Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-09-01
THE UNDERSTUDY.
wHo MUST 30 READY
TO TAKE PRINCIPALS PLACES.


derstudy In one OF the principal stock
companies In town, gave mp her position
the other day because during all that
time she never got m opportunity to dis
play her talents before the public. She
was ON the salary list Of the company,
and as wages are paid Sc weeks In the
year by that particular organization 1t
seemed rather like quitting good thing,
but 1t was not q question OF finance with
her. She is an actress of recognized abil-
ity, and understanding was not particu-
larly suited to her taste. She had part
after part In new plays and reproduc-
tions, but the principal somehow or 9TH
err managed toget through without being
i'll, or never suffered any mishap, so 1t
seemed as IL the actress was destined to
become permanent understudy. This
instance is only one Of numberless simi-
lar experiences showing the trials and
tribulations OK UNDERSTANDS.
AL the big stock companies are well
supplied in the matter OF UNDERSTANDS,
and while tn BY are required to keep
certain number Of professionals on hand
they have inn umerable applications from
amateur aspitants for histrionic honors,
who are only too willing to serve as I'M
derstudies on the chance that some acct
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 well prepared for the first night OF
a play as the principals.
| Manager Charles Frohman's company
Is probably one Of the best equipped or
CARNATIONS In the country in the way OF
understudiea. 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 OF
twice during season they are always
ready for any emergency that may arise
Augustin DAly's and A. NJ. Planners com
panies ars also well supplied with under
studies, and both have long lists of anna
teurs ready TO go on at a moments no
tice in case bf sickness or other necessity
Every big travelling organization gen
orally carries two understudies while or
the road. Some companies dispense will
their services, however, by requiring tbs
members OF the company to make them
selves proficient in two or more parts
Thus If the first comedian should sud
J denly be ineapacitated the second come
dian jumps in. and 90 on all through tn
cast. The nnderstudies who travel regu
larly with the company are usually
! man and woman. The former under
studies all the actors. while the latter
. perfect in Nil the feminine roles. Thei
salaries and expenses are on q par wit
those Of the principals.
fl Although many of the stars now con
! spicuous In the theatrical armament he
i gan their dramatic career as understud
les. 1t is not often nowadays that tn
stars themselves are understudied. 1t
/ generally assumed by the managers tina
the star Is the attraction for the public
n and to substitute somebody else Is t
: practice q deception which Is injuriou
a to the show. In some instances, how
!. ever, where the star has had to be n
placed by an understudy, the latter ha
made even better hit than the star.
Billy Crane was an understudy in III
q beginning. and Manager Joe Brooks tel
an amusing anecdote OF the actors fir
\ experience as an understudy. he serve
' in that capacity with q company thu
i produced "The Daughter of the Reg
y inent" In this city some years ag
n Among the parts which Crane had
4 commit TO memory wan that OF the n
o tary. It was particularly hard part b
! cause tn b notary had to begin by d
claiming q long legal notice. Crane q
the part pat, but in order that the
should Do no possibility Of his making
break he copied the process into boz
which the notary was supposed to carr
:, The notary wore a robe that trailed {
: the floor. In making his entrance Crane
. foot became tangled up in the robe ar
he pitched headforemost on the stag
: The book with the prompt lines fie
across the stage. Crane pulled himse
! together In a moment, and without 10
!. ing his presence of mind began firir
: the process of. He went through wit
I ont break, and his original entran
made hit with the audience.
= One Of the most notable instances
= understanding was that furnished viii
!, Denman Thompson was in the midst
\ his long run with 'The Old Homesteal
at the Academy of Music. Walter Gal
whose Characterization Of Happy JAG
the tramp, was supposed to be inin
10 table, was Ill, and at the eleventh no
10 the manager heard of the trouble. T
d part was n most important one In t
N cast, and nobody could be found 10 Ia
n IL among the members Of the compan
O. Finally young Irishman named Jam
1t Fitzgerald, who was acting as dresser
70 Thompson, astonished that actor by
" claring that he would take the part.
seems that he was understanding Ga
D. right along unknown to anybody. FL
d., gerald went on that night and imitat
n Gale ID dot In everything except :
latter's soul racl<ing cough. You
90 Fitzgerald made hit and played Hap
1. Jack many times. but his career "
brought TO an untimely close BY IN
tack of pneumonia, TO which he q
Ia cumbed. New York Sun.
o. R.tta..~ hx