New-York tribune., 1888-03-25
THE REG ULATION SUPER.
TIE M"D AND ITS WORK.

TIrE Mob AND ITS WORK.
sFor many reasons said q ellknown actor,
ct am sorry to learn that the American public VIII
not have opportunity mex, season Of Witnessing
the performances OF the Moningcn company, but one
Of the chief that thor appearance would have given
add iiona impctus to the work that has been begun
here in the direction OF getting better ensembles by
the employment OF intellgen, and regularly trained
supers. When Herr Barnay first hero some
years ago he drilled the mob for Julius Caesar to
degree Of perfection then amost unknown here. HIS
brief experience with the MeIningen company, OF
which he was never really member, having Joined
Il for brief time because OF patriotic motives stood
him In good stead. That company certainly has the
most wonderful stage management ever saw, but
they keep the supers. at least the leaders OF
them from season to sea,on. What has been the
feature most generally talked Of in Ilvlngs presena-
ton of the 'Fausp7 Is il not the grouping and
movement OF that mad fantastic cvcrshlftng, ever
whr,lng rout In the Broken Sceno'i What would
paul Kauva' have been without its mobi And The
work Il has done could not have been got out OF tho
ord,na:y suycr who has ambition beyond earning
his a5 20 cents night. People may say what
they Ike about the improved intellectual status OF the
noyces Of to-day enabl ng them to do with little train
ing, but tell you there is nothing like an appa asnce
in crowd to give beginners ease and confidence
al don't see that the system OF forcing has
produced Is good actors and actresses as came up
naturally under the cid plan Scdsbllity, impreS-
sionab fly and plastic ty of body and temperament
are moro important factors in good acting than IN
intellectually. What the clever actor reasons out
and thoughtfully and carefully reploduces the nat
ural actor feel ntuiticcy. lie Is easily able TO SINK
himself ~ part, vhile Tho stronger the mind ana
the individuality the more difficult It Is to conceal 10
behind assump Ion. When you get tho raro corr
bnatIon OF Ilaticty and intellect, then you get the
really grca' actor.
But | have been wandering away from the super
At the bsst Ncw-YorI theatres he gets 30 cents a
night and half that sum at the cheaper theatres
OF this liberal amount he has to give up a seventh
as commits .on to tho sufer capita n, through whose
favor he holds his position supcrs are generally
advertised for IN morning paper, and the cieane't
stdrssscd and beftlooking arc picked out by the
super captain and then pa; AIDED before the stage
manager Who arc they Men Of all classes, out
OF work, with tew whose daily labors enable them
to appear At night and to get away for ma'Inees and
occasional rehearsals The supers are rehearsed In
their own scenes al direrent tmcs from the artors
They have or at most two rchesrsals win mo
cor pany and when not actually neec~d on Ine s.aso
Wksi ohsnce have they uuderstand tho motives OF
tho play, or the reasons for the actions they are
called npon to perform They shout and move WIN
that Is about all that Is cxTectel. Then ihc CON.
position OF tho crowd Is con@t9rtly changing a,
men ct other Jobs they drop ont r wha S Is TO hG aad
equally cert anly not any tss FOR the ar, or any IN IN
cou a;erent o. Cd treatment they Ieeeyo from me
manascr or his Assistants NCtrr tIar igan's pro.
ductions and you VIII that The individuality OF
appca ance action and exclamation OF ms crowus
is remarkable. This is due to the fact that he en
poys low iced actors for these and does not 'rHs
10 tho, regu!aiOn super Thers is 10 d. grare In In
apIoaring In non nspesldng part; Near'y az the ne
great forsn actors Lave dono ms ae pups ret OF
practice iE this way