New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-16
THEATRICAL LIFE,
A DAY WITH A NETWORK MANAGna

800
DAY WITH A NETWORK MANAGn
his matter Of general belief thst tso OF the sssesV
ways OF earning living are 10 edit nswspsper sok
manage theatre. That great many people tAint
'heJ could direct such enterprises better than 40 ~
men In control Is proved by the Immense siount q
vice and correction, oral ard written, which editors
ann managers receive IL not the aim Of tae tryeae
writer to dispel any illusions the public msy enjoy
shout the delightfully."- essy life OF editors. but to deAs
only with managcrs and TO describe an ordinary daSr
work accomplished by any Of tho mon who manage
stock company theatres In tbs city.
AS rule tho manage arrives st his once lbouS
10 a. M Before that hour, his business manager AnA
assistants have examined such OF tho correspondence q
did net appear to require the managers special sts<N
don, and arc ready with their reports on the sSmel
The manager hears these and after giving tho nscesS
sary instructions free TO turn to tho other cttes
which will probably number at least twenty Thsis
contents will DO extremely varied. Aprlc silons To-
engagements, cnireaes, strsnces and abuse ruu
authors who have left who going 30 leave manu-.
scripts the plots and charaers OF which they describe
At painful lcngfh; recommendations from politicians %
personal friends Of some person generally sif. whs
wants to 60 the stage requests from ell binds q
persons for flce seats, which they claim for eli hndl
of rsasons. or without any whatsoever: and con.
plants from individuals who don't admire tho eurrsaa
play or some member Of the cast form the eontsats %
most OF the letters BY the time the manager has
glanced through these u Is nearly ocl0ek and H. a.
is frequently tho case. there Is play bctns reheArsed,
The manager must leave his respondence till tho
afternoon and @ IN to rehearsal Hc does not howl
ever, make uninterrupted progress from his Office to
the auditorium. In the outer ONCE there arc sure
be three or four people waiting TO hln-people who
despite Ms request to again In the afternoon
will endeavor to button.hoe him and ask some cues.
tons. These Is, probably, not moment from 10 = m.
70 D. NJ In an ordinary business day that two of
three persons not waiting TO see the mAnagcr Mr..
Daily personally rehearses a his pieces, and works
nearly hard all the members OF the cast COM
bin-t. Messn. Palmer and Frohman do not actually
chesrss their productions leaving that 10 their stage
managers, but they watch every movement msde and
notice every word spoken and have many Suggestions
10 MAKE. rehearsal is quickly accomplished II not
morc than three hours occupied and the nervous
strain on the manager is great. mere tribe may IN
sure success With weekly profit OF several thousand
dollars for many months, or NAV cause failure With
loss OF from $4,000 to $4,000, and an immedian
beginning OF work on and anxiety about another play.
The rehearsal being over. the manager Is ready fos
lunch but his tnc Is too precious to let him have ths
necessary hsf hour free from thoughts Of business.
fie Will take with him the author, II no Is IN town
the aywrght who IL generally attached 10 the tho
atre, and the agemanager. While waiting and eat
may have shown 10 be advisable or necessary. some
times these may involve an alteration of the cast, md
then the manager has very unpleasant quarter OF
hour before him in informing actor or actress that
no or she will be relieved Of part. Entreaiies, tears
and even threats may follow such announcement
but the manager may be relied upon not to give WV.
so much having been accomplished. interviews VITA
tho scene painter the mastercsrpcnter and the prop
erty will, in all probability, be next In order.
Although the principal features of the produc hon may
have been decided upon, rhessas constantly show
the reed Of changes in the construction Of scenes IN
the shape and arrangement OF furniture, and In tho
number fashion Of the properties. II the play
should necessitae fancy dresses, these supplied By
the manager. and all the details OF material, cut and
color have be settled with the assistance and advice
Of the costuner and the more important members Of
the company. By the time that the manager has M
through with this much Of his work, he may, perhsps,
have leisure to . fcw OF tho paOple who have
gathered I'll they form . crowd In the ante
room. THIS crowd will include members Of
the company who have some rsa or imaginary grew.
ance authors who want appointments to reed plays,
actors actresses, and noviees who want engagements,
committees from charitable societies who want the uss
Of the thes, and possibly the services Of some Of
tho company for benefit performances journalists who
want ncws, people who want free seats and people
who want 10 chat without any Definite purpose.
Only . few OF these succeed In gaining tho man
ayers attention any day, for no has much I'm
peratve business to transact Generally no has ono
or moro travelling companies and letters or kilograms
from the managers with them demand immedis's ~
teut.op Sometimes 10 is reported that al actor OF
actress is III or kicking and substitute has TO b
found and sent away at once Possibly mistake hes
becn made in the booking, and tho company has no
place 70 play for the next week or psss OF 10; or
n may be thar floods fires have rendered. change
of route advisable. Any Of these frequently occurring
chances will necessitae hurried teegraphins IN ell
arcctlors 10 get dates II may be, on the other
hand. that some provincial manager finds himself
vbout any attraction and wrtps or tesraphs % NOW
~ something cannot be sent him TO MI the vacancy.
Cables from Europe about plays Just produced VIII
REQUIRE attention. and there may Be managers coming
10 try 10 secure for the road some OF the past Sue
rcssos OF tho theatre. The arrangements of toe
long summer tours usually undertaken by the seoeA
companios demand attention almost daily, snd op-
nortun,tios TO strengthen the company for anotAss
season are considered whenever thoy occur
About O'Clock the manager denies himself 10 Oh
except extremely important callers, ana for IN hour
dictates 10 stenosrapher answers 10 the letters mas
hsvs accumulated through the day. This DONE no
goes home has his dinner and returns to the theaN
A little before 8. Unless he wants 10 see some new
MAY A. another house he generally remains st his own
Theatre all the evening lie should DO there In case
of any dissatisfaction Of visitors, any trouble win ne
company, or any danger 70 the audience Callers DO
not trouble him much In the svouing. and he usually
occupies his time In reading plays or having them
rad 10 him. and in attending TO such business ~ he
was not abie 10 finish during the day.
This summary OF managers WORK olnts Detailed
reference 10 an mautuds Of minor details such ss ~
rangements with printers, photographers, hrpossers,
tho making out and changing Of advertisements, order
ing Of paints canvas, lumber and other materials. The
signing Of checks and the examination Of tho accounts
of tho theatro and the travelling organizations. Do.
fauiting treasurer or fsoniouh night Waterman may
cid IN preventing she managers round Of wofk Aeo
becoming too monotonous.' a
TOUR 0LDSrYI.K srALwARr POLITICIAN.