The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-24
Hints That May Prove to Be Service
able in Their Successful
Arrangement.
Fair Presentations With Such
Furniture as Ordinary Houses
Can Afford.
The Sort Of Plays Best Adapted for the
Home Theater-Tableau Vlvants
and Operettas.
Written for The SUNDAY INDEPENDENT

which is nearer to Aladdin's lamp than any
thing else / have seen, have built private
theaters in their palaces.
This is taking time by the forelock, and
arranging for a whole family of coming his
trionic g%eniuses.
But when the whole arrangement must be
improvised (and, indeed, it is greater fame
to play in a barn than on the best STACEY the
following hints may prove serviceable.
Wherever the amateur actor elects to play
he must consider the extraneous space be-
hind the acting arena necessary for his ex-
its and entrances and his theatrical proper
critics. In an ordinary house. the back par
lor, with two doors opening into the dining
room, makes an ideal theater, for the exits
can be masked and the space is especially
useful. One door opening into another
room is absolutely necessary, if no better
arrangement can be made. The best stage,
of course, is like that of a theater, raised
with areas all about it, for the players to
retire to and issue from.
However, drawing up the big sofa in front
of the footlight and arranging a pair of
screens and a curtain will do if nothing else
can be done
1t is hardly necessary to say that all these
arrangements for a play depend on the re-
quirements OF the play and its legitimate
business, which may demand a table, a bu-
reau, a piano or a bed. The very funny
piece, "Box and Cox" needs nothing but a
bed, a table and a fireplace. And here we
would say to the youthful actor: Select your
play at first with a view to it's requiring
little change of scene and not much furni-
ture. A young actor needs space. He is
embarrassed by too many chairs and tables.
Then choose . play which has 80 much va
ried incident that it will play itself.
The first thing is to build the stage. Any
carpenter will lay a few stout boards on end
pieces, which are simply squared joints,
and for very little money will take away
the boards and ioists afterwards. so a per
rnanent stage can be built for a few dollars.
Sometimes ingenious boys build their own
stage with a few boxes, but this ia apt to be
dangerous. Very few families are without
an old carpet, which will serve for a stage
covering, and if this is lacking green baize
is very cheap. A whole stage fitting, cur
tains and all, can be made of green baize.
of candle put in, or a row of old bottles of
equal height, with candles stuck in the
mouth make a most admirable and cheap
set of footlights.
The curtain is always a trouble, especially
in a parlor. A ligh t wooden frame should
be made by the carpenter, firm at the
joints, and as high as the room allows.
Joined to the stage at the foot, this frame
forms three sides of a square. And the cur
tain must be firmly nailed to the top piece.
A stiff wire should be run along the lower
edge of the curtain, and a number of rings
squares, three rows of four rings each
extending from top to bottom. Three cords
are now fastened to the wire and passing
through the rings are run over three pulleYs
on the upper piece of the frame. 1t is we'll
for all young managers of garrett theaters
to get up one OF these curtains, even with
the help of an upholster, rs the other draw
curtain never works SO securely, and often
hurts the denouement of the play. In case
of the drop curtain, above described, one
person holds all the strings, and it pulls
together.
easily made. A boy who can paint a little,
will indicate a scene, with black paint on a
white ground, and tinsel paper, red flannel
and old finery will supply the fancy dresses.
A stage manager who is a natural born
leader is Indispensable. In the ambitious
Patience was we'll essayed in New York, II
but for the musical talent of the two great
parts would nave been a failure. except for
the diligent six weeks training which the
play received a. the hands of the principal
actor in the real oferetta; but this seems
We desr for the whistler. when one can
go and hear the real tune. it is in places
where the real play cannot be heard that
the amateur th-ntricals are of importance.
Young men at college get up the best of
all amateur plays, because they arc real
istia and stop at nothing to make strong
many properties like wigs, dresses, and to
make up of the character give study ana
observation.
If they need a comic face. they have an
artist from the theatre to come and put it
OH with Il camel's hair pencil. An old
mans face, or u brigand's, is only a bit of
water color. A pretty girl can be made out
of a heavy young man by rouge, chalk
and q blonde wig. For a drunkard or a
villain a few purple spots are painted
on chin, cheek, forehead and nose, judi
ciously.
Young girls are apt in essaying private
threat icnls to sacrifice too much to pretti-
ness. This is a fatal mistake. One must
even sacrifice native bloom if the part re-
quires it. and put on unneeded rouge, if
necessary.
AS amusement is the object, the PLAYS
had better be comedy than tragedy; and
no such delicate wordy duela AS the Scrap
of Paper should be attempted, as that re-
quires the highest skill Of two great actors.
After reading the part and committing
the lines to memory the young actors must
submit to many and long rehearsalE. After
much study and ~rearsals they must not BIO
DISCOURAGED if they grow worse instead of
better. However. perseverance, conqueis all
things, and finally they get to the dress re-
hearsal.
This is generally a disappointment, and
time should be allowed for two dress re-
hearsals. This is II most excellent and ad-
vantageoUs encouragement If it leads the
actors to more study.
The stage manager has a difficult role to
play, for he may discover that his people
mus change parts. This always leads to
a%wounded self-love and tho tonipers get
excited. However, II everyone will bear in
mind that he is only a part of u perfect
whole and 10 willing to sacrifice himself,
he can do this and more.
If the amateur stage ceases to amuse and
the play is given up, it can be utilized for
good tableaux vivants, which AFRO always
pretty and may he made very artistic.
The principle of n picture. the pyramidal
form. should be closely observed in II
tableaux.
There should be u square of black tar