Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-06-10
MAKING OF AN OPERA.
TIE VAST AMOUNT OF LABOR WHICH Is
REQUIRED TO PRODUCE ONE
The Rshearsals at Eigswood Some Of the Grimly
Numerous incidents That Occur at the Rshsar-
sals-Ths Comedian Joking to an Empty
House

laugh az them; 10 sing without SIusIo
appreciative soul to admire; TO dance,
and not one person TO be charmed by
the airy grace; 10 short, TO make an en-
tire show on bare stage before empty
seats, becomes exceedingly monotonous
after it has been performed three times
a day for few days.
During the past week, have more
than once acted as joint auditor with
the stage carpenter while the Edge
wood Avenue Sum ner Opera Company
did the things mentioned. They went
through the grim rehearsals with
show of spirit that was simply remark
able when the number of times that
they have TO rehearSe is taken into &C
count.
The first rehearsal I saw was one In
which only the chorus, some twenty
fairies from various metropolitan stages
aud about q dozen male voices that have
been heard in chorus with many OF the
leading opera stars Of the country took
part. The chorus rehearsals are held
twice daily, from $50 o'clock until y
in the morning, and from 2:30 o'clock TO
$3.50 in the afternoon. During these
hours there is little leisure for the
chorus people. They are carried
through their parts over and over again
by an exacting musical director, whose
trained ears catch the faintest dis
cord, and whose sharp, reproving voice
is not slow 10 call the attention OF the
singer TO the error.
Then, the chorus is required to go
through their parts again each night,
when full rehearsal of the opera
under preparation is held. 1t can easily
be guessed thav they have little tins
for idle leisure, and that their lot is not
one of ease.
About the hour set for the morning
rehearsals the girls begin TO arrive In
droVes at the theatre. They have been
preceded by half hour by the male
chorus, which is already al practice.
Chatting like so many blackbirds the
chorus girls march about over the stage
waiting for their turn. One blonde
haired singer, whose curly head is
doubtless filed with dreams OF some
day being q great star, ambleS grace
fully to the footlightS and goes through
the various ,gyrations Of famous opera
queen, aud at the same time warbllng
an opera air.
Come on, girls-hurry up" calls the
director, az active young man, who Is
temporarily in the place of Mr.. Hers
ieldt, and the fairies trip lightly and
airily toward the front OF the stage.
Come on, now; this rehearsal amt
next week" the young man calls impa-
tieutly, get move on you.
IL, .F-l. l,1fk n. No1rr Er,l
their seats and sit down. Then their
eyes wander TO the vacant seats and to
the ceiling.
Now, girls, what is it you don't
know in 'Girofe?" asked the young
director, all business. The girls muir
muir in chorus, aud the director saws
that they will begin at the finale. And
with ali the energy of his soul he
pounds the piano, gives the signal to
begin ana Instantly tue empty Opera
House is filled with melody.
Let rs drink your jolly good health,
Wishing you all happiness and wealth"
They sing it over and over again. Sud-
denly the director throws his hands
into the air in a deprecating gesture,
stamps heavily on the floor and makes
a noise with his mouth which is clearly
one OF disapDroyal. The chorus stops
off short Four or FIVE times they go
over the faulty part, no one getting the
least impatient. The director makes
rough criticisms, but they are received
in silence; the chorus is used to them.
And so with Infinite labor and patience
they rehearse the entire chorus, going
over many parts OF it several times.
| saw a rehearsal Of "GirOtle-Girofa."
In the absence OF Oscar Girard, the
comedian, Mr.. Bell. did the funny part.
he knew the music, but the speaking
lines he had to read out OF the prompt
book. He showed up with great credit
TO himself, however, and several times
the audience OF three or four newspaper
men aud half dozen musicians were
betrayed into laughter.
The individual members OF the chorus
may lose their tempers; doubtless they
do, out they keep the fact concealed.
They know that there are many chorus
girls In the world, a majority Of them
out Of employment.
The director severely criticised one
Of them at rehearsal the other morn
ing. IF you are not going TO sing"
be said, "go home. You are not one
of the principals"
The chorus reheSrsals are novel to
the novitiate eye, but the full re-
hearsals are more replete with interest.
In these the entire opera is rehearsed
lust as it will be seen next week, minus
various little interruptions, suggestions
and bv-plays' Another difference is
that the actors rehearse in their street
clothes.
AS the rehearsal progresses the play
appears to tho inexperienced eye to get
into 3 fearful tangle and how they make
heads or tails of II is a wonder. In the
scene where the lover meets his prom
ised bride for the first time and is not
pleased with the sight, there was
hitch, Miss Randall, who has fine con-
ception of parts, stopped short and with
a decisive shake Of her head expressed
her disapproval Of the way the scene
was done.
LET the two first start toward each
other eagerly" she explained, "arA
then when their eyes meet
shrink back inyolr(
try it over"
at was tried o.
four times, befof
ing was had.
cur every thu
stopped 70
other is Gale