The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-25
A FEW STRANGE DELUSIONS.
Likewise the Trials and TribuIatious Of
Actors and Actresses.

Rose Eytinge, in New York World.
A great deal is said from time to time about
the requirements of the drarda-the nuances and
the mise en- -scene and the scenario, and divers
other things that are about as clear and convey
to the average mind about as much rs the uni
verSal instruction of the cookery book to the
young housewife to take a rennet.." But there
are not many people who stop to think how diff
cult it is for the actors engaged in the scene to
keep up the illusions of that scene-not only to
the audience, but to themselves.
Take, for example, a scene supposed to repre-
sent a delightful little supper, where the charac-
tiers are seated about the table and are supposed
to eat like g~ourmands, and there is nothing on
the table to eat. Madame, permit me to assist
you to some of the pate, and there is placed on
the plate of the unfortunate actress IL piece of
property" canvas, or a piece of hard, dry bread
that has been kicked around the property-room
''off and on" for about six weeks; or the gay
young bachelor invites his friends to drown
dull care in a bumper of champagne, and.
suiting the action to the word, as all actors are
continually told they ought TO do, he flourishes
a bottle that to the uninitiated looks like a VERT
able bottle of Veuve Cliquot. But alas! the
is not gay" knows only too we'll
that the bottle contains weak, cold tea,
in which has been placed some "fizzing" in
gredient which perslsteutly refuses TO ''fzz, +"
and that the cork is covered with a bit of tin
foil which has just been removed from the
paper of chewing tobacco, now reposing, de-
nuded of its brilliant wrapper, i'll the hip-pocket
of the property-man. / remember once, while
e%nacting one 'Camille,'' presiding over a feast
which consisted of three apples conSDicuously
placed in the center Of the table in a child's
inverted straw hat, 'fanked' by a round block
of wood painted white to represent an ice cake.
/ fancy, but which would not have deceived a
child Of five years of age and of the meanest
understanding, the whole rounded off by the
inevitable bottle of bogus champagne, which
refused the fainteSt fig despite the efforts of
the eight comedian" though they threatened
either a dislocation of his right arm or the
bursting of a blood vessel in his head.
And who has not seen Macbeth toast Banquo
in a suppositious golden beaker," evidently a
block of wood on which had been carelessly
pasted some thin gold-leaf that ''peels off" like a
boys back after he has played hockey" or gone.
in bathing at high noon In July! How we'll do |
remember, one night, when, seated ON my throne
in ''queenly state" | had urged upon Macbeth
the ACCESSIBILITY of making an effort-like Mrs.
Dombey-to induce his friends to feel at home,
and when, IN response to my martial and royal
suggestion. he has made the effort, and in the
course of his remarks regretted the
absence of Banquo, the wrath Of that
usually much murdered gentleman appears
and Macbeth Immediately bids him
take himself hence, and in his agitation flung
the beaker above described over his head. 1t
caught a young party who was representing one
of the lords in waiting just on the nose. What
ever Banquo did, the damaged courtier certainly
took himself hence" very hurriedly, and with
both hands most pathetically caressing the
wounded feature. AS for the audience the sub
sequent proceedings interested them no more.
And when the hero of tfe piece is TO find III q
secretary or some other article Of furniture the
will that is to enrich the lovely maiden of the
drama, or the document that is to clear his fair
name FROM the foul blot that now blemishes it,
when heF.rns up stage" IN a peroration full Of