The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-05

| dcning tho reader with technical terms
and details, that oil artists and artisans
work in their several departments from
''plots" furnished them by tho stage di-
rector.
Tho scenic artists nro now called In,
and from ground plans already submitted
models of tho various scenes aro mndc.
These aro gone over and examined and
studied with tho greatest possible caro-
they nro tho scenes of tho play in minin-
turo-changcs mado. alterations suggested,
effects added or taken away, until cvcry
requirement. called for or suggested In the
manuscript Is adequately and fully mot
and complied with. Tho model is thcn
"passcd'-that is, accepted. From this
model the carpenter builds tho scenery,
which when finished is styled tho %"sot."
Work in tho other departments has start
ed, and everywhere about tho theator tho
note of busy preparation Is heard. In tho
meantime tho parts have been copied, tho
company engaged and all is ready for tho
first "call"-a formal notice to tho aides
and gcntlcmcn engaged that they report
for rehearsal Mt n certain hour and place.
Personally l believe in tho old custom of
having tho play read to tho company by
tho 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; no is thus
enabled to gain u clearer idea of tho story,
u trucr insight into tho authors meaning
and II nicer and moro exact understanding
of tho relative proportions of tho play and
of tho degree of Importance of tho charac-
tors to each othCr. Time permitting, there
should bo an intcrmission of Il day or two
after this reading before beginning regu-
lar rchcarsals.
DO that as it may, tho "call' has been
mado and answered and rchcarsals havo
begun. No child's play this! Conc about
in the right way and i'll tho proper spirit,
L know of no work, combining the phys
ical and mental, quito so arduous. 1t is a
very severe tax upon tho vitality of oven
the strongest.
Days and nights arc consumed in Civ
ing form and color and life to tho lines
and story and i'll imparting to each charac-
ter tho stamp of individuality and realism.
Scene after scene, act after act, is gone
over again and again and yet again! Some
times m entire week will be devoted to
one net.
Changes, additions, cmondations, alter
atoms of every kind arc made, for it rare
ly happens that II play can pass through
the furnace of u rehearsal without somo
weakness being detected. There are, in
decd, certain forms of entertainment which
nrc practically written at rehearsal, tho
only feature not suffering change being
the tito.
Tho rchcarsals proceed YEARLY enough
until what is styled tho "pcrfcct CALI is
posted. This means that tho players aro no
longer to read their PARASITIC books must
be put aside and the lines delivered from
memory. After awhile the "call' for
scenes and props" is made, and tho play
crs arc for the first timo made familiar, in
q practical way, with tho scenes or ~"sets''
in which they will be called upon to act,
the furniture they will use, etc. Up to his
point the actor has imagined his surround
ings, and this. to an extent, may DO true
even ut this point, for the scene in its en-
tircty may not he ready to "set up''-that
Is, to put in proper place.
AT last the "dress rehearsal is called
everybody md everything complete! Tho
players are made up and dressed for their
parts; tho heads of departments, with
their assistants, are on hand in working
attire, and, rs nearly MS possible, "a per
formnnco of tho play is given.
by those interested notes havo been
mado during the progress of tho rehearsal,
and limos before the actors have reached
their dressing rooms u "call' is made for
the next day. This last rehearsal is ordi-
narily more in tho nature of a "run
tHiotSH' LII iiOltS lltiu llc DTcNlOuS
night arc acted upon and flnal changes
and corrections made.
The first night has been rcachcd-that
night fraught with the gravcst import 10
all concerned; that night which makes or
unmakcS, which brings success or ~failurc;
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-
Tho players have arrived carly. Tho
stage hands arc busily engaged Setting
the first ret" Around, about and over all
there is an almost solemn expectancy. The
people arc nocl;ing in. The prestige of tho
manager, tho popularity of tho company,
together with repeated assurances of some
thing out of tho ordinary, have conspircd
to bring together n house of magnificent
proportions, both rs to quantity and quail
ity.
Half hour, - "15 minutes" those pre-
cursors to the doom of ono or all, nave
been called" with appalling regularity
and almost sickcning certainty. Well
dressed and well behaved, rich in intellect
and rich in this worlds goods, represent
ing every walk i'll life and representative
of the great metropolis, tho audience is
ready for tho play to begin.
Eight o'clock! Tho musicians have talk
en- their places; tho "callboy" has an
nouncc "ovcrturc OH, everybody to be-
gin!' AS tho last notes of tho overture
die away tho "cnll" is nnswcred-tho play
crs anxious aud nervous-and the curtain
slowly asccnds. The play is on.
Eleven O'Clock! Tho lights nre out, save
for the Pickering gas jet on tho stage,
which serves to mako more CHASTITY tho