Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-04-19
EARLY TRANSFORMING.
Time when travelling and Thostoxs
We're Decidedly RFimiiive.

4 Time when Travelling and ThsatsEs
Were Decidedly Primitive.
Ability in acting. rather than
magnifcence Of scenery and costume.
was the rule by which the stage Of .
quarter Of century ago was guided.
and the actor who then mounted the
ladder of fame did 50 from fame alone.
1t was struggle such rs is seldom wit
messed to-day. and few more interest
ing stories were told than those re-
counting Its difficulties
Travelling then was not asst is now :
and travelling in this country was not
what it was in England There were
'stocks" or permanent companies.
just as there were in the earlier days
on this side of the water. but there
was also found the strolling player in
all his glory. The appearance of the
old caravans, then q familiar sight,
would now be a distinguished novelty.
This old English plan was known as
the booth. The caravan of those
days had very much the appearance
of the present circus street parade.
The wagons were planned differently
inside, but there was no outward diff
ference between them and the circus
wagons.
In these wagons the companies
travelled. lived. slept and played.
They were made so that the ends and
sides would let down, forming tenn
porary theater. When the company
made a stand the wagons were placed
in such position that they would form
an Enclosure. and over these was
stretched canvas; floor could be put
in, at an elevation. and also a swing
ing gallery. presenting complete
theater. provided with seats similar to
those now used in the circus.
The number of the wagons depend
ed on the size and financial condition
of the company. The business was
largely conducted on the common
wealth or cooperative plan. though
there were few managers who en-
ployed players and became responsible
for all obligations The ordinary COM
pany was composed of twelve to fif-
teen people. with one to half dozen
or more wagons. each drawn by four
to six horses. Such companies would
put on plays of the character of
Macbeth and Hamlet" while
Richard I'LL" was great favorite.
These they would present without any
scenic or mechanical assistance. but
with marked ability. Some of the
best actors ever known started out in
this style. among them Gus'avus
Brooke. Edmund Kean and Campbell.
There was another grade below even
the poorest booth-the transformer;
not that class known by the same
name to-day, but men and women
who tranped from town to town. car
rying their properties and scenery and
costumes on their backs. These COM
panies would erect stage on beer
barrels or boxes in an old barn or
sheds-any thing that affected an in.
closure, with door at which admis-
sion could be taken. This class in.
cluded some actors of very marked
talent. who later obtained recognition.
The late Charles Piunkett. one of the
Oldest of English managers was the
authority for the statement that even
Gustavus Won Brooke travelled on
foot. bearing a load Of costumes that
would weigh down an ordinary shin.
ping porter now. All alike played in
the legitimate and biOOd&nd thunder.
The latter had its origin in such plays
as the Floating Beacon" George
and the Murder of Maria
Martin. - hicngo Herald