The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-10
DRESS OF THE STAGE
LEADING NEW YORK ACTREssEs
II LITTL HEED TO CLOTHES.
BY Careless ~Cosfumfng They Detract
from the Pleasing Effect of Their
Acting-somc Examples.
Jane Maulden. in Tammany Times.

dOuI Clothes d1t so mucn 10 a part WHSTc
they are necessary to carry out a stage illu-
sion that some lady is very rich and grand
that it is with surprise L note the careless
dressings of many of the leading actresses
OF popular New York stock companies. 1t
is not too much to expect to see up-to-date
costumes In a modern drama, but it is far
more than we do see. by any means.
/ am neither a heather nor a foreigner,
yet / confess to having seen Ada Rehan
for the first time three nights ago. She
presented on that occasion the character
of a gay and light-hearted young widow,
with a million-dollar bank account. This
part gave her an opportunity of making
fur changes of costume during the even
ing. Now here. indeed. was a rare chance
10 display taste and captivate the feminine
portion of an audiencei
What does Miss Rehan make of it?
Not to put toe fine a point upon it. she
makes a decided mess.
Her first costume was supposed to grace
a grand affair, a dance and reception. and it
Yves a sort of e~olorless rag; a cross between
q tea gown and a morning wrapper.
Her next costume was one in which she
pays a morning call. 1t consisted of a black
satin skirt, decidedly out of fashion as to
cut, and fully two inches too short in front.
a white lace-draped bodice. and a black pic
ture hat.
The following costume was another rag of
indescribable, colorless appearance, but it
electrified me, nevertheless. 1t was sup
posed to be a morning gown of a private ma
ture; one Of those relegated strictly to the
sanctity of ones own apartments. Miss Re-
han, taking advantage of this supposit.on
came as near making a living picture of
stances.
: A. little later Miss Rehan had another op-
portuaity OF appealing in an evening gown.
This was the gown of gowns, as it was
worn during the climax of the last act. The
costume was youthful and well-chosen as
looked fresh and new. But the antiquated
cut OF the thing made it ridiculous. Had
IT gone back SEVERAL centuries for its ia h
ionins it would, at least, have been pictdr-
esques but to only go back four years for
a style is objectionable.
A WIGGY WIG.
With these entirely unsatisfactory CO.'S
tunes Miss Rehan wore a blonde wig that
was decidedly wiggy.
There are few women whose acting is
superb enough to make one overlook the
fact that their costumes are imperfect or
their wigs wiggy; and Miss Rehan cannot
De numbered among the geniuses who can
AFFORD to disregard good taste in dressing.
Speaking of wiggy wigs reminds me OF
Clara Morris.
Who is not familiar with the pattern of
her curls and beau catchers? And who
dares dress more atrociously than this
siren of the nasal voice?
Alas. there is but one Clara Morris. and,
since her genius cannot be initiated, it is
folly to copy. her methods in dressing. l
nave seen Clara Morris wear the same
gown in the same part for two consecu-
tive seasons, and in a play marked, Time
present" Around the bottom of the skirt
Of this gown, which was by no means
otherwise remarkable. she had hasted a
nat band three-qusrters of a yard in width,
of white Swiss muslin. evidently to pro-
tect the gown from the accumulated dust
OF the stage. Clara Morris is never by any
chance dressed in the fashion. She only
seems to begin to admire q. style when
other people are putting it aside. Thus you
Invariably see her wearing abundant lace
nounceS when other women are severely
is obsolete.
/ have often thought, perhaps, Clara Nor
ris makes a study of economy, and employs
her cook, during her absence, in construct
ing the monstrosities in which she is to ap-
pear the following season. l honestly do not
believe that any dressmaker, no matter how
crude her methods, is capable of creating
the costumes N which this great actress
Is courageous enough to appear before a
1 am off my subject; I only meant to speak
OF leading women IN the New York stock
companies.
So much is expected of New York and
not unnaturally, it being the city of Amer
lea and the gateway to Europe, that 1t must
come In the nature of an unpleasant surprise
TO strangers visiting the metropolis and pay
ing W to witness a performance by one of
our celebrated stock companies. to see the
frst women In the company SO totally indif-
ferent to personal appearance.
A PART OF THEIR DUTY.
Someone will exclaim: What would you
have. Do you want the women who earn
their money by such difficult work to spend
it all on dress?'
And | say in reply: by no means, but I
do think it is a part of their duty to look as
well as possible. 1t costs no more to have a
skirt hang we'll than it does to have it hang
hotch-potch. every way but the right way;
ana a Exit mat hangs correctly does not
the performance of It's wearer."
| remember seeing John Drew stride
dignified manner. with his trousers hitched
up as high. as his ankles. and tragedy was
dent. of course. but such little things are
from the stage. Therefore, it 5 sa aSassn an
actor or actress to study small details as
carefully as they learn their lines.
a matinee. not long since. I was be-
wailing. the evident lack of attention dis
played by the costumes of the women in the
cast, when my companion laconically OBJ
served that it was really wonderful to hear
clothes betrayed so little of either.
1T is a little odd when you look at it
slouchy from inclination and choice. Be-
sides, any one can look at me. and it don't
o oess men : cenas f te Gaze N anon IL me- 1t taxed taxed any
called upon to make the spectacle as fine
as possible"
And ] do wish the women connected with
our best theaters felt the same as do
on this subject.
There are women in plenty who are ut
terly devoid of all ideas of harmony in tints
and colors; who cannot for the life OF them
distinguish between the rounded and angu-
lar outline, and, worse than that, they are
not aware of natures omission, and there
fore proceed remorselessly to make guys
Of themselves. These women, when blessed
with talents that place them prominently
before the public, should consider them
selves fortunate If taken in hand by some
one possessing the qualities in which they
are wanting. and who would bring out their
good points. physically speaking. proni-
nently.
If / were a theatrical manager L would
certainly add to my complex duties the su-
pervision of Costumes: and I would consider
it my Christian duty to demonstrate with
unruly members of my company who per
sisted in dressing in an unbecomfng manner.
VOCAL TRAINING FOR CHILDREN.