The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-19
AMONG THE SUPES.
Attaches of the Theater Who Some
times Afford Amusement.
Wa shinptnn Post

washington Post.
But of all the employees connected with
a theater the supernumerary, as he is more
elegantly called, stands supreme in general
interest. The more gaunt and awkward he
is the more keenly is he appreciated. Sim
ply say 'supe" and nine people out of ten
will smile. But at the theater, when the
solemn emperor's guard, in full tin-plate
and cheese-cloth effects, enters, and in the
sudden hush a SMALL derisve voice from
above yellS 'SupeS!" the effect is tremen-
dous: The gallery goes off into fit of
laughter, and cannot be suppressed for
some time. Many of the gods recognize
their companions through the shrouding
Roman toga, and seek to attract their at
tention by strange calls and signals. But
not only the gallery enjoys their move
ments, although in that free region the
mirth is a trifie more hilarious. The whole
house is in a good humor If one of the
guards drops his spear or turns in the
wrong direction and throws his line In con-
fusion there is q burst Of applause that
makes the funny man turn green with
envy. People go off into Mysteries of laugh
tel, over trifting motions which they would
call flat if made by recognized comedian.
1t is the naturalness of a supe that consti-
tutes his charm: the CLEAN of terror in his
eye lest he should make a mistake: the
irrepressible awkwardness; the blundering
idiocy and unstudied inanity Not long ago
at presentation of grand opera the Count
who ranged themselves in a row at the
back of the stage. After a stormy scene
the count and the prima donna swept from
view in storm of lyric ecstacy. The
faithful six were left alone behind the
glare of the footlights 1t was their cue
to file off, but they had forgotten it, A
tremOr of terror came over them, and they
looked anxiously from one side to another,
like cranes peering up and down river.
A howl of delight arose from the gallery,
mixed with derisive cries and cat calls
The whole house was enchanted at the
spectacle. But finally some one gave the
poor lost guards signal With a start of
joy they faced about and marched off
''amid thunders of applause"
1t is a bad thing for a supe to have any
nj ma tx Vy0 irh he
easily recognized. In a recent comic opera
mense fiat face. You might have clothed
him in any dress whatever and put wig
after wig on his head, but unless you put
a mask over his face or yelled his head he
would have been recognized. He came on
as a dancing peasant, and was noticed i'm
mediately. He next appeared as a gypsy
and was tolerated When he came out in
full regimentals as a captain of the guard
there was a movement of impatience The
public felt itself imposed upon. But his
final appearance in elegant court dress as
a gentleman-in-waiting was too much An
irritated voice from somewhere exclaimed:
Say, if dere amt old pie-face again!" The
laughter which showed itself in fitfui gusts
all through the act whenever pie-face made
a movement.
Sometimes the supes have stormy expert
eIfces. 1t is the custom in college towns to
employ college students for high-class pro
ductOnS as they are much more intelligent
than the men who ordinarily present them
selves. The students are willing to do the
work. partly for the fun of the thing and
partly because they can see and study great
actors at close range. Last winter, when
Sarah Bernhardt was here a crowd of stu
dents from one of our colleges was en-
ployed to act the mob. The BOYS entered
into the affair with hilarious spirit, made
a gay affair of the rehearsais and tried
their college French upon the Partisan
actors, who were greatly puzzled at their
"Stratford-at Bowe" accent