The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-06
ALI BABA'S BOSS.

pleasant about it.
When he was approached he did not
scowl and complain about having no time
TO fool away in talking. but just smiled and
said: Certainly, will tell you how we got
up this Ali Baba''
Then this Great Mogul of the theatrical
world sat down like any ordinary person
beside me on settee in the foyer of the
Grand Opera house and said all that here
follows with scarcely pause:
1.-THE extravaganza OF Ali Baba was
thought out and begun work on good year
before it saw the light.
For one solid year we have been cutting
1t down and revising it and padding 1t and
getting ii into shape until you see the CON-
plete play as il is tonight.
~ was in London, listening to Sunday
pantomime, when the idea of such work
struck NE. l thought could get up a piece
that would have several acts instead of one,
ana by further alterations suit our Ameri-
can audiences pretty well.
II got scheme Of the piece we'll In mind
and then began the arduous task of con-
struction.
1T had to be gradually put together just
like house.
First of all came the foundation, and
that Is the scenic effects. l thought we
must have diversity Of color and position.
then we can arrange the scenario, build up
our characters and lay our plot.
Il ran over the field of great costume de-
signers and settled upon Howell Russell
Of London. Baron de Grimm. Mr.. Dunn and
Frederick Dangerfeld.
"These gentlemen are among the first cos
tune designers living.
After giving them an idea or the scenario
and locality of the play / rested Oh my oars
for few days.
Not so with them, however. They made
colored plots of each scene In the play.
They worked out harmony Of detail that
would bring out great effects. They made
separate plots for hand costumes-that is
for each wig, shoe, glove. etc.
"Once done with the costumes, turned
to finish the libretto and then hunted I'D a
good musical director. Ali Baba' must
have songs that are as good as those 10
'Siubad,' thought
"But alas for my librettoI
"The conductor waded right into il ard
hacked about 1t until he had finished his
musical score. That's all right, however.
Things must blend together in an extrava-
ganza until we have a perfect kaleid oscope
OF color, music. action and all.
"'Ali Ba5a' will be n great success, /
thought; now for my cast
THAT was not so difficult an undertaking.
because l bad my regular company and at
once assigned them their parts.
For six weeks we rehearsed the new
piece. 1t was drill. drill. drill. Rough
edges appeared everywhere, but in time
they were smoOthed down and the piece
was almost ready.
"The light scenes had TO be separately
rehearsed. as did the costume scenes, chorus
and ballet.
"Of course we saw jars in the general
harmony OF color, and sixty or seventy cos
tunes had to be thrown out altogether.
Then put them on careful practice for
five days and nights, and threw open my
theater in Chicago TO display my All Baba.'
when the curtain rose on the new piece
my expenses had run to sS5.00O
1T was pronounced success from the
first Our theater was crowded every night
and we felt satisfied with our efforts.
"Then we took 1t on the road to make our
regular California tour.
1--WE travelled in a special train OF seven
cars. There were three 60-foot baggage
cars to carry the scenery and property.
Aaik huout DtiuR annoyed by trunks
when you travel. What do yea saw to us
with go of them!
"And when it comes to big families we
claim recognition. There ale $50 of us all
told. Twenty-Five members of the staff
never appear on the stage at all.
I'VE carry all our own electric appliances
and four electricians to manage them.
sour average expenses are $1,000 day.
"The prospect for ALI Baba' is first
rate. 1t has been more of success than
either The Crystal Slipper or 'Slnbad.'
and Is having an enormous run everywhere.
1.-The kindness of the general public is not
less than that Of the papers. The press
notices have been splendid, and nowhere
more so than in San Francisco. Notice the
space The CALL for instance gives us. /
tell you it Is superb.
''San Franciscans are great theater-
going people anyway. We counted on thar
when we brought ALI Baba' out In this
city of 100000 people you have almost as
many theaters as we have in Chicago with
its 200. coo inhabitants.
Ali Baba' took there from the first