The sun., 1897-11-25
THE ssAsor ron rUrrrr lOrons.
ThnnksHivinE oppertunnIss fsv Players vshs
Are 0ut of R,np,syu,ent

Vppertunhten fsv Players Hho
Are out of Rmpisynent.
This ls the season in which the turkey actor is
busiest. The turkey actor does 4 get his name
from the fact that he eats turkey with greater
relish than any other fowl or because he is under
any obligation to the Sultan. Nor is an actor oil.
ways turkey actor because ho has once been
one. The flock Of turkey actors is, indeed. as
variable as the birds themselves which come up
for annual slaughter. The turkey actor Is alto
Rother creature of circumstance When en-.
gaFemonts arc difficult to get and the number
OF actors unemployed 10 large, the number OF
turkey actors increases greatly In tho commun.
ity. But 1t IL not until this soason that the tur
key actor really develops. He prospers with
Thanksgiving Day.
The turkey actors are the players who find
themselves without engagements at this time
OF the year, and organize companies to play dur.
ing the second half Of the holiday week in the
small towns near the city Thoy 20 to any
place provided with q town hall or n theatre
that is not too far away from the city for cheap
railroad transportation, Usually tho scheme 10
cooperative as the turkey actors rarely include
In company capitalist who Is equal to the
responsibility OF backing even an unambitious
enterprise. Their preparations are Of modest
character. They never attempt plays that are
exacting In the matter Of scenery and costumes.
30 about the only advance outlay really neces.
sary is the amount to be paid for railroad
tickets. For various reasons that amount has
como to be enough for q return ticket.
Uncle Toms Cabin East Lynne" some.
times Camille" II there DO an ambitious
leading lady in the company. and even "Ten
Nights In Barroom," when tho town 10 small
enough, are favorite plays. Tho actors usually
share the profits II there are any, In the proper
tion arranged in advance In some cases one Of
the turkey actors finds capitalist, engages tho
company, and assumes entire responsibility for
the affair. But such cases are rare. The usual
method 10 for some actor to organize the com.
pany with the understanding that the actors
win be paid only in case there Ia q profit.
Sometimes tho experiences Of these companies
are not pleasant. 1t was only q few years ago
that one Of them. after having played Uncle
Toms Cabin In q small town near the city,
started back for New York the same night and
who had followed the men from the theatre and
were dissatisfied with the quality of. the per-
wero very seriously injured. Sometimes the
turkey actors play In one town for three nights.
and the Saturday Following. But generally the The
time from Wednesday, night to Saturday 10
In ,he G to
grim and gloomy side which the public hears
little Of, It's, pathos is most to be seen in the
companies that appear in the smaller towns.
But sometimes there are glimpses OF It here in
New York. Not long ago q woman came to
New York and gave charity matinee at one of
the cast side theatres. 1t was q failure and. as
woman had to spend her own money. OF which
she had very limited supply. only the cheapest
actors could be engaged. Some of them were
most distressing, and when, after the curtain
the small sums that were 70 come to them. the
sirht was pitiful. The discouraGing circum.
stances under which the performance proceeded
could not prevent the few spectators from
laughing outright at the antics OF one woman
tions for the stage. and was, in addition. gro.
tesquely ugly. She received for her share In
tho afternoon's work SIS. Some of the mon,
who were almost as pathetic in their way got
less; but they arc less In need Of sympathy than
some Of the women. 1t is the woman no longer
that is most to be pitied and such women make
mp the rank and file of the small army from
which the turkey actresses are annually drawn.
One idea of tho Ill luck which sometimes fol-
rience OF q woman who mas been observed from
across tho footlights in two very different situa-
tions this season. Early in August she was
with company that acted an English melo-
drama at a west side theatre The play was not
came to an end. She played ono of the impor.
tant roles in the play. and did IL quite we'll
enough. incidentally dancing and singing.
The. next time sho waBr seen IN New
York. the chorus of . comic opera contained her.
and during that time her salary had been poasi-
bly, 81 a week. When the opera was produced
1t was raised TO $l5. But at the end Of week
the theatre was closed, and how much Of tho
That was n sample experience of stage life. Tho
season has not yet advanced very far. but this
girl has twice been shipwrecked. and there are
doubtless many others in her position.