The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-30
FIGURES AND DANCES
EXACTING BALLET REHEARSALS
FOR LAST DAYS OF POMPEII.,,
Carload of Fireworks Arrived Yester-
Observation-Disclosures Illuminated
Last Night-SaIe of Seats.

The ambitious young men and women
who are to make their first histrionic APP
pearance in 9TH Last Days of Pompeii'
are being so diligently rehearsed that they
nave little time for anything else. At
Lincoln Park, where the production of the
spectacle is to be given, Stage Manager
Rose is putting two hundred young men
through the PAGES, so as TO make them
ideal Roman citizens in so far as native
Hoosiers can be made to assume that dis
guise. In the presentation, besides the pro-
fessional dancers and actors, it is neces-
sary to have enough people to represent
sixty guards, one hundred priests, sixteen
torch bearers, twenty-five slaves, twenty
five Senator'S. thirty-six standard bearers
and a small army of plain. everyday "citi-
zens." Nearly one hundred young women
are also used in the production. and by the
time they are through with the rehearsals
they will probably be able to secure en-
as dancers in the front row of
the BLACK Crook" or something of the
kind. The rehearsals, necessarily, are very
eXacting, but the work is so Systematically
done that progress is rapid. All the march
es, tableeux and groupings are made in
accordance with diagrams which are care
fully planned in advance. In the intricate
evolutionS every step taken by the figur-
antes Is a part Of the carefully-arranged
general movement, the ensemble effect be-
ing made thereby both picturesque and har-
monious. The people engaged i'm the re-
hearsals at present do not wear the cos
tunes that will be worn during the produc-
ton. for they are of very fine material and
easily soiled. When the aspiring Indian
apolis actors get into these costumes it
will probably effect such a transformation
In their appearance that their most init
mate friends will not recognize them
The first general rehearsal will take place
at Lincoln Park tonight, and others will
be held every evening during this week.
Stage Manager and Nine. Rose, who have
charge Of these rehearsals, say that thus
far. they have progressed most s~atisfac-
torily. A carload of fireworks arrived yes
terday and were placed in the magazine
outside the grounds that was built especial
~ for them. They work of handling these
high explosives is necessarily somewhat
dangerous and great care is necessary. The
charge of them have a great experience,
having been engaged in these spectacles
not complete when they reach here, for the
special designs for the different nights of
b bne spTGEb1aci ssor nave 10 De Manufacture
zealously guarded, for it forms a principal
part of the stock in trade of Pain & Son.
who are the greatest manufacturers of
fireworks in the world. The pyrotechnic
display Is not a part of the spectacle
Br0ger Il. but &c comes ne5 after y it b It is i ma de
the burning of nearly one thousand dollars
worth of fireworks each night: Much of
this Is in special designs. For instance, at
the opening performance next Monday
night, these designs will be appropriate to
Labor day. ON Indiana night Governor
Matthews and the Statehouse and the SOL
diers' monument will be represented; on In
dianapolis night. Mayor Denny and promi-
nent w 6HilbinF f5e ab %nif the city 6f on P1t the NIGHTS and
Masons will be much in evidence the de-
signs will be appropriate to these orders
park were fully Illuminated last night for
the first time by electric lights. the power
Pany. which has connected the lighting ap-
paratus at the park with both of their
P T60y,1G Foq tbe so otbt that tap In the event one
cial arrangements have been made by ST.
perintendent Mclean, of the street-railway
ton. A track has been run entirely around
the Enclosure. the Central-avenue line is
being extended to 1t and special trains will
be run on the nights of the various per-
formances from different parts Of the city.
and will remain there until after the per-
formances are over. Mr.. Mclean says that
the company will be prepared TO easily
handle great crowds. greater than the am
phitheater could possibly accommodate.
Reserved seats were placed on sale for
Four ticket office yesterday. The general
price of admission will be so cents, and
lleIt VIII De seating ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS lOT
nearly seven thousand people at this rate.
The reserved chairs will be 70 cents. and of
these there are nearly fifteen hundred, To-
In front of these are two rows of private
boxes, sixty-five in all, each for four per-
sons, to which the admission will be 81.
The spectacle is so great and extends over
so much territory that there really is very
little it'll s GhSics st of location Cn %p,d IN the the ddm onit1e ter
ton will be given is directly in front of
the center portion, and between it and the
audience is the band stand, extending out
in the lake. Each performance will be pre-
coded by a concert of one hours duration.
The passenger agents of the roads lead
ing into Indianapolis have finally decided
upon a half-fare rate from all Indiana
points, and a one-cent-a-mile rate from
noncompeting points. These are unusually
low rates and will probably bring thou
sands of people into the city next week.
The excursion tickets are good from next
Monday for q week.