The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-20
a GLANCE AT rHE AMArxUKs.


a GLANCE AT THE AMATEURS.
The .. 4. @. Men - They Appear as One
Of Their kehearsals.
Amateur dramatic rehearsals have
them, and at best they are hard work
for all connected with them. The re-
hearsals of the s. A. C.'s production of
"a M5dwinter Nights Dream" have
been no exception TO the rule For the
stage director and for the least import
ant chorus girl there are troubles
without number. a typical night at
Cordray's during The many recent re-
hearsals. was about as follows:
The boys have been told to appsar at
7:45. The time has been set ahead to
get them air on hand. AT the time des-
ignated Prof. Bray apsars in the orches-
ira smoking cigar and tuning his yio-
lin. Prof. Leuben sits statue-Eke at
the piano. "A few men have CHANGED to
be in time and they wander about the
stage aianlesSly. Mr.. Pinklam is ar
ranging the scenery for the first act
The theaaer is cold, and the appearances
are that the rehearsal may begin by 9
O'Clock Then Mr.. Ceilings. the director,
comes walking down the middle aisle
hussiy explaining some business TO a
principal who was absent from the last
nights rehearsal. When Ceilings no
tees the absence Of ambitious Thes-
plans he gives "a roar of inpatience, and
while he does not say much, he thinks
such bad thoughts that the surrounding
atmosphere is perceptibiy warmed In
answer to his summons for anybody in
the house to get on the stage the appar-
emily delinquent actors rise from seats
in the rear darkness, leave the corridor,
where some of them have been enjoying
the beneficial effects of cigarette smoke
ON their voices, and nearly the whole
company appears on the stage
Now, don't forget what / told you
last might and put some snap into your
work." says Ceilings. The curtain is up
and the chorus begins. ''Sing louder,
sing out: don't be afraid" says Col
lings- Committeeman Norton comes
from the rear of the house and adj
dresses the Athenian multitude to the
effect that they have got to sing over
the heads of the orchestra. and unless
they EXPAND their lungs they can't be
heard.
The play moves on with ITS plot of
murder. love, marriage and everlasting
satisfaction for every one in the end.
Three pretty girls. Misses Burns. Rott
ami Harkeg'. sing a song, or are sup
posed TO. From the rear OF the mouse
their lips are seen to move as if In
song. but the only sounds heard are
from the violin and piano. They try ii
again and do much better. The second
act has been reached after an hours
work. The pretty girls are now Cupld's
impS. and contrast strangely in the
sweet innocence OF their faces with the
Neutrality-suspicious. leer of Puck, who
knows AL about love. and especially the
lovers In the play. Noble makes good
Puck and his friends tell him so.
Harry Fredericks comes in as Her
inland some inpetuous youth from the
wings breaks him IN with You sweet
thing" Then Prompter-r Policeman EN-
INST Russell bawis out shut up." and
IL is done. Gilbert Smith as Thisbe and
Collins as Pyramus make love very
bashfuly and apparently shun the pub
Hc!ty. They are told TO embrace one an
other more fouiiy. and they do it r,eluc-
an and tilc os4.er a handsome man.
C1shel, with an expansive smile. win
ming way and an airy dance. gstdes in
front c. his fairies. among whom are
the old maids. Misses Kline, Irwin.
Ada5r end Ward.
Sta-ve83ng. Mr. Cleary. and Shout. Mr..
Silhusan. are two irsagsarabies. Always
together and with the greatest unaniri-
fly ot thes1vist and action. they present
marked contrast in appearance. Clearly
is tail and thin. while Siliiman il short
ard fat. These two. with Mr.. Bean. as
Botnrn ara the fun sr1ak ers in the pro-
ducti1n, and they certainly do saw scene
ridiculous things and strike sosle aw-
fully funny attitudes r. W. CLAYTON.
IS Thesesls. the Duke of Athens. is
stately and Possessed Of a good VOICE.
Frank IngersolI. as Lysarlsser. PLAYS an
ifasso-tazat pass and sings some Of the
fSgeeticst music in the Play, with Her
sn1A. his sweetheart.
Tins the characters move across the
stage one by ore and the csaor1lses
pg-1nce ln and o,St filing their places
with more or less precision. ard sing
fag well at tSsy1es and poorly. as the de-
slfya moves them. They rshear~ss. and
re-rehearse until Ceilings vgsie.e IL tired.
and Prof. Bray's paying arm is worn
oft Once ea5re IN sssgat finale. sing
the Praise ~ Mortal Man, szsys ca
hngs trsfsksiy. and oysce more, saopdng
this IN be the last. tae boys respond
with more egsergy and the rehearsal il
over
Ssegyps - the appointments have not
vet been secured and ridiculous effects
zgssszsss cNscgr. For Instance. Shout uses
RS hat 20 hold imaginary bleed IN pgzsse
az a bucket lima gsuar-y swords have
been used II deadly duets WITH the
usual ssf-r cuts and painful deaths.
The members 81 efrs chorus wave their
fz2nis .zss-h fn the air ard cteisss ~ red
and w4tsie hEn9izgs are supposed 20 be
seen by the audience.
S~ASn Hnxsx,>s