Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-11-10

awakening 81 the authorities in most
cities 10 consciousness " the danger
from fires in theaters makes no cnd of
trouble for the stnge carpenter. AZ well
ps vast inroads on tho pockets Of the
manager D. addition to the electric
lights, Mr.. Albaugh has lately added TO
his theater n new q hestus curtain and a
great pipe for water, which runs along
in the flies and can be made to drench
instantly every part Of the stage should
fire break out among the infammablc
mass Of scenery and properties which
must DO always at hand
Even In these days, when many com.
binations travel with carloads of special
scenery, the thoater must have a fair
stock of its own. Drawing room scenes.
wood scenes, cottages, kitchens aud oven
barns must be IN stock. These can L.
changed indefinitely by few small set
pieces 10 be used in front. thus nfrorling
u variety to those travelling companies
who are willing to use tho scenery De-.
longing TO the House. This is always
desirable from the managers point OF
view. as the cost of getting special scene.
~ III anu RhN w wv hiANfhNNA ~ iNlANlAAtI~
able and is always at his expense.
On tho other hand, 1t Is less trouble.
some than you would suppose to tit spe
cial scenery, when 1t Is used, TO the 70.
ouirements Of different houses. The
only difficulty arises in the case Of a
very small theator. when the scene some
times has to be cut and Tapped
There Is a great deal OF difference In
the ease with which scenery may DO
handled. Take, for instance, the storm
scene in CLEOPATRA The one used by
Nine. Bernhardt was made IN France,
and was so heavy and massive that 1t
gave no end OF trouble wherever II went.
Fanny Davonports was much lighter
aud more eahily bundled, although the
effect was moro elaborate. We could
prepare it In very short timo and with
out the slightest hitch Some actors aud
stage managers are much more fastidi-
Gus than others.
Mr.. Mansfield Is the most exacting
person ia this respect that ! know
More things have to bo hired for Mans.
field engagement than for any other
three companies. Another very trying
season for the stage carpenter IS when
grand opera comes TO town for a week
and tho hill IS changed every night.
! Seven performances, each one with DIFF
fercnt scenery and properties, involve a
| lot of troublesome detail for some enc.
Every thoater has its own paint frame
and paint bridge, and when new sccnery
is required the scene painter usually
comes and does tho work on the spot.
| Everything concerned " ith stage setting
is short lived. and soon becomes very
shabby on near view. IN drawing room
scenes the upholstered furniture IS cared
for rs well us possible, but the constant
hasty handling soon makes u battered
and worn In fact, tho best materials
for mantels, cabinets, bric-a-brlc OF
large size, even for chairs, is the papier
machc, with which clover property
man can work such wonders. IL Is light
and easily handled, and stands hard
knocks remarkably we'll.
The stage carpenter usually gets hi9
plan OF tho scenes required for n com
ing attraction some titno In advance Of
the engagement He must meet a,
many of the needs as lac can out Of hii
stock in hand, and then arrange for tho
manufacture or rental Of the rest. II,
must be on hand az every performanc,
20 sec about the actual work OF chang
ing tho scenes, and be ready 10 so
straight any accident which may occur
fits business is II regular trade, rs II
fact is that Of every person ON tho mo
chanical stan of the house. The ear
penter must even accompany the fly
man in his pcrilous duties aloft II occa
sion requires
BY the way, once had n hyman VIII
was an old sailor, and found that u nnu
teal career was the best possible train
ing for tho business. Howas the handi
est man at getting around ever saw
and II u rope broke he could splice /
with marvellous speed, Besides all thes
duties tho stage carpenter attends to re
pairs IN other parts OF the house, an,
makes improvements wherever he can
have just come this morning from tn
, skylight, where we uocd larger opening
, for the escape Of smoke, warm air, etc
The ventilation around u stage must b
quick and thorough, so that when pow
der Is used in yollCys all smoke and odo
: will pass quickly Obj. i. Morrison i
, Kate Fielu'8 Washington.