The Press., 1894-07-19
THE UNDERSTUDY.
suBAcTORS WHO MUST BE READY
 TO TAKE PRINCIPALS PLACES.

0O6ACtOn0 WF1O mO0I BE HEADV
 TO TAKE PRINCIPALS PLACES.
 Getting to the Front-They May Go
 Through an Entire Season With No
 Chance to Show Their Powers.
 After two years of patient waiting and Study young actress, who was an un- derstudy in one of the principal stock companies in town, gave up her position the other day because during all that time she never got an opportunity to dis play her talents before the public. She was on the salary list of the company, and as wages are paid 52 weeks in the year by that particular organization it seemed rather like quitting good thing, but it was not a question of finance with her. She is an actress of recognized abil- ity, and understandings was not particu- larly suited to her taste. She had part after part in new plays and reproduc- tions, but the principal somehow or oth- CT managed to get through without being ill, or never suffered any mishap, so it seemed as if the actress was destined to become a permanent understudy. This instance is only one of numberless simi- lar experiences showing the trials and tribulations of understudies.
 All the big stock companies are well supplied in the matter of understudies, and while they are required to keep certain number of professionals on hand they have innumerable applications from amateur aspirants for histEionic honors, who are only too willing to serve as un- derstudies on the chance that some acci- dent will take them to the front. Most of these come from the different schools for the training of actors. The under studies receive their parts almost at the same time they are delivered to the prin- cipals. They are rehearsed regularly with the company and are presumed to be as we'll prepared for the first night of play as the principals.
 Manager Charles Frohman's company is probably one of the best equipped or ganizations in the country in the way of understudies. Eight of these are en- ployed as regular members of the com pany the year round, and while they are probably not seen more than once or twice during season they are always Augustin Daly's and A. M. Palmer's com panies are also we'll supplied with under studies, and both have long lists of anna teurs ready to go on at moments mo- tice in case of sickness or other necessity.
 Every big travelling organization gen. erally carries two understudies while on the road. Some companies dispense with their services, however, by requiring the members of the company to make them selves proficient in two or more parts. Thus if the first comedian should sud- denly be incapacitated the second come dian jumps in. and so on all through the cast. The understudies who travel regu- larly with the company are usually 9 man and 8 woman. The former under studies all the actors, while the latter is perfect in all the feminine roles. Their salaries and expenses are on 8 par with those of the principals.
 Although many of the stars now con- spicuous in the theatrical Armament be- gan their dramatic career as understud- ies, it is not often nowadays that the stars themselves are understudied. It is generally assumed by the managers that the star is the attraction for the public, and to substitute somebody else is to practice deception which is injurious | to the show. In some instances, how ever, where the star has had to be re- placed by an understudy the latter has made even a better hit than the star. Billy Crane was an understudy in the beginning, and Manager Joe Brooks tells an amusing anecdote of the actors first experience as an un1erstudy. He served in that capacity with company that produced 1.-The Daughter of the Regi- ment" in this city some years ago. Among the parts which Crane had to commit to memory was that of the mo- tary. It was particularly hard part be- cause the notary had to begin by de- claiming long legal notice. Crane got the part pat, but in order that there should be no possibility of his making a break he copied the process into 8 book which the notary was supposed to carry. The not, wore robe that trailed on the floor. In making his entrance Cranes foot became tangled up in the robe and he pitched headforemost on the stage. The book with the prompt lines flew across the stage. Crane pulled himself together in moment, and without los ing his presence of mind began firing the process off. He went through with out a break, and his original entrance made a hit with the audience.
 One of the most notable instances of understudying was that furnished while Denman Thompson was in the midst of his long run with s'The Old Homestead" at the Academy of Music. Walter Gale, whose characterization of Happy Jack, the tramp, was supposed to be mimi table, was ill, and at the eleventh hour the manager heard of the trouble. The part was most important one in the cast, and nobody could be found to take 1t among the members of the company. Finally a young Irishrlan named James Fitzgerald, who was acting as dresset to Thompson, astonished that actor by de- claring that he would take the part. It