The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-04
HOW A PLAY IS PRODUCED
What is Revealed in an Hour Behind
the Curtain at the Opera
House.
How Elaborate Scenery is Shifted
and Various Special Effects
are Produced.
How Monte Cristo Looked Behind the
Sccnes-More Business than One
Would Imagine.

An opera or play in which there are I'M
usual spectacular effects has far different
appearance to the inquisitive man who ven
lures into that forbidden precinct "behind
the scenes.'' The audience sees gorgeous
picture of stage realism. The picturesque
forests and cliffs with tufts of green grass
scattered about, the roar of thunder and
fash of lightning and the swiftly moving
waters are often presented with an artistic
finish that seems to draw upon the resources
of nature for the desired effect. brief
study of the manner in which these are pro
duced removes the charming illusions which
appear from the open stage, but in turn
leaves a marked impression of the mechan
ical ingenuity employed in perfecting the
mechanical contraction Of play. The
good stage manager nowadays must be
both an artist and mechanic with long
experience. He must be quick III action, full
of resources and at the same time possess
business like attention to details. There
is. of course, very wide difference in stage
managers and very naturally there is a cor
responding difference in the stage effects
upon the audience. The best stage effects
at Ming's this season were with James
~
behind the scenes revealed in fairly good
way the manner in which the scenes were
constructed and shifted. One unfortunate
feature of the opera house is the ex-
IRENE narrow size OF the stage. Inc depth
is 80 feet, the width 30 feet and the height
to the proscenium arch is q feet, while the
extreme height to the gridiron is 20 feet.
The distances should be almost double to
give sufficient size for working the large
scenery carried by many companies.
- - hot ~ 10 IvprNn cSi-
BILE to produce many of the finer scenic and
mechanical effects. An enlargement of the
stage would be the best improvement that
could be made to the opera house. All
other facilities found in modern
At aM inp's. Fifteen sets of scenery are IN
readiness for the ordinary use OF companies
and are entirely sufficient for the present
time. There are also many MINOR accesso-
ries in the shape of property pieces, logs OF
ture, etc. Manager Remington has COM
petent force of men to shift the scenes as
rapidly as may be required between the acts.
It is surprising to know that twenty men
were required for this purpose in the per-
Torrance of Monte Cristo. Ten of these
men are stationed in the flies under the
charge of one man. They keep their places
during the entire performance though as
may be imagined, the atmosphere in the
upper regions sometimes becomes uncom-
drop the scenery which, it should be under
stood, is hung high above, ready to be
dropped at a moments notice. If the stage
had the proper height the drop scenes could
be hung unfolded. Now it is necessary to
trip them, that is, folding curtain TO-
gether. One man is stationed at the
gas during the entire performance.
He must be on the alert at all times, for the
gas effects of a spectacular production form
a very important part. The gas Jets are
~ 1f al trVN hyVt TON
which are arranged on key board. 1t
may be interesting to know. in this connec-
ton, that the gas bill at Ming's for every
performance amounts to more than T2O:
High above the stage are the grooves and
borders, different for each scene, and which
must be looked after by the men i'll the
flies. These men are regularly employed
at the theater on entertainment nights, and
are paid for each performance. During the
day they find employment at various
their work are quick action and prompt at
tention to business. The master hand
must thoroughly understand his work.
Each company carries stage manager, who
usually acts a minor part in the play. he
has general charge of the scenic arrange
ments for his play. For the guidance of
the theater employees property list is sent
in advance and also list of cues for the
orchestra and gas man.
When the curtain drops after an act the
striking the scene,' rs the shifting is
called, must necessarily be a lively bit of
work. The big roller of the curtain drops
with heavy thud on the floor, and in an
instant men appear from unknown quarters
and hurriedly begin work. The last act in
Monte Cristo, for instance, calls for a
garden scene. The curtains of the former
scene are rolled away by the t1y-men into
the recesses above. One man drops a
rough green rug, which is supposed to rep,
t,,~& how ns,y,., l, =,
stump on which are laid a case of old-fash
toned pistols, and several rapiers, which
are only sticks with sword handles. Set
tees are placed hurriedly about and thu
wings are swuns into position II
flies have dropped rear curtain
representing wood scene. To blend the ap
pcarance of distance Il net is dropped few
feet in front of this. The work is don
quietly, but very rapidly, for each man ha
been instructed for his work. The stag
manager moves about from place to plac
on the stage, giving directions for variou
movements and standing back close to tn
curtain to observe the general effect of tn
scene. In the meantime the orchestra
waiting for the cue to cease playing. l
finally comes, the bell rings, and the cur
tain arises for the last act This is one O
the least difficult scenes of the play. TIL
dungeon scene and the scene in which tn
hero leaps into the sea and is finally save,
.Quire unusual dexterity in handling. TIL
various natural effects are the result o
ideas in which ingenuity is exer
cised. not so much i'll the method
as in finding the best means of giving tn
most natural effect. The rolling wave
are represented by blue painted canvas
moved by men crawling beneath. Some
times this effect is produced by mechar
ical device for rolling the big sheet. Tn
audience will remember the dashing spra
after Edmund Dantes falls in the Sc,
This is simply coarse white salt throw
from tin pans. This thrown against plate
of tin produces the sound of waters dasl
ing against the cliffs. In the storm seer
preceding several very good effects al
given. The sound of rolling thunder
produced by slowly rafting long piece
sheet iron which hangs against the wa
near one of the wings. The lightning
simply series of flashes from a calcium
light standing close to the wings. The,
are different ways of producing stage ligh
irg. one of which is by electricity. Sever
of the more ordinary effects are east
managed. When the sound OF falling wat
is wanted corn is dropped fro
the flies to the floor. In many of the larg
theatres real water is taken from stan
pipe near by and dropped from above.
snow storm is easily initiated. Bits of to
paper are placed in a cylinder filled wi
apertures. When the cylinder is turned t
papers come out in steady shower. L
scene of the grand stair case in Monte Girls
~ arl1 five ho oh Il