The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-08-14
The Filming System in Theatrical
Companies.
NELLIE MHENRY's SEASON
"The Lost Paradise" Again-sol Smith
Russell--New York Ac-
tivity Notes.

uSudi, was the reply, out IL mas by nc
means gone out, nor do think it ever will.
One doesn't want to discharge person for
trihing attractions, and one couldn't If he
did. The filming system ID the best means
OF maintaining discipline in a company"
What are the principal causes for which
fines are inflicted in your company"
sTardiness at rehearsals; inattention
keeping the curtain waiting; talking back
to the stage manager once in while; guy
ing during performance; sighting a part,
etc, etc, ETC."
Mr.. Daniels manager said instances of
fniug were perhaps rarer in the Little
Puckn company than many others. Mr..
Daniels did most of his own stage directing
humor made him less strict than another
might be. He would never allow himself
to be imposed on, however, and anyone at
tempting such thing would be brought up
standing.
Anent the fning system in vogue in New
York, the morning journal of late date
has the following interesting article:
w. L. Carleton, the eminent baritone,
was rushing like mad toward the Garden
theatre last Friday morning. He was
asked what he was in such hurry about.
why" he said, lit is the first time in
nine years that have been an employee
and am almost late. If do not get to
the Garden theatre in one minute l will be
fined SlOr
And of he rushed. 1t was perfectly
true. Few people know the strict disci-
pline that pervades theatrical companies
Carleton himself was pretty strict mar
tinet when at the head of his own company
and insisted upon the strictest rules being
observed. AS an actor under Mr.. French's
management he expects, of course, to
obey just the same regulations.
To the outside observer many Of those
theatrical fines seem absurdly high. 1t is
dollar or two every time a chorus girl
talks or snikers on the stage during per-
formance. 1t is $500, or nearly one-third
OF her salary, If she misses an entrance at
the right time. They are fond of chatting
ia their dressing rooms, and frequently do
not get to the stage in time for the general
walk on.
1t is curious sometimes to observe the
tricks they employ so as to pretend that
they are up to the mark. But as rule,
the sharp eye of the stage manager is on
them. He very seldom misses a point.
Fines, however, are frequently RENTED
where they are too high; but it is curious
how little dissatisfaction prevails in
company over the enforcement of these
rules. tiny professional matter is OF
Infinitely more consequence to the average
actor or actress than the enforce
ment of a big fine.
This very srrictness is the very reason
why we here in America, as rule, give
Infinitely better performances than they
do in England, where the looseness of the
regulations, such as permitting favored
people to 20 behind the scenes during the
performance produces laxity.
Here not a soul is allowed on the stage
who has not an absolute right or business
there, and even men who might be con-
sidered justified in frequently going there
keep away sooner than have IL supposed
| that they go there for purposes not strictly
in the line of work.
Thus even Mr.. Rudolph Aronson does
not go on his own stage once in six months
during performance, and this is the case
with good many other managers in New
York. They are apt not to meet their
artists for a whole season, unless there is
some special matter of complaint or con-
sideration going on.
The rule against the Introduction of
liquors on the stage is also rood one.
Nothing ID so demoralizing, especially in
big company. A lot of chorus girls, for
instance, will get together and drink beer
or perhaps something stronger, that has
been brought in surreputiousy. They i'm
mediately become utterly unmanageable
and the performance suffers in conse-
Quence.
Then. again, actors who ara known to be
dipsomaniacs have to be watched with the
greatest care to see that no LIQUOR is
brought on the stage. Smoking is also for
hidden, but that mainly because it inter-
feres with the insurance regulations.
Another rule that is strictly enforced is
that the actors shall not go through the
body OF the house in going to their per-
fnrmance or coming away from it. But
another regulation that is supposed to be
enforced, and often forgotten, is that an
actor shall not appear in front of the house
during the performance of the play in
which he has part.
People do not realize, perhaps, how
greatly the illusion is broken where you
Sc q parsonage standing or sitting beside
you who few moments ago you witnessed
being killed in the play.
There is not stage among the many in
New York that is not occupied from early
morning until midnight by various COM
panies rehearsing. 1t has become rule for
managers to give the use of their stage to
whoever applies first; that is, of course,
terms. No refusal is ever given, and the
only expense is occasionally to tip the
stage carpenter, who probably has to re-
move the scenes for the company.
Just this time of year, when all the
travelling companies are about to start cut
on their annual migration, naturally re-
hearsals are of the greatest importance,
and the time is so limited that perhaps four
or five companies rehearse on one stage.
Mr.. Rosenquest was asked by a prominent
manager 10 give him the use of the Bijou
for rehegrsals of this particular managers
company.
He showed list of no less than five diff
ferent com panies that were using the the
atre at the time. One would begin at 10
and have to get out by l, so as to permit
another to come and reheaese until 3. An
other would begin at $3.50 and rehearse
until 6 and then two others would rehearse
during the evening.
Even all the halls in town. such as the
Berkeley Lyceum, the Adelphi and the
Clarendon, are eagerly sought for and paid
for at quite good prices for rehearsal pur-
poses
1t is estimated that no less than no COM
panies are now in town occupied in this
manner. Sometimes it is only the prin-
cipals, at other times the chorus is at one
place and the principals at another. But
it is hard work all the time, and perhaps
the most tedious work that is known TO an
actor.
1t is something of pleasure to announce
the coming of that prince of comedians,
Sol Smith Russell, who will begin an en-
gagement Of two nights at the theatre on
next Friday evening. Mr.. Russell's great
success the past season and his wonderful
performance is still fresh in the memory
OF our theatre goers. In addition to
"A Peacefully alley' will he also appear in
his former success, "a Poor RelaJion,n
which will be the opening bill. Peaceful
Valley,n with all its gorgeous mountain
scenery and beautiful stage settings, viii