St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-25
SHAPING The TIGHTS.
How an Opera Company Co.'S
tunes for Every New
Opera.
SCI
A. Soubrette Songster as Mis-
tress Of a Company's
80 Wardrobe.
80,
No, Fun in Seven Night and
-'] Three Matinee Shows
dt Weekly.
People Well Known on the
az Stage, Are Unknown
aas Elsewhere.

sN Stage, Are Unknown
ans Elsewhere.
10
Thirty-five pretty girls in various
stages of undreSS, some rOmping about
playing leap-frog and other antics call
ing for acti witty of muscle, again others
practicing graceful poses and laughing
immoderately at the sometimes gro
tesQue result of a just made effort,
thrOnged the stage at the Harris theater
on Friday afternoon. 1t was not re-
hearsal day, either, or the merriment and
romping playfulness of the handsome
sirens would not have been al
lowable. The thirty-five were at
tired in tights of various colors
and TUNES of uniform red in various
stages of incompletemeSs. In front of
the house sat Stage Manager Kolen lee
and Manager Wilbur. On the stage
hustling about among her army of we'll
drilled amaZons was "The Grand
Duchess" armed with piece of tailor'S
chalk and pair of shears, and each of
the costumes worn by the girls came in
for an inspection and more or less alter
alton at the hands of the clever little
woman, who appears to just as good adj
ing the wrinkles out of refractory
garment as when, attired in that white
and gold Redfern costume, she waves
the crooked sabre of her illustrious
papa and calls on her soldier hero to
weld it for the honor of La Belle
France.
''Surely that isn't Miss Kirwin?" said
some one. pointing to the busy little
woman, clad in dress of some brown
stuff, who was working like beaver to
get the dresses in shape for this weeks
production of "The Merry War;"
1t was Miss Kerwin, though, the
charming Susie herself who had at
tracted the attention of the visitor.
There was none of the abandon of the
duchess nor the gayety of the mascotte
about her now. True. she would laugh
little at the antics of her amaZOns as
they skipped about the stage. but she
was busy, very busy.
"How do you do?" she said, looking
up from her work at the scribe who was
standing all interested spectator of the
scene.
Excuse my position; haven't time
for ceremony, you know. Must have
these people dressed for Monday night"
you don't mean to say that you are
going to make all those costumes your
self?'
sob, no: Pm just going to cut and fit
them. l have twelve women sewing all
the time. It's hard work to keep all
these girls dressed. 1t isn't always as
difficult as this week though, because
we are going to put ON entirely new
costumes for the "War." We have
most of the operas we play costumes
and all there is to be done when they
are put On is to repair and alter
little. People off the stage
think US players have soft
thing, but if they knew what 1t was to
play seven nights and three matinees
week, besides rehearSing and coStuming
new pieces, they would change their
minds quickly enough.
'sStand still, Fannie; never saw
such girl; you are all the place
like cricket.
''Oh, dear. shall never get this thing
to fit you? Turn round little. That's
better; now Pve got YOU" and so she
went on working like little Turk, fit
ting and clipping until at last the thirty
five tunicS were all of one length and
pattern.
''She's the Understanding woman in
the business" said well-known the
atrical man. speaking of Miss KirWin
half an hour later. "Makes most of
her own dresses, fits every costume
used tn the opera in which she appears.
AT that, she goes to bed early, gets up
early. leads as regular a life as any
woman can who is compelled to be up
until 10 o'clock every night, and finds
time to toddle off to church every Sun
day morning as regularly as that day
comes round without making any dis
play of her religion. Susie isn't very
pretty, to be sure. but never knew
man or woman who got acquainted with
her who could be induced to pro-
nounce her other than charming after
they got to know her. It's the same way
way with her audiences. Pve known
her to make her debut in a town and
get cold sort of reception when she
just came on. Then I've seen her bite
her lips, dig her little heel into the
boards. and sing for all there was in it.
In less than fifteen minutes her catch
ing style and sweet voice Will have the
house on her side, and she could stay in
a town for six months after that and be
hot favOrite.
81 remember once l was walking
down Arch street, Philadelphia, with
Miss Kirwin. There were two little
street arabs in front of us who had
probably seen Miss Kirwin as the l
d uchess at the Chestnut street theater.
One of them caught sight of her face,
and turning to his companion ex-
claimed: Say, Bill, her face would
stop clock"
II shall never forget the way she
took it. She looked up at me and said
with sad little laugh: He's right, too,
isn't he.' Then turning to the dirty
urchin she gave him dollar and told
him to buy a good ticket and come to the
theater that night. 'Pll look my
BEST" she said, lust to please you"
The youngster looked all broken up
when she had done talking to him, and
he remarked as we walked on, "'By
cash, she's a lady if she amt the hand
soonest on EARTH
''She's thorough business woman, is
Miss Kirwin. Owns half interest in
this company she is with now, and
manages her end Of the concern
with wonderful tact. There isn't
a woman in the company
who isn't fond of her, and wherever
known she's prime fayorite. 1t would
surprise some of the guys in big checks
who are always writing letters to the
ladies in the caste il they knew what
BANKED idiots they are making of them
selves by their performances. AS a
matter of fact, you know. most of the
people are married. There is Mrs. |
TreDenick. that handsome woman over |
there kissing the baby. That lady prac- |
ticing a minuet step is Mrs. Kohnlee. |
very clever woman. They have been |
married several years and have two |
children here. Conley, the tenor, isn't |
married, but his prospects are good, and |
there is one little girl in the aggrega- |
tion whose heart beats for him |
alone. By the way, speaking of |
clever people, Ire Denick is one of |
the best in old man parts. | don'tthink |
a better Gaspard was ever seen on the
stage than he gives in LIE Clocfles de |
CnrneyilIa, Then Knhnlee as a come