The record-union., 1894-11-08
AMONG TIE PLAYERS.
Trials and Discomforts of Actors
While on the Road.
Some of the Iron-Clad Rules a Man.
ager CompelS Members of His
Company to Sign.

X. De Cordova contributes an interest
ing paper to the Forum for July. He isl
an actor and has written about 1.-The Stagei
as a Career.'
The salary of the average player"
says Mr.. De Cordova, sis put down by an
eminert authority as not more than 81 500
year. earned during a season of about
thirty weeks. In my opinion this is a
high estimate, for 81 200 would be nearer
the mark. Out of this the actor-and l .
use the term to include also the women of
the stage-must provide the clothes worn
in the play, which are often very costly;
he must make neat appearance in the
street, defray his hotel bills, pay for Sleep
ing-cars on night Journeys for it is only
in very rare instances that the manager
pays for them) and for the luxury of a.
parlor car when he can get it. He must
also set aside certain sum to live on DUR
ing the long interval of twenty or more,
weeks between seasons"
Janitors" is the name Mr.. De Cordova .
gives to those men who control local thea
ters and who 'pook" travelling companies
and get part Of the receipts.
The janitor has an important bearing
on the actors condition, which finds list
:,
on his nervous organization. He sup
plies the house, and, in most cases, fur
nishes quarters for the actors such as no
selt-respectlng slave-owner would in the
old days have condemned slave to oc-
cupy.
For the public nothing is too good;
line Silken draperies hang in the boxes;
soft, comfortable chairs are in the audi
forum, which is as handsomely and har-
monlously decorated as the architects
scheme and the owners purse will allow
For the actor, on the other hand, any,
thing is good enough. Instead of silken
draperieS, he finds only tattered curtain
at the window, if, indeed, he find cur.
tain at all, or even a window which it
might cover. Instead Of soft, comfort
able chairs, one wooden chair none too
clean, or a chair minus the back, will be-
the only seat, and not infrequently, if he
wishes to sit down, he must do so on the
of his trunk. Instead of delicately
tinted walls, he will find dirty walls
which have not been treated even to a
coat of whitewash for years.
1.-The washing appliances of the actors
room, If they are found at all, usually
consist OF a small basin with a tap of run
ming water. Most people would expect
that. as the winter is the theatrical sea-
son and the paints used by the actors are
made with grease, hot water would be at
hand. But this is rarely the case, and in
many instances running water in the
dressing rooms is unknown. 1t is not I'M
common for actors to refrain from using
the basins, preferriug to remove the
make up as well as possible with vase
line, and to wait until the hotel is reached
to complete this portion OF the toilet. Tin
basins and buckets are not the worst that
| have seen ON the road for once the
water was in dirty, battered, old lard
tins. and basins had to be bought by our
- - II.
popular stars in the country, mas re-
fused to book engagements in several
theaters because OF the filthy condition
of the dressing rooms. The significance
OF this will be better understood when it
is remembered that Mr.. Willard plays
only in the best houses"
There is a tension in theater during
a performance which can be distinctly
felt." says Mr.. De Cordova, land after
the play is over the reaction comes aud
with it the need of repose. How does the
manager satisfy this need, especially
when playing one-night stands? By ar
ranging to leave by as late train next
day as possible, one would think. Moth
ing of the kind. For this gentleman
there IS usually but one train out of town,
and it leaves at some time about o'clock
in the morning, requiring the calling of
actors at 8 O'Clock or earlier. Playing
long pieces, packing after the play, and
u
rest i'll such case to six hours or less,
and then follows jolting journey after
an uncomfortable and hurried meal--a
journey from two to ten hours, and in an
ordinary coach, for the average actors
salary does not permit the luxury of a
parlor car.
"All this is bad enough for a man, but
think OF the woman who has to face the
same condition. Bad weather makes no
difference. The journey must be taken.
The street cars do not run all night in the
smaller cities, the station omnibus may
| not come, and the actress may have to
walk through rain or snow to the station,
and travel until her wet clothes dry on
| her. The wonder is that more of them
do not fall i'll. Think of her condition if
! she become so i'll that she cannot proceed
with the company. Left behind in
| hotel, generally a cheap one. among
strangers who are not interested in her
welfare, the picture need not be painted
| in detail to bring home its disconsolate-
| ness.''
1.-The child-like way in which actors are