The herald., 1895-05-19
EDITH PLAYS "SUPE"
At Local Theater and Tells the Story Of What
She Saw and Did

She Saw and Did
have played 'supe.'
The engagement lasted one week at the
Orpheum.
When instructed to secure a position at
some theater in Los Angeles as assistant
or ''supe," as it is called. and to relate
my experience as such. l was inclined
to shirk the duty. Some people have the
opinion THAT actors and actresses, partic
ularly those filling minor positions. are
more or less familiar with all sorts OF
wckedness. My instructions were to tell
the truth of what | saw and heard.
| was introduced by friend TO the
manager. who treated me very kindly and
gentlemanly. After | had satisfactorily
answered few questions was told to re-
port for duty Monday evening.
My friend was also engaged by the man.
ageI. We were 10 go on as "supes' in
Muldoon's Picnic. As we were not to ap-
pear until the second act. it was not nee
essary for us to be there early. How
ever, we were ahead of time and spent our
spare time looking through the wings and
inspecting the stage machinery. Mr..
Stewart, the female impersonator, on be-
ing introduced. kindly invited us to look
at his costumes, which are numerous and
handsome. We were conducted III his
dressing room. on one side OF which are
as much pleasure in showing them to ad
miring friends as bride would in dis
playing her wedding trousseau. Among
the many beautiful costumes belonging to
Mr.. Stewart. there is one in particular he
is very fond of. 1t is gorgeous affair,
fingered as dantily as a lady would, while
talking of its beauty and style. Our at
tenton was then called to his dressing
table. 1t was provided with every ar
ticle which might De found on a lady's
dressing table. Conspicuous among the
articles displayed were rabbits foot,
lip salve, rouge powders, eH; In fact
there was everything there that So
ciety woman would be likely to have with
which to make up' and beautify her
self. Mr.. Stewart suggested that we put
on little more rouge. He proceeded to
apply it for us, and the dainty way he
handled the rabbits foot was amusing.
though possibly instructive.
By this time the first act was over, and
as we were to appear in the second. we
took our places in the wings so as to be
ready when our call came. 1t came and
| made my first appearance before foot
lights.
Even though was to take small part
l felt rather nervous or at least | expect
ed to be. Before going on the stage
was all the while fearful that some ac-
ouaintance in the audience might recog-
nze me. Once on the stage forgot all
about the audience, my mind being occu-
pied with what was going on around me.
The act over, everyone makes rush Tor
his dressing room. My friend and had
been assigned dressing room together.
1t was up a flight of stairs, but was
much more comfortable room than eX-
pectei to find. OF course my opinion OF
stage matters particularly behind the
scenes, had been formed from hearsay
and the comic papers. If the comfort OF
the stage people is as well provided for
in other theaters as at the Orpheum there
is little cause for complaint.
found the ''supes' ana stage hands
very obliging and consderate. but the ac-
tors and actresses OF the company seemed
to think common ordinary morlals clothed
only in the garb of ''supes' beneath their
notice. | tried to enter into conversation
with some of them but their knowledge
of English when talking to supe seemed
to be confined to monosyllables, so l gave
it up. There was one little girl in the
company, however, who was not so re-
served. She tried to make every one
about her feel at ease. She told me
sweet little romance about silk dress she
wore. 1t was the first one she ever had,
and had made her first appearance in 1t;
During the picnic scene III the third
act | again forgot to look over the audi
ence. My attention was at first attracted
by Mr.. Stewart, who was doing his
turn" He wore black silk skirt with
white waist and a big yellow bow at the
throat, aailor hat and white parasoi
completing the costume. He walked
about the stage holding up his dress that
| it would not soil, and so naturally does
| he do it asked myself is it a man or
woman, but finally arrived at the conclu-
sion against my will. that it is man;
Every thing passed off smoothly and l
had no time to think of stage fright.
Each night during the week was a repe-
titon of the first night and OF those
events there is very little to relate. Dur
ing the whole week did not hear word
spoken that was not proper for any wo-
man to hear. In fact one hears more
profane language when on the street OF