
Jude who had secured access to the stage
through the friendly offices of the property
man. Altogether everything was very real
md unlike the scenes presented on the stage
IN hour later. The stage manager promptly
1t 7:15 sent shout that reverberated from
R. U. +. to l.. l.. E., swayed the canvas
Ind rigging in the scene painters loft and
was heard from trap to skylght. He didn't
Jay anything-that is his remarks were not
Ineligible to the GLOBE man. But gen.
eral retreat to cubby-holes, upstairs and
down-courteously called dressing-rooms-
gave one the impression that the prelim-
mary fun and naturalneSs of the actors was
over for few hours, and badly-dresSed
creatures in unbecoming costumes, painted
faces and overdressed heads would take
their places. Two flights of stairs with
twice as many turns and the GLOBE was
slowed away in the corner of a compart-
ment which his highness. the Mikado. called
his dressing-room. This is essentially
a character representation" said the
old man, ''and good makeup is
essential. l am not naturally old enough
to be the father of such robust youth as
Nanki-POO demands for paternal ances-
tor, but it's my business to appear so. The
fact is, we Americans are not so well I'D in
the art OF making an appearance On the
stage as our foreign brethren in the same
profession, but we're getting there. and
Henry Irving is the chap that gave us some
good ideas on the subject The face is
great study in whatever role you choose to
place it. The actors face is his conception
of the character to be portrayed. For in
stance, as the Mikado L am stupidity wise,
and have humorous conception of some
terrible punishment that must be melted out
to the supposed murderers of my son. but
at the same time | am tender and compass
Sionate toward his supposed murderers.
The heavy, closeknit brows of a Mephisto
the strong facial lines of a Richeleu or the
melancholic riffs of the ideal Hamlet would
not suffice for the weak, undetermined
characer that l must portray. And herein
lies
THE ART OF THE MAKEUP
or rather the artist-and he is one-to whom
is intrusted the facial appearance of every
person, solo or chorus. that appears in our
company. You see | am laying the foun-
dation for future events" said the actor. as
he proceeded to lay a foundation of chalk
on his face, applying it with a piece of
chamois skin. This he evenly distributed,
making surface as painter would pre-
pare his canvas. This is all can do until
the professor comes around" The PRO
lessor" like that other fellow, never spoken
of but sure to be seen, entered the cubby-
hole, and, gazing critically at the Mikado's
countenance, rubbed out a bit of color here,
added trif1e there. and, with rapidity
that was marvellous, touched the forehead,
eyes, cheeks and nose, and, with two deft
strokes under the chin, the Mikado was
complete. A weaker face could not be re-
allied. Badly rounded chin, heavy, sensu-
Gus lips. nose long but broad. eyes wide
open but apparently close together, fore
head narrow and low, and Gilbert's
ideal was complete. A weaker. more
sensual face could not be found. No won
der mis- 'daughter-in- law elect had such an
influence over his royal highneSs if this was
a faithful representation of Gilbert's origi-
nal conception. The makeup" of the
heather rather resented the questions put
to him, as though fearful that secrets of his
art (for art it isl would become public prop
erty. But a judicious word of praise be-
slowed Unfortunately put the ''artist" in
talking humor, and the GLOBE is hereby
able to give a faithful portraiture of the
makeup of at least one Mikado company.
AT the bottom of the single flight of stairs
below the stage level were found twenty
chorus girls. recently emerged from half as
many dreSSlng-rOOmS of 1Small size and
stuffed fell to the doors with feminine APP
parel of the genus street ware Shoes,
stockings and-but why particularize?-
were scattered about woman fashion. but
now the twenty choristers none of them
young and bit few unmarried) stood in an
unbroken line awaiting the
PENCHING OF THEIR FACES