Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-28
HE'S OUT OF SIGHT
Yet the Work Of the Stage Car
penter Is important.
AN IMPORTANT FUNcIIoaARY
Neat 20 the Stage Manager the stage
CaTpentsE - Probably the Pefsoa
Win the Mot Authority.

As the public must know. every wen
ordered theater has connected with 10 a
body OF officials who are never seen on
the stage except by accident This me-
ehanical staff differs in size and ability,
but fair number for a good house will
sistant, a property man. . fayman. two
nrenen and gasman. We srill call
him ''gasInan," 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 Ia more expensive than gas, but
it Is easier TO manage and there Il much
Ices danger OF fire from IL.
By the way. speaking Of hres. the
awakening OF the authorities IN most
cities - . consciousness Of tho danger
from fires Ia thsaters makes no end OF
trouble for the stage carpenter. As well
~ vast lnroads on the pockets Of the
manager. IN addition 10 the electric
lights. Mr.. Albangh has lately added 10
his thester now asbesrus curtain and a
great pipe for water. which ru1s along
II the ties and can be made 10 drench
Instantly every part Of the stage should
. nre break out among the fnhammable
mas Of scenery and properties which
must 30 always At hand.
Even IN these DAYS, when many COM
binations travel with carloads Of special
scenery, the theater must have q fair
stock Of its own. Drawing room scenes,
wood scenes, cottages, kitchens and even
barns must DO IA stock These can be
changed indefinitely by few small set
pieces TO be used il front, thus afording
a variety % those travelling companies
who are willing 70 use the scenery be-
longing 70 tho house. This is always
desirable from the managers point Of
view. A. the cost OF getting special scene
~ IN and out Of the theater is consider
able and n always at his expense.
On the other hand. it Is less trouble
some than you would suppose TO nj spe-
cial scenery, when 10 Is used, TO the re-
auirements OF different houses. The
only difficulty arises In the case Of a
very small theater, when the scene some
There Is a great deal of difference in
tho ease with which scenery may be
handled Take. for instance, the storm
scene IN "Cleopstra- The one used by
Nine. Bernhardt was made in France.
and was so heavy and massive that it
gave no end OF trouble wherever it went
Fanny Dsvenport's was much lighter
and more easily handled. although the
effect was more elaborate. We could
prepare IL in very short time and with
out the slightest hitch. Some actors and
stage managers ara much more fastidi-
Gus than others.
Mr. Mansfield is the most exacting
person Ia this respect that | know.
More things have TO be hired for Mans
Geld 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 bin is changed every night.
Seven performances. each one with diff
ferent scenery and properties, involve a
lot q troublesome detail for some one.
Every theater has It's own paint frame
and paint bridge, and when new scenery
"a required tho 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
scen-s the upholstered furniture Is cared
for "A we'll "a possible. but the constant
hasty handling soon makes 1t battered
aud worn. In fact, the best materials
for mantsls. cabinets. bric-s-brsc Of
large size. even for chairs, ia the PAPER
machs. with which clever property
man can work such wonders. IL is light
and easily handled. and stands hard
knocks remsrSsbly well.
Tho stage carpenter usually gets his
plan u the scenes required for a com
ing attraction some time IN advance Of
the engagement He must NEE. as
many II tia needs a. he can out Of his
stock In hand. and then arrange FOR the
manufacture or rental Of the rest. lie
muet % on hand at every performance
q -ee about the actual work OF chang
ing the scenes. and De ready 70 set
AIF ktftfAtlt Wltln my bLJAi
tits business "a a regular trade, as in
fact i that Of every person on the me-
ehanical staff q the house. The car
pentsr must even accompany the fly
man in his psrilous duties alofs II coca
s1on requires
BY the way. I once had a f'yrnaa who
was an Old sailor. and found thst a nau-
teal career was tae best possible train
ing FOR the business. lie WAS the handi-
est man at getting around ever saw.
and II a rope broke he could splice It
With marvellous speed Besides AL these
duties the stage carpenter attends 20 re-
pairs in other parts o. the house. and
makes improvements wherever he can.
I have Just come this morning from the
skYlight. where va need larger openings
for the escape of smoke, warm air. etc.
The ventilation around stage must be
quick and thorOuzh. ~ that when pow
der IL ps~d n volleys al smoke and odor
viii pas quickly off. B. ?. Morrison in
Kate Fields Washington.