St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-03-01

one said as a joke to a group of man
ayers present that an offer of $780, 900
had been made to the company of that
day If they would go out for a four
weeks tour In the group were
Charles B. Jefferson, son Of the actor,
and Joseph Brooks, the manager, and
some time after these two found them
selves alone in a corner of the lobby.
What do you think Of that 100000
story?" asked Mr. Jefferson.
1t doesn't strike me as being so
much OF joke now" answered Mr..
Brooks II think there would be a
lot of money in it if we could get the
company together. Can't we arrange
to repeat this performance in Boston
next Week?''
Mr.. Jefferson went back on the stage,
and before the matinee was over the
actors and actresses had been obtained
for second performance, and a matt
nee was given at the Boston theater,
one of the largest in the country, which
was packed to the doors. Mr.. Jefferson
and Mr.. Brooks then set about making
arrangements for the tour that is to
take place next May. The route is ar
ranged as follows; such little towns as
New York, Boston, Brooklyn and Phil
adelphia being only ~one-night stands:
May 4, Springfield, Mass; 5, Hart
ford; 6, New Haven; Z, New York,
matinee; z, Brooklyn, night; 8, Phila-
delphia; 9, Baltimore, afternoon; 3,
Washington, night; II, Pittsburg; IL,
Louisville; Is, Cincinnati, matinee and
night; A. st. Louis; Is and 49, Chicago,
two nights and matinee; 10, Milwaukee;
10, Indianapolis; TO- Grand Rapids,
Mich; q, Toledo, Ohio afternoon; 81,
Detroit night %, Columbus, Ohio; 20,
Cleveland Ohio; 25, Buffalo; 26, Roch-
ester; 27, Syracuse, afternoon; 27, Utica,
N. Y, night; %, Albany; 20, Boston,
afternoon 20, Worcester, Mass, night;
30, Providence, r. I.
The expenses Of such a company and
such jumps will bring the price of
parquet seat up to So.
Robert Downing, the tragedian, will
open school of acting in Washing
ton, D. c., on June 1. The course is to
last for three months.
Miss Nancy Mcintosh, the young
American singer who filled the part
Of Christina in W. S. Gilbert's opera,
His EXcellency," said of Mr.. Gilbert's
methods of staging an opera:
"Stage models of each scene are sent
to him. These are made two feet III
size and complete in every detail. They
are returned again and again until this
part is satisfactory, Small blocks are
made to represent each one of the
principals; a series of black and white
blocks, and again of red and white
blocks, are made to represent respec-
lively the men and women of the
chorus. Then he proceeds to make the
groupings, reciting aloud the lines as
cribed to each part, and moving the
respective blocks to and fro. AS the
positions or movements appeal to him
with propriety, and after many eX-
periments, he writes the stage direc-
tions in that portion of the dialogue
concerned. When he comes to re-
hearsal he knows every detail as he
desires it.
HE does not, however, hamper the
individual player only in full group
ing when certain position on the stage
is considered necessary. With the ar
rangement and planning of costumes he
is most eXacting. A complete study of
the costumes of the period is made.
The color scheme of each, considered
to fit in the picture as whole, then
commands attention. The matter is
always on his mind; perhaps a flower
in his garden will suggest the COM
bination of color.
"Rehearsals were in progress for
His EXcellency' seven weeks, and
lasting almost all day. before the opera
was brought out. The piece might
have been done week before it was
produced, but Mr.. Gilberts demand is
for perfection In detail and utmost
thoroughness in drilling. What
caused Mr.. Gilbert and Sir Arthur to
forget difficulties and collaborate on
money. The one never makes as much
alone as with the other"