Wichita eagle., 1888-03-09
THE PROMPTER'S WORK.
FAILING GREATNESS OF THE AUTO
Graf CT THE STAGE.

VT t't@ NSs~
Graf CT THE STAGE.
The Wonderful Pages of the Prompt
Book"-Cues for Everything and Every
body-American Actors Have Almost
Put the Prompter Away.
When the heavy villain chews his mus
tache even more savagely than is his won't,
or the leading lady looks impatiently into
the wings as though in search OF the lover
who is behind schedule time, and presently
there floats out over the footlights a hollow,
ghastly whisper which seems to say: BY
heaven this time he shall not escape me-"
or, He comes not; he loves another" which
sentiments are instantly repeated by the be
fore mentioned heavy villain or leading lady
then the pronpter is az his work.
Surprising the prompter had fallen asleep,
or was down below the stage playing high
low with the irate parent, or had gone across
the alley TO see a InaD-or suppose he sud
denly struck for the wherewithal TO pay his
gas bill, what would be the result Why. the
stage manager would ring the curtain down
and the manager would come out and an
nounce the sudden indisposition OF the star
and crave the indulgence Of the audience for
/, few moments until she recovered. II il
were discovered that the prompter's ultima
tum could not be accepted, and that arbltra-
ton was out Of the question, then the indis-
position Of the star would prove more serious
than at first imagined, and the audience
would be dismissed with the information that
the price of their tickets would be refunded
ct the box Office.
AUTOCEAT OF THE STAGE.
Such is the prompter-autocrat Of the stage.
There never vet was an actor or actress whose
lines were invariably at command. II G line
is forgotten the prompter IS ready TO supply
it. If an actor IS not well up in the business"
Of his part the prompter is on hand to direct
him with a word when to retire up the stage,
when TO cross TO either side, perhaps even
when 10 stamp his foot or bow his head. No
person on the stage is as thoroughly familiar
with the play being presented as the
promoter is. If the piece has been pre-
sented many times be has every speech
and every detail Of the action in bis
head Nevertheless, in his hand he always
holds the prompt book" This is q volume
which the uninitiated Of any nationality
under the sun would lay down in despair if
called upon to decipher n single page of its
hieroGlyphic text. Besides being complete
book Of the play. every other page is scrawled
over with rude plans of sittings for the stage,
and cues for everybody. The speeches in
the book, of course, contain al the actors
cues, but there are dozen or SO of other
people who are never visible to the audience
who must be told when TO perform their
parts. Therefore the prompt book contains
cues for the gas man, lest he should lower or
turn up the light at the wrong instant; cues
for the man who manipulates the calcium
light away up in the gallery, which is given
by one or more blows on cymbal, cues for
the call boy, whose business it is to warn the
actors VIXEN TO be on the look out for their
cues; cues for thunder cues for light
ming" cues for colored lights in the wings,
and music cues for the orchestra, though
these last are generally contained also IN the
directors score. All these directions and
many more are contained in the prompt book
and given by the pronpter to the proper per-
sons at the proper time.
Of later years the prompter is not so con-
siderable parsonage as formerly. and even
less is required Of him In America than in
Europe. Every attendant at the grand opera
Is familiar with the contrivance placed be-
hind the footlights Immediately IN front Of
the director of the orchestra, which resembles
a much nagniEed quarter section OF walnut
shell, above and either side Of which is oc-
casionally seen hand holding baton or a
portion of an open book; aud everybody
knows that beneath this structure VITA the
lower half Of his body sticking through a
trap in the stage the prompIer sits, invisible
to the audience but in plain view to every
one on the stage.
LOSING HIS IMPORTANCE.
In Germany and France, and until quite
recently in England, the proulpter occupies
this position Ut every performance, whether
the production is opera, play or spectacle.
The position is very advantageous to both
p-ompter and actors, though quite the reverse
to the audience, as tho box over his head
OOstructs their view to a certain extent.
But the box is a valuable aid to the proTnpter;
first, as it enables him to be where be can
best direct the action of the play and second,
because it serves as a kind OF sounding
board, throwing the prompter's voice back
ward across the stage and preventing its
reaching the auditorium On this account
the device retains its popularity in France
and Germany, where experienced actors fire.
quently appear at a. hours notice without
having committed to memory q single speech
in their part. \ person occupying a seat
near the stage in German theatre VIII some
times hear every line il the play repeated
twice, first by the prompter and then by the
actor or actress whose turn it Is 10 speak
The American stage took the initiative in
lowering the dignity Of the prompter's Office,
though even in this country he still remains
an Indispensable factor il every purely dra- !
matte presentation. But he has been dis !
lodged from his conspicuous position IN the !
center Of the stage, and relocated to corner /,
n the Wigs Hear the gaS MAD The gas !
man and the complicated mechanism upon |
which he operates being always located CT /
the rielt side OF the stage, which is not the /
case with the prompter. There has coma |
into use neat bit Of relative nomenclature |
which Is plain TO any young actor. however
ratified he may be. Ii tae prompter de- I
sueS him TO enter from the side on which he /
the prompteri is not, he whispers hoarsely,
20. ?. side!' The %. P" signifies "Oppo-
ute prompter.n and direction that no lay
could fail 20 understand, though a long way
past the point where he knew his right hand
from his left. Good gronpterS cultivate a
distinct, molotonoUs whisper that can be
heard ali over the stage without penetrating
oeyond the orchestra This being the case
he advantage Of having the Prompte- out If
light Of the audienca IS gradually appealing
o stage managers IN other countries Berc-
zarric, when on her first visit 20 this country.
vas much impressed With TIRE system and is
Understood 10 have introduced it where she
appears in Pa-is.-Chicngo News
A Dream Ends in q Nightmare.