The Irish standard., 1892-09-24
PS GU II OF SIGHT.
VET THE WORK or THE STAGE
CARPENTER IS IMPORTANT.


i, Carpenter Is Probably the Person with
the Most Authority Behind the Scenes
of Theater-His Duties.
AS the public must know, every well
ordered theater has connected with it a
body Of officials who are never seen on
the stage except by accident. This me-
chanical staff differs in size and ability,
but fair number for a good house will
comprise stage carpenter and his as
sistant, a property man, t1ayman, two
fre1nen and a gasman. We still call
him ''gasman," though the closet full
of knobs and levers and buttons manipu
late electricity instead Of gas in most
modern houses The new mode OF
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 we'll
as vast inroads on the pockets Of the
manager. In addition to the electric
lights, Mr.. Albauyh has lately added to
his theater a new asbestus 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 intlamlnable
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 thearer must have g. 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 a few small set
pieces to be used in front, thus atfording
a 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 getting special scene
nv 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 tit spe
cial scenery when it is used, to the re-
ouire2nents of different houses. The
only difficulty arises in the case Of a
very smSl 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. Bernhal(t was made in France,
and was so heavy and massive that 1t
gave no end Of trouble wherever 1t went.
Fanny Davenports was much lighter
and more easily handled, although the
effect was more elaborate. We could
prepare it in a very short time and with
out the slightest hitch. Some actors and
stage managers are much more fastldl-
GUS than others.
MI. Mansfield is the most exactlng
person in this respect that know
More things have to be 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 Tor a week
and the bill is changed every night.
Seven performances, each one with dit
ferent scenery and properties, involve
lot of troublesome detail for some one.
Every theater has it's own paint frame
and paint bridge, and when new scenery
is required the scene painter usually
comes and does the work on the spot
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 paple1
mache. with which a clever property
man can work such wonders. 1t is light
and easily handled, and stands hard
knocks remarkably we'll.
The stage carpenter usually gets h1S
plan of the scenes required for a com
ing attraction some time in advance OF
the engagement. He must meet az
many of the needs as he can out Of his
stock in hand, and shen arrange for the
manufacture or rental Of the rest. He
must be on hand at every performance
TO see about the actual work Of chang
ing the scenes, and be ready to sci
straight any accident which may occur
Ills business is a regular trade, as IL
fact is that of every person on the me
chanical staff of the house. The car
penter must even accompany the ty
man in his perilous duties aloft it occa
sion requires
By tie way, once had fly1nan who
was an old sailor, and found that a nau
teal career was the best possible tram
ing for the business. He was the handl
est man at getting around l ever saw
and if rope broke he could spllce i
with marvellous speed. Besides all thesf
duties the stage carpenter attends to re
pairs in other parts Of the house, ane
makes improvements wherever he can
have just come this morning from tht
;skylight, where we need larger openings
for the escape Of smoke, warm air, etc
The ventilation around a stage must 81
quick and thorough, SO that when pow
der is used i'll volleys all smoke and odo1
will pass quickly Off. F. Morrison IL