New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-20

cite shows. so that many Of the audience gre as
posed 70 be critical Signor Carmado mas
brother Thespian. who owns a theatre N i"'ei'o
and has the reputation Of giving the pest ma 'oi'
otto performance in sunny Italy. The father OF
the two men was also a celebrated performer ana
his mantle has descended TO his sons
Carlo Carmado considers mis- attainments TO De
far above those Of an actor, because an actor mas
merely 10 speak and look his part but SAID CARO-
IL, why look what have 10 do as ne gaze al
expressive shrug and pointed vehemehtV 10 '"'
tangled mass OF strings and wires Which 90 I"
mako up the paraphernalia required in working
the little figures This was not said by CARO-
himself. but by his son. who interpreted for nm.
The father cannot speak a word Of English. but
srnnIied the gestures and grimaces necessary TO
or,nbas,zs his sons remarks Carlo Carmado i
actor author manager. chief scene shitter and
carnenter all rolled into one. and owns everything
In sight as we'll so that his responsibilities are
both varied and weighty He is. however evil
IDENTIFY making money and mis- burden, oonse-
ouentlv does not bear heavily upon MIN.
SOCIAL. DISTINCTIONS EVEN HERE
The theatre is a modest structure built OF pine
boards and capable of holding about TWO AuHu'eu
neople There is no attempt at decorauoh' anu
The audience is seated upon rough benches Vnich
run across the theatre. Admission Is flVe cents
and entities the visitor 70 seat In any part Oh 'He
house except the balcony at the back the ocCu-
pants OF which mulcted In the sum Oh eie''
cents The balcony holds only hfteen peope' WHO
evidently feel the importance OF their posl''oH' "s
the audience below takes its cue from the expires
s,ors ~ annroval or otherwise from the arsto-
Gratis above. The patrons OF La Scaia a. II Il
facetiously dubbed by the locality. belong 10 the
tte Of a
nature inside La Scala. and there are no rgid
rues "a 70 dress Everybody rushes. and as the
bouse gets full and consequently warmer. unnec-
oassrv garments are shed with delightful disre-
gard OF appearances. In not weather only the
essential garments retained. The absence OF
ventilation and the OF the audience ior soap
and water make the permission to smoke WEI
come TO the visitor who will find no cigar or pipe
too strong or strong enough TO meet the require
ments OF the situation
Only men attend the theatre except when a
matinee is given. Then women are among the
patrons and smoking is not allowed
The place is lighted by two oil lamps which
barely suffice to dispel the gloom OF the theatre
From the back OF the theatre the stage appears
large but II is only about eight feet wide By
being slanted upward and backward ana eie-
,.a,ed above the audience an optical Illusion is
produced which causes oo'h t"e s'"ec anu INV
marionettes to appear much larger than they
really are Back Of the drop curtain are five other
curtains arranged behind one another and about
two feet apart. that the stage has depth OF
about twelve feet. The marionettes are about two
feet in height. but. when viewed from the front
appear TO be nearly life-size. An artful arrange
ment OF lights In the flies aids the Illusion pro-
duced by the construction of the stage and tends
to make the puppets look double their natural
size
ENORMOUSLY CONSTRUCTED MARIoNETrEs
These puppets are carefully constructed and
are full OF ingenious devices for rendering their
motions lifelike. Carmado always manipulates
the star" In person. standing behind the scenes
and working the marionette by means OF a COM
! plicated ARRANGEMENT Of strings His assistanta