St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-09-15

nent theatrical
feature, increasing daily in numbers,
and is entitled to as much consideration
as any woman who does her work con-
scientiously and thoroughly. One
comes on the stage in the scantlneSS OF
tights and the glitter of tlnsel, WIN
blonde wig over her raven locks, her
olive skin hidden under pink powder,
and she seems to be an ephemeral Great
ure intended only to f1utter in the glare
of the fOutlights. When the play is
over. the curtain down and the lights
out, she is forgotten by those who few
minutes before had Vehemently ap-
plauded her.
-
But is she the butterfly she appeared?
and from what class of society does she
come?
A New York Star reporter had talk
the other day with the manager OF
leading opera company. and he says
that the average chorus girl IS not a Dut-
terfiy, and that she comes from every
class.
at is a mistake" he says, ito think
that the chorus girls all come from the
middle and lower classes. Many of
them are of excellent families, and are
well educated. They become chorus
girls for the purpose Of acquiring the
rudimentS OF the profession, having, or
course, a talent for music, some OF them
belonging to musical families. ana
from the chorus have come many of the
most prominent stars in comic opera. L
could mention several who are now
singing in prominent parts who began
their theatrical careers in the chorus.
They are thoroughly drilled, you know,
and if they have a real talent for acting
I'm on6 n chance
given them when possible to show what
they can do. They are bright girls, and
/ dare say that the majority of them
could any day go creditably through
one of the principal parts II called upon
to do so.
"Many of them who come to us are
very badly stagestruck, but the major
ity of them go upon the stage for the
purpose of being Self-SuppOrting. 1t is
generally a matter of necessity. You
see a girl loses her money. or her father
loses it for her, and she finds that she
must do something to help herself.
Almost every educated girl has some
knowledge of music, and. naturally,
turns to the stage. There are many
such instances that have come within
my own observation, including several
girls from the South of most excellent
family"
is it not trying position for re-
fined wOman?''
"Well, not more so, perhaps. than
some other ways of making a living.
The stage manager has great deal to
do with making life easy or difficult for
the chorus, it is true; but generally
speaking he is no harder to serve than
another man. OF course there are man.
ayers and managers. and some of them
are as cordially liked as others are dis
liked by the chorus. In the latter case
every order that is given seems to be
specially given to annoy the girls"
"What sthe salary?''
Gin the city it is from SO to 800 a
week. on the road from SIG or S1S to S25.
And the duties are not very eXacting, at
least, compared to some other work that
women do. Shop girls. for instance,
lead tedious lives, imagine. Prior to
the production of new play, there are
constant TehearsalS for five weeks. &C.
cupying three or four hours o day, and
the members of the chorus are gener-
ally playing in another piece at night.
They are fined for being late at rehears-
ais. 1t is impossible to govern a large
body of persons without some such rule;
but the majority of the girls are very
attentive and are called upon to pay
few fines. | must say that as rule
women are far more conscientious in
this respect than men, and are far easier
to manage"
-
care they expected to furnish their
own wardrobe out of their salary?"
'Oh. no; their costumes are furnished
them, and they are only required to take
care of them. Beginners always object
to wearing tights, which, of course, the
chorus must do sooner or later in comic
opera. They do not know what to eX-
pect. and ask if they must wear tights.
When | tell them yes they say they
never could do that. and ask if they may
not take some position where they
would not be obliged to put on the OBJ
iectiOnable garments. l always tell
them frankly that | may be able to give
them such positions for a short time. but
that if they remain with us they will
eventually be compelled to appear in
tights. Sometimes they go away and
give up all idea of becoming chorus
girls, but more often they conclude to
try it. We Go not want beginners, how
ever. We much prefer to have girls
who have had some experience on the
stage and who know what will be re-
Quired of them. Beginners are trouble
some. Occasionally a girl comes who
has money and wants to join the chorus
for the purpose of learning, or perhaps,
for excitement. But she does not re-
main long,
'But seriously, do you not think a
woman looks much more graceful in
SkiTtS?''
THAT may be, but in comic opera
there is so much music written for fe-
male voices where male dresses must be
worn that we cannot do away with
tights. And really, the girls don't
think anything of them; they soon be-
come accustomed to wearing them. and
look upon it in business way. They
do not consider that they are doing
anything immodest, and they are really
modest girls.
us the discipline severe?'
mo, not more so for the chorus than
for the others. There are simply the
ordinary stage rules, which must be up
held in every theater. They are re-
quired to take care of their costumes,
to be punctual at rehearsal, and are not
allowed to recognize any friends in the
audience while they are on the stage.
Their absence from rehearsal in case of
illness, is eXcuSable, OF course"
~
'sWhat is the average age of a chorus
Eirl?'
"Well, should say it is about twenty
three. Most of the girls with US now