New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-01
STAGE COSTUMES
WHAT THEY COST.

This Is about the time OF year when actors ana
actresses who have mado thclr engagements fof inc
ensuing season begin TO consider the very important
question OF ordering the necessary clothes There
aro not many theatrical costumers In this city, ana
the best of them arc so busy late in the summer that
their customers have learned by painful experience
the necessity Of giving their orders early While al
most any drcssmalcr tailor Of reputation can sup
ply what IS needed for the play OF concmporaneous
human INTEREST," Il requires long experience, much
ability considerable historical knowledge and r great
deal of taste to prepare dresses for costume pieces
Although tho next season Will begin during the cleo
ton excitement there Is already promise Of several
companies that viii play the legitimate or pieces
calling for antique dresses, which are generally
known in the profession as shapes" Miss Andcr-
son VIII return TO boards, Mrs Potter Is to tempt
fortune with "Anony and Cleopatra and Miss Julia
Marlowc joins the ranls Of legitimate stars. MISS
Ma;her, too VIII probably be again seen, either
under Mr. HIS management or that of Gilmore ana
Tompkns These with Booth and Barrett, Tom
Kecnc Downing Fred Wardc. Louis James and
Marie Wainwright, and possibly the great saiYlnl'
will be the principal tragic stars. Here, then, With
out counting number OF mcodramatic plays th2o
need costumes, nin0 or ten companies averaging
eighteen people EACH for tragic casts arc long These
40 or $50 people VIII spend from $500 to Sl'ooo
each in getting ready for the season Those who nave
been playing the legitimate need to have their ward
robes leplcNlshcu anu IcpaItu anu SSH't'ho 9"4N '
or two now pieces are added to the repcrtory every
season. These old hands may escape with the small
err sum, but those who have 10 get complete ontht
will often approach the higher limit II Woum
probably be perfectly safe to estimate that an average
Of 300 will be spent for costume wardrobe or In
all somewhere about $4,000
A costumcr who was recently asked what II would
cost young actor who had to play small parts with
a legitimate star TO TT himself for tic season said
that It could not be respectfully done for less than
$3.50 II the repcrtory should be julius caesar,
Hamlet Richard Ill.," "Othelo,' Richcleu' and
"The Lady of Lyons which are generally acted by
tho recognized tragcdans, he viii need nearly an en-
tire set OF dresses for every piece each is In so
historically different period that scarcely any dress
can be used in more than one play Of the chief
varieties Of costumes the primitive iunics worn III
Macbeth AMI "Cymbcline.7 the Creek dresses OF
"lncomar, the Roman in Caesar" and Nrsiniu','
the long shrted TUNES OF Hamlet the venetian
hanberk, short tunic worn In "OthcHo' " Much
Ado,7 "Romco and juliet" etc., Lac Louis ANI
souarecut coats and knec breeches, the notifications
OF these in The school for Scandal and the Revolt
tionary and DrccOrc styles for the Lady OF Lyons
Gowns for the actresses naturally IN even greater
variety The actor who desires TO make gooi APP
pearance needs silk tights stockings for marty all
the above costumes and those VIII from $12 10
$50 pair. a fairly handsome suit on armor VIII
cost him s75. and Ills he must have for the Roman
nays In this direction he crafty his iancieS -
tho extent Of at any ratc $500 Booth and Barrett
have suits OF armor which cost lully that shhi'
swords arc also an expensive item, and the fashion IN
them has changed a. greatly and frequently as In
dress The varieties include tho short Roman sword,
The long basket hlt the curved sabre the straight
raper or duclng sword the short court sword, win
its elegantly oInamcnted and ieweued handle and
scabbard and even the great sword TO be swung With
both hands which Rchelieu attempts 10 HIT when
describing the proves OF his youth. Besides these,
daegcrs of various styles needed and the inter
prefer Of Othco usually carries the curved sclmtar
A good sword OF plain finish IS rarely to be got for
less than S15 and the price may be increased accord
ing to the fancy of the purchaser and his opportunity
for obtaining genuine old weapons. Many actors
have large collections Ct swords which of historic
interest and no lttlo pccuniary value. Tho late
Charles Fechers collection celebrated, and after
his death It was sold at auction, many Of the spcc-
mems bringing large prices.
Head and foot gear, especially the latter are also
very expensive items. The actor who is going to
plsy a round Of business needs Roman and Creek
sandals Hamlet slippers of velvet with double straps
Romeo shoes also OF vcvet, but with high peaks at
back aud front; cng boots reaching nall W&y up 'a9
mci,ts OF castle. and hence called tuflct-tOF' !;
Hessans Just reaching to the knees and ornaren'e9
with gO.d or silver Gsscs rlSset-bOOls Oi uHtanHeu
leather for some OF the ShaLcslcarCan cOElcdl.S :
Inlcket tons very wide around the lcE. used III mo
DAYS OF Charles l. and H. ledhcoled low SHOES, WIN
diamond buckles, for the plays OF the later par Ok
the eighteenth century, and par OF caNaTJ UT Iho
when TO all these are added suitable hats. gloves,
ruGics ornaments belts; lace 'o!las' sHeNC, an
handkcrchefs 1t IS easy to he seen that the actor VINO
is beginning TO accumulate his wardrobe has, unless
no has RESOURCES outside his professional income, 10
be extremely careful and economical