St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-21
THEATRICAL CHIT CHAT.

LIE n hlOAL Cnll OHAIs
For the sake of the ORA matte art, let lis
hope that stage realism has been carried
about as far as it is going to be. OF course,
one likes the make-belieye to be a little like
the real thing, but for all purposes. the good
old canvas ocean is better than the tank full
of water, after all. There is nothing edlfy-
ing i'll the spectacle of the heroine called be-
fore the curtain, just after she has been
pulled out of the big bath tub at the back OF
the stage. and is wringing wet. Then, too,
there's suggestion Of brutality about en- au-
dience that compels woman to plunge into
atank every night, at the risk of her health,
just for its amusement.
I1t s 5 8 S
OReal wateris great deal wetter than the
canvas variety, but by no means so satisfac
tory. The audience is just as we'll pleased if
the man who has just been rescued from a
watery grave is as dry as the multiplication
table. Now. in THE Struggle of Life"
.whic is not half a bad play, by the way, the
hero is rescued from the sewer-which
ereaks dreadfully too-just in the nick of
time, but is as clean and dry as If he. had Just
stepped out of baud box. 1t may not be
quite SO real as the wet and watery tank
play, but it's a great deal more pleasant to
see.
- 5 S 5
I wonder if ever in the world there was a
heroine of melodrama who wasn't clad in
long black cape and hood while roaming
ABOUT The streets OF the great, cruel city she
Is Always turned loose in. The cape is never
tnlck enough to be of any real service. and
the hood Is of pattern never found except
on rubber circular. No woman off the
stage would by any possibility own such a
thing. The real woman in the unfortunate
stage OF her existence, after she finds out
that the marriage was only a cruel farce after
al, Nouiu keep right on wearing the cloak
ana nat she had before she found it out. If
she had left them behind when she fled, her
oster garment would probably be cheap
cloak OF last years style. The cape would
have to be made TO order, and would be ex-
pensive. Here's best wishes for the success
OF the hrst actress who diScards the oapeand
lndulges in heroics in a REFER Jacket and
sailor hat
Nobody on earth can write SO fast as man
on the other side of the footlights. He can
write just as fast as he can talk and he never
hesltates the least bit i'll reading rig hit off a
letter he has never seen before in his life.
There were two young women at the theater
yesterday afternoon. One was as gulleless
as a little lamb, but the other, think, knew
thing or two When the villain, in rage
ana agony, was writing down what the hero
dictated to him. one young woman said TO
the other, MY but he writes fast" ana the
other. the guileless one, in the innocence Of
her heart, and with an evident desire to
make The act seem plausible SAID II guess
ne S taking 1t down IN shorthand
$ S s
There is prevalent idea that actresses
have simply impossible compilations off the
stage. Now, there's not word of truth in it.
Grease paint is, dare say, excellent for the
skin and stage women. are always carefully
groomed. Pauline Halls complexion. for
example, Is like satin. her eyes are clear and
blue tinged like a child's, aud from the
crown of her boyishly cropped head to the
soies OF her trim feet. she's the picture of
health. She was, did you know, the first
woman in New York to ride bicycle. and
she is as great pedestrian as the typical
Englishwoman. .
8
Master Charles Thropp, who is playing the
bootblack in THE Struggle of Lite" is quite
remarkable young man. He is brother of
Clara Thropp, the dancer, who lacks only
softer voice 10 make her remarkably pleas
Ing soubrette and nearly all the sixteen
years OF his existence have been spent on the
stage. Indeed, he went on as baby and
even in long clothes displayed a fondness
for acting. which is only another proof of
the truth Of the oldsaw, that the boy makes
The man. -
1.-THE average theatergoer, seated comforta-
bly, in the front witnessing performance
OF light OPERA gives little thought to the i'm
mense amount of work and patience re-
QfIired make the r,rnSnptation artistic oDd
satisfactory to an exacting public. 1 had the
interesting experience of listening to re-
hearsal of Trial by Jury by the Pauline
Hall company at the Metropolitan yesterday
= morning. The stage, set for action an in
cessantly moving stage manager. musical
director neryouSly smoking cigarettes, and
Miss Hall herself seated in a box critically
regarding the whole proceedings, formed
novel and unconventional picture. In many
ways the necessary breaks were exasperat-
lug. IN the midst of g divine melody, SulIi-
yanesQue in its beauty, the leaders stick
would come down with an explosive adject-
i've, fortunately, perhaps. drowned in the
aforesaid melody, and every thing would
come to a sudden thudlike halt. Express
sions of disgust and all OVER again, ad lilo.
S 5
The leader languidly waits until the stage
manager directs some delinquent principal.
then proceeds with the aid of piano and
baton to induce the chorus to realize that the
composer really knew his business The
comedians. condescending and superior,
languidlv suggest their intense humor dis
daining 10 smile, and the anxious chorus be-
ginner looks admiringiy at Miss Hall and
wonders when ner name will adorn the dead
walls of the town. Hours of this repetition
and really hard work, and the end comes
with ''Thats all today. ladies and gentlemen;
tomorrow ut TO- The tenor and comedians
button their fur coats. and, with a careless
inquiry of ANY mail?" saunter out Do not
think for one moment it is all glitter and
smoothness. Nothing is more eXacting, no
profession more constant in its demands;
and how yer, few ever reach distincuonl
But the undeniable fascination is certainly
there. and, as Miss Hall remarked, Il like
even the necessary study and work. and the
applause of the public is a wonderful re-
ward