Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-02-08
BEHIND THE SCENES.
Costly Costumes for PrIma DOnnas
and Tsa0r&.
Fitting Over Worth 0resses---k Terra Gotta
Vase Made to Smash---Hsay Ar
mOr---hakeg the Rams
for Wotan's Chariot.

whilh a season Of opera involves "think
that a packed house Oh the 6rst night Of q
rev opera means already q good margin Of
profit to the management. But it takes .
number Of representations to crowded
houses to cover the outlay. Let Us consider,
for instance, the production of The PropS-
ct" There We had in addition to the fixed
charges, such as $3.50 for the orchestra aud
the percentage Of singers salaries which
each performance Is supposed to bear, ex-
tras ike new stage properties costing $500,
skaters $75, children S25, supers $50, ballet
and pages 1925, and stage band SITS. The
canopy under which John OF Leyden walks
IN the coronation scene alone caused Us con-
siderable outlay. 1t is historically correct
copied from that borne over Charlsmague
when he was crowned. The original is now
in a European museum. To construct the
copy used here We hsdto purchase numerous
silver and gilt trimmings, yards Of satin and
Canton flannel twenty yards of lace, and a
dozen ostrich plumes"
Then from the various operas you have
produced this season you must have cos
tunes, srmOr, AMI so on, enough to fit out
an ARMY said the reporter.
I'VE have about $3.50 900 worth Of see
merry, costumes and other properties behind
the scenes Was the reply. IF you would
like to see them aud observe the system on
which affairs are conducted in that part of
the house l shall be happy to show you over
the building"
Such q tour being Que lof discovery for
the reporter, he aSsented, and q few mo-
meuB later he was conducted down q mar
row fight Of stairs - a floor on q level with
With the stage. Proceedings there" SAID
the guide, ARE regulated on the Quaker
meeting plan. The building on this the
Fortie;h street side Of the stage is assigned
10 the female employees that on the other
side, barring the portion devoted 10 the
dressing rooms TO the male employees.
This floor has 10 be kept clear for the en-
frances and exits 70 and from tn e stage, 80
we have space only for the elevator shaft
and the miscellaneous property room. Here
is the latter" and he threw open q door.
As the reporter entered the room he stun
bled over o big terra Gotta vase. 1t fell, and
as it struck the ground was broken IN three
or four large pieces. As the Secretary
seemed unconcerued, the reporter called his
attention to the accident ooh, zee" was
the reply. You see how well they're sdap.-
ed 10 their purpose. That's one Of the jars
which are shiyered once q week Of an even
ing and sometimes at q Saturday matinee,
in the explosion scene of The Prophet"
1t stands on 3 pedestal, and when the ex-
slosion occurs some one pokes it with q
stick. Over it goes and rolls On the floor,
apparently smashed by the explosion. In
this room Lohengrin's swan is perched on
one of the sleigbs used In the skating scene
of The Prophet" snd is apparently about
to make q dash for the string Of saussges
hawked around among the Anabsp.ist sol
diers in the same scene, when moi figuring
on the stage suspended from the point OF
the staff of one Of the banners which grace
the back ground at the Contest Of Song at
the Wsrtburg, in "Tannhsuser."
On the next door there is at one side OF
the ball a large apartment called the linen
room. in which a number Of are
usually busy sewing together strips Of can
vas for scenic purposes. Across the hall
are two large rooms for the female chorus.
Hanging hooks are here reserved for each
member, upon which she will find the cos.
tunes for the evenings or afternoons per
Torrance arranged 10 their order. Above
those are the ballet rooms, similarly ar
ranged. Another fight Of stairs brings the
visitor TO the frat Of the two floors reserved
for the costume department. In 8 room to
the right Of the first Of these Mss Berg,
who has charge Of the department is con-
Itantly engaged with some thirty assistants
making new costumes or mending garments
after the performance.
There are" explained the guide, I'm the
rooms devoted to this department hanging
closets and drawers. The former are de-
voted to the costumes Of the chorus and
ballet the latter to those OF the principals.
There is a closet and drawer for each opera.
Miss Berg, in the afternoon proceeding q
performance, generally BY 4 o'clock, has the
costumes for the evening sent down stairs in
the elevator and hung Of the proper hooks
N the chorus and ballet rooms, or in their
places in the dressing rooms Of the princi-
pals. After the performance they are sent
Up stairs again. The next morning each
costume is Inspected, mended if necessary,
and them put away. Miss Berg, please show
US some OF the costumes
These" said Miss Berg, in quickrespouse,
orenrng two drawers and spreading out q
profusion Of rich silks and sstins, are the
'Trsviata' and 'GiOconda' dresses worn last
season respectively BY Sumbrich and Nil
SON."
And can the dresses worn BY last years
artists not be worn By members Of this sea-
sons's company queried the reporter.
"As far as possible we reft them. We
could not afford 10 do otherwise, for these
dresses were made By Worth, while the cos
tunes for the male principals came from
Milan. But II isn't an easy matter to nj
the costumes for these German singers.
They seem a stronger, more stslWart race
Than the Italians. Here, for instance,
o~peuing another drawer, are two LohengrIn
and two Telamund costumes. One set was
for Campaniui and Ksselmsn last year, the
other for Scho,t and Blum. We have to
make everything new for them she con-
tSnued. with an air Of cheerful resignation
ain this drawer" opening smother, Il keep
All the Acknowledgements Bertrsm,
Nc-by themselves, so that they wont
exert their evil influence between Perfor-
msnces."
Tbe reporter asked her how she managed
bava All the costumes historically correct,
HSorannon Miss Berg made a dash with
"ns Sspd among the "Lohengrin' costumes
UnS hauled out q set Of colored plates.
"These come for every opera; "nen ne"
work is to be given here look over the sp,
~Uropriste plates, calculate how much OF the
pSierials required Il need, and give my or
Jers accordingly" She added thar mere
~ss now already $4,000 worth of costumes
pnder her charge. s0,-a
Ia the reporter down again to the