New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-15
MISS ANDERSON At sCEAE-RlHEARSAL
HOW SHE sUPERiNtE>Ds TIE WORK on THE


HOW SHE sUPERINIE>Ds TIE WORK on THg
STAGE.
Few people not intimately acquainted with
IN, world winch moves beniud the scenes OF large
Theatre have any Idea OF the labor incident to the pro
dnction of long ani heavily mounted play Those. for
iustnucc Tho grumbled aud grew weary Rt the waits
bet we.u tho acts OF "Romeo aud Juliet" produced
last Wednesday night the Star Theatre, dOnbtloss
never reflected the amount Of preparatory work gone
through Ia or,or TO produce the piece even rs
smoothly then the case. They Wou1d
have learned an interesting lesson had they been en-
sconced In "A corner OF tho dark auditorium during any
Of the thirtys1 preceded the raising "f the
curtain. IL must DO remembered that all the scenery
had been painted In LONDON aud already used aud It's
efficiency practical working teStn ~ that the e1-
detrimental side OF ordinary scenic rehearsal was
luckily absent the less however. tue scene Oh
the stage interesting aud surprising to rO In such
matters. situns we'll in front OF the Holanddraped
and aha Iow-haunted house Wednesday afternoon
were Two ldiea, OF whom was Miss Mary Anderson
and the other Mrs. Asnos Booth Close TO them eat Mr.
Abbey aud Mr. ScLoceI his partner On the stage Was
"A brisk guOd-lookDg young man In tweed suit, who
VA. Mr. lothian. stage inanagcr Tho stage was
MOVING heterogeneous mass Of Hats. skies. BORDERS
and flies" seasoned with sprinklins Of d" proper.
ties" platforms" and dashed here aud there with
dozen or 70 clnya-garDed stage carpenters Out Of ths
chaos was to evolved the creation Of tho evening
Many who LOOK on Miss Anderson only accom-
psed actress would he surprsed wsru they to SEQ her
superntending weaflsome OF all things that
fall within tn. scope of managers duties scenic re-
hearsaI It's task which needs not only patience but
a thorou gh knowledge OF the InDcbnery and details OF
the stage quick eye and large amount of tact Many
setor-mansgers content themselves VITA besOwng all
their energies the rchearsny OF their COMPANY hut
4, clear that Miss Andorson's devotion to her art
tends further than this. Tired out she mnst
have BEEN with the prospect OF long nights perform
nce OF an arduous and eIactng part before her she
AN, sat bravciy tho theatre constantly giving dircc-
tons making suggestions. and hurryiug up the aggards
The street corner IN Verona painted by OCOunor where
In the evening ucrcttiO 20 be slain and Iy1dH wh
to share his fats. being set. II seemed tedious
task and when last the stage manager announced It
conpete the quick eye OF the snanaceress dis
coy.r.d the one omission. what marks tho
Tod OF tho house :" she asked indicating the
low built porch the stage left which, complete a"
II appeared tho orchestra. would from the gallery
disclo,c yawniug cavity "Thcres tab for tha''
Miss Anderson" was tho reply. "we. please tina;
IL Ia IN place Tonight. Mr Lothian" border lowered.
a wing shifted, aud Miss Anderson gave the word to
shift the What IA termed trick-chsnge fol-
lowed With some little friction aud creaking carefully
noted a. as To be reeded evening. the front OF
the scene swung back and gloomy interior with
msssye columns aud heavy arches was dlseosei III
only by swinging crcsset Ia one corner To the non-
eye all seemed perfectly correct bat not so
apparently the master-eye. There was much when
needed changing and getting into proper position Each
d.fscI Was pointed OUT afe- the other calmly aud
cooliy. This border had to be shifted to tue ~ r..
ste that 10 lie lowered be- raised and still ai-
other moved back trifie. wing hal IN De noteu.
aud the who was to work II IA the evening was
carefully Instructed as TO It's exact poSiunn.
Aud IL on until at last the WORD OF apptovh'
was riyen and IL easily now much These hp-
narently trinng alterations had added 70 the Veritml-
,ndr of set another change this time 10
rake nlace AT night behind ho tabenu curtains
nnt ~ the gloomy cell swung back. tho rest pvoed
rnund and JuLts chamber with the odd Italian cOuen
and the exterior OF the balcony was disclosed ahu
ouca more me Was pursued unul II was
tlme for Miss Anderson to leave the theatre Tor
hastv dtuner. and u begiu her preparations
for tho evening performance. Throughout tho whoe
scone thus Witnessed remarkable u note not 80
mach the perfect command OF all tho knowledSe
necessary to dcu hut the entire absence Oh
appruachlug nervousness or exotemept lhis
w.s nm. more remarkable, even tho iniperturbhDo
Mr. Abbey could refrain FROM shO wing signs OF i
nuelce when tho chances OF snOOtL evening perform
auce seemed 10 grow less and less. As subscqnoht
eveuts proved Miss Anderson right Those In foht
an nrst Of Romeo and Juliet" thought THO
performance went without hitch or jar.