The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-07-26

the first wing on the prompt side. Cor
responding with it on the opposite side
is the first o-p-entrance.
All these divisions and their appella-
lions hold good not only of width ana
depth, but also OF height. For instance
the prompt center extends from the
floor of the stage to the beams lar
above-a height Of $50 feet-to which
are attached the pulleys and huge lev
eridge wheels for running the ropes
that lower and raise the drop scenes.
To accurately describe what is gen
orally called the flies would require
more than a column of space, and a
technical knowledge on the part of the
reader to understand what was meant.
AS few readers have this knowledge
this will be dispensed with.
Wagner'S operas are more difficult to
stage than those of any other COM
poser. In painting scenery for a Wag-
ner work the artist must exercise his
imagination as well as his hands. The
only basis for the scenery of the Ring
des Nibelungen'' is the libretto. The
interior of Hunding's dwelling in the
first act of Die Walkure" must be as
dramatically significant as the gestures
of the artists. Such a scene, with its
stern outline and sombre coloring, is
d INcIlOl AnG1 VI SSSl11N OIL bl1e1lA
the glitterdng magnificence of Solo
mons temple in 1.-The Queen of Sheba."
And it is as true of the property mas
ter's work as of the scenic artists.
Indeed, the mechanical properties used
in Wagner's works are constant OBJ
jects of study, attempts to improve
them by simplifying the apparatus for
working them being made from time
to time. The "Lollengrin'' swan is an
excellent example of this feature Of
Wagnerian production. Though many
years have passed since tLohengTin'
was performed for the first time, the
device for bringing on the swan in
lifelike manner is comparatively new.
The apparatus as at present construct
ed is the result of the survival of the
fittest, its evolution having proceeded
on the lines of the principle that me
chanical property should be so con-
structed that it can be worked by the
smallest possible number of men.
Formerly the miniature figures of the
swan and Lohengrin having been
drawn across the background the
knight Of the holy grail and his ornith-
illogical motor suddenly emerged from
behind one of the wings directly back
Of the rivers bank and moved half
way across the stage. There Lohengrin
disembarked and sang his Farewell,
my faithful Swan"
The latest improvement was devised
in order that the swan might have the
appearance of swimming down the
winding stream. AT the same time the
apparatus was so constructed that it
could be worked by only two men.
The shell-hke craft in which Lohen-
grin stands was built upon three
wheeled truck, the top of which was
just concealed by the setpiece repre-
senting the bank of the Scheldt. I'm
der this truck sat two men in posi-
tons which enabled them to place
their feet on the floor and thus shove
the truck along, the man over the front
wheel steering by means of a rod con-
nected with this wheel. The swan is
supported by two rods running out
from the truck.
The use of this apparatus necessi-
tates an arrangement of the set pieces
Of water, different from that formerly
in vogue.
The neck of the swan is built"