The record-union., 1894-04-28
GOES ON FOREVER.
On the Stage of Continuous
Performance Theater.
Run on Schedule Time-An Old-Fash-
foned Greenroom-The Chorus Girls
Big Dressing-room and the Way 1t
is Furnished.

Continuous theatrical performances are
now established institutions in New
York. There are at least three theaters
in which the performance begins about
noon or earlier and concludes at ii
o'clock at night. 1t may be asked, what
do people want with continuous per-
formances? Are not the theaters open
every night and are there not matinees at
most of the theaterS two and sometimes
three times week? Yet hundreds of
women from Jersey, Long Island and the
suburbs come every day TO New York TO
shop. 1t may not be regular matinee
day and they may not care to return
home until late afternoon train. How,
then, can they better put in the time than
by dropping into one of these continuous
performances? There is always some-
thing going on-a song, dance or scene
from light opera-and they can stay as
long as they please, paying only mod
crate price for seat.
The stage management and the method
of conducting a continuous performance
differ in many respects from that OF the
ordinary theatrical presentation. The
programme has TO be repeated at least
three times daily. All the artists have to
be there early, and arrangements are
made for their comfort, as they nave TO
remain in the theater all day until late at
night. On the stage OF one OF the prlncl-
pal theaters devoted to continuous per-
formances is a real well-heated green
room. The greenroom has almost dlsap-
peared from the American theaLer, but
III the never-ceaSlng-p performance houses
it is found absolutely necessary. In this
room are the daily papers and files OF the
dramatic weeklles.
THE WARDROBE DEPARTMENT.
The wardrobe departments is most i'm
portant one, as there is a change OF opera
every week, with an entire change OF cos
tune Several women are constantly at
work cutting out, sewing and fitting.
There is at the back of the stage piano
which is used only for rehearSalS. Be-
tween the acts of the opera the chorus
gather and rehearse for the following
weeks opera, so that every moment OF
time is economical.
There is large and very commodlous
dressing-room for the twenty chorus
girls, who have to dress and undress
three times day, and sometimes have to
make as many as eight changes of cos
tune during the day, according to the
opera. Each girl has q mirror and also
chair. There are hooks for costumes and
street clothes for each girl, with separ-
ate electric light and jet of gas for grease
| paint and large makeup box below
each mirror, forming shelf. The chorus
girl is responsible for her costume to the
end of the week. When she returns 1t
she receives printed slip to that effect
| from the costumer and then receives her
salary.
There are two star dressing-rooms, one
| for the leading woman and the other for
| the leading man. The dressing-rooms
I<~ff I, Il rn T.
ETY. ladies. The chorus men dress i'll the
basement, with five or six in each room.
The time schedule does not vary two
minutes day. The opera is on at half
past twelve, at four, and at half past
seven, and plays, in its abbreviated form,
an hour and half. Every Sunday the
| schedule of the entire show is laid out for
the week. Each variety performance is
| scheduled to come on at certain time,
with the scene that may be required, just
as watches are changed on board ship, tor
| there must be no waits.
| A great deal of attention has to be given
| to scenery. Twelve men can strike and
set an average scene in about five min
utes. The scene painter and his assistant
| put on the last touches Monday morning,
| before the curtain rises. Immediately
afterward they go up on the paint bridge
and begin on the scenery for the follow
! ing week. 1t is the same with the prop
| ertyman, and the man who paints the IL
Illuminated cards for advertising purposes.
NO LITTER THERE.