Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-09-28

4
Carpenter Is Probably the Person with
the Most Authority Behind the Scenes
of n Theater-His Duties.
As the public must know, every well
ordered theater has connected with it
body of officials who are never seen ON
the stage except by accident. This me-
chanical staff differs in size and ability,
but a fair number for good house will
comprise stage carpenter and his as
sistant, property man. a nayman, two
fremen and a gasman. We still call
him ''gasman," " though the eleset full
| of knobs and levers and buttons manipu-
late electricity instead of gas in most
| modern houses. The new mode Of
1 lighting is more expensive than gas. but
it is easier TO manage and there Is much
less danger of fire from it.
BY the way, speaking of fires, the
| awakening of the authorities in most
| cities TO q consciousness of the danger
| from fires in theaters makes no end of
trouble for the stage carpenter, as well
as vast inroads on the pockets of the
manager. In addition to the electric
lights, Mr., Albaugh has lately added to
/ OHCdtCA a. IbW ttcDCctuS C0i ttAlu AuO -
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 inflammable
mass of scenery and properties which
must be always at hand.
Even in these days, when many COM
binations travel with carloads of special
scenery, the theater must have fair
stock of its own. Drawing room scenes,
wood scenes, cottages, kitchens and even
barns must be in stock. These can be
changed indefinitely by few small set
! pieces to be used in front, thus affording
variety to those travelling companies
who are willing to use the scenery be-
longing to the house. This Is always
| desirable from the managers point OF
view, as the cost Of gesting special scene
| ry in and out of the theater is consider
able and is always at his expense.
On the other hand, it is less trouble
some than you would suppose to fit spe-
cial scenery, when itsis used, to the re-
quirements of different houses. The
only difficulty arises in the case OF
very small theater, 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 be
handled. Take, for instance, the storm
scene in Cleopatra" The one used by
| Mime. Bernhardt was made in France,
and was so heavy and massive that it
gave no end of trouble wherever it went.
Fanny Davenport's was much lighter
and more easily handled, although the
4 .f4o al 70 rnF11d
/ prepare it in very short time and with
out the slightest hitch. Some actors and
stage managers are much more fastidi-
GUS than others.
Mr.. Mansfield is the most exacting
person in this respect that l. know.
| More things have to be hired for a 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 week
and the bill is changed every night.
! Seven performances, each one with-di
ferent scenery and properties, involve q
lot of troublesome detail for some one.
Every theater has its own paint frame
and paint bridge, and when new scenery
is required the scen6 painter usually
/ COul6S dllu u0CS I110 WOIk Ol LILO 6ROos
Everything concerned with stage setting
is short lived, and soon becomes very
shabby on near view. In drawing room
scenes the upholstered furniture is cared
| for as well as possible, but the constant
hasty handling soon makes it battered
! and worn In fact, the best materials
| for mantels, cabinets, bric-a-brac OF
large size, even for chairs, is the papier
mache, with which a. clever property
man can work such wonders. 1t is light
and easily handled, and stands hard
| knocks remarkably well.
The stage carpenter usually gets his
| plan of the scenes required for COM
/ ing attraction some time in advance of
the engagement. He must meet as
many of the needs as he can out of his
stock in hand, and then arrange for the
| manufacture or rental Of the rest He
must be on hand at every performances
to see about the actual work Of chang
| ing the scenes, and be ready to set
| straight any accident which may occur.
His business is a regular trade, as in
fact is that of every person on the me-
| chanical staff of the house. The car
penter must even accompany the fly
man in his perilous duties aloft if occa-
sion requires.
BY the way, once had fyman who
was an old sailor, and found that nau-
tical career was the best possible train
ing for the business. He was the handi-
est man at getting around ever saw,
and if q rope broke he could splice It
with marvellous speed. Besides all these
duties the stage carpenter attends to re-
pairs IN other parts of the house, and
makes improvements wherever he can.
have just come this morning from the
skylight, where we need larger openings
for the escape of smoke, warm air, etc.
The ventilation around stage must be
quick and thorough, so that when pow
der is used in volleys all smoke and odor
win pass quickly off.-B. F. Morrison in
Kate Fields Washington.
Deserving Praise.