The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-21

Va ar ~ v
complaints, and in oil diseases brought
about by bad blood and shattered nerves.
work In tnelr several departments from
plots" furnished them by the stage di-
rector.
The scenic artists arc now called In,
and from ground plans already submitted
models OF the various scenes are made.
These are gone over and examined ana
studied with tho greatest possible care
they are the scenes Of the play In NINA
t~ure-changcs made, alterations suggested,
effects added CIR taken away, until every
requirement called for or suggested In tho
manuscript Is adequately and fully met
and complied with. The model Is thln
"passed'-that Il, accepted. From THIS
model the carpenter builds the scenery,
which whom finished Is styled the "set."
Work In the other departments has start
ed, and everywhere about the thcater the
note OF busy preparation Is heard. In the
meantiins the parts have been copied, the
company engaged aud all Is ready Tor the
first "call''-a formal notice To the ladies
and gentlemen engaged that they report
for rehearsal at n certain hour and place.
ItrSUutuN 4 DtllcNt III l4lt Olu CusNOul VI
havins tho play read 10 tho company by
the author when available, or tho stage di-
rector before tho distribution of parts.
This mode of procedure not only saves
time, but Is faircr to tho player; he is thus
enabled TO gain "a clearer idcS of the story,
u truer insight into the authors meaning
and n nicer and more exact understanding
of the relative proportions OF the play and
of tho degree OF Importance OF tho charac-
tiers TO each other. Time permitting, there
should DO an ntermission Of a day or W
after this reading before beginning regu'
lar reh arsals.
Be that as 1t may, the ''call' has been
mado and answered and rchcapsals have
begun. No child's play this! Gone about
In the right way II in the proper spirit,
I know Of III work, combining the phys
ical and mental, quite so arduous. 1t Is a
very severe tax upon the vitality of even
the strongest.
Days and nights are consumed In CIV
Ing form and color and life 10 the lines
and story and in imparting to ench charac-
ter tho stamp OF individuality and realism.
Scene after sceno, act after net, Is gone
over again and again and yet again! Some
times an entire week will be devoted to
one act.
Changes, additions, emendations, alter.
atoms Of every kind are made, for IL rare
ly happens that IA play can pass through
the furnace OF a rehearsal without some
weakness being detected. There arc, in
deed, certain forms Of entertainment which
are practically written at rehearsal, Tho
only feature not suffering change being
the title.
Tho rehearsals proceed wcnrily enough
until what Is styled the perfect CALI Is
posted. This means hat the players arc no
longer to read their parasitic books must
be put aside and tho lines delivered from
memory. After awhile tho "call' fer
''sccncs and props is made, and the play
ess ere for the first timo made familiar, In
@ practical way, with The scenes or %"scts"
IN which they will be called upon to act,
tie furniture they will use, otc. Up to this
point the actor has imGginedhis surround
Sings, n this. to an extent, may DO true
even at this point, Cor the scene in its en-
tircty may not be ready to ''set up'-tbat
Is, to put In proper place.
AT last the dress rehearsal" Is called
everybody and everything completed Tho
players are made VI aud dressed for their
parts; the heads Of departments, with
their assistants, arc on hand in working
attire, end, as nearly rs possible, a per-
formancc of the play Is given.
by those interested notes have been
made during tho progress OF the rehearsal,
and almost before the actors have reached
their dressing rooms a cali IL made for
the roxt day. This last rehearsal Is ordi-
narily moro i'm the nature OF a run
through" Tho notes made tho previous
night arc acted upon and final changes
and corrections made.
Tho first night hos been ~reached-that
night fraught with the grayest import TO
all concerned; that nightwhich makes or
unmakes, which brings success or failure;
that night which Is TO consign to oblivion
the work OF perhaps years or herald with
loud acclaim another aspirant for public
favor! Tonight-thc laurel or the hem
lock-
The players have arrived early. The
stage hands ere busily engaged setting
the first act" Around, abont and over all
there Is an almost solemn expectancy. The
people are flocking in. Tho prestige of tho
manager, tho popularity of the company,
together with repeated assurances Of some
thing out Of the ordinary, have copspircd
to bring together n house of magnificent
proportions, both rs TO quantity and quail
ity.
"Half hour, "15 minutes" those pro-
cursors 90 the doom Of ono or oil. nave
been called with appalling regularity
and almost sickcning certainty, Well
dressed and we'll behaved, rich In intellect
and rich in this worlds goods, rcprgrcnt-
ing every walk in life and representative
of the great metropolis, the audience is
ready Tor tho play TO begin.
Eight o'clock The musicians have TAX.
en- their places. tho "cailbuy'' hns an
nouDccd Overture on, everybody TO he
glnl' As the last notes OF the oyerture
die away the "cAll' l. nnswcrcd--tho play
ers anxious and nervous-and tho curtain
slowly asccnds. The play Is on.
Eleven o'clockl Tho lights arc out, save
for tho nioEcring gas JET Oh the stage.
which serves 70 make moro CHASTITY the
surroundings. The audience has turned
its back upon its ~iavorito ihcatcr, and In
the cafe or no homc Is discussing tho latest
play-or the latest scandal. The critic IL