The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-14
FORGING A STAGE 0
WHAT JEAN DE REsBKE REALLY
DOES IN "sIE9FRIED.v

n "sisgr-ied" Dove with wheels d. Tt
Near Views or the Dragon -wotsn's
spear sra Its Trick Devioes-Other Stage
Effects at the Metropoiit.n Opera House.
Probably there are some people who think
that Jean de Reszke actually FORCES a sword In
the first act of "Siegfricd." There are other
people who know better-but not very much
better. They know he doesn't do any practical
blacksmithinR and that's about the extent OF
their knowledge. or the ~intricaoy OF detail In
the forge scene scarcely q single one OF the rapt
listeners has an. idea at all.
II IL said that Alvarv had q forge built In his
room while he was studying this role. Jean do
Reszkc has scarcely done this, but he has had to
study very carefully the mechanical details OF
an unusually complicated scene. OF course he
has only to follow the direction Of that person.
age who IL moro necessary to the success OF .
performance than even Jean de Reszke himself.
This 10 William Parry. the most noble and Illus
trlous stage manager In ordinsry-and extraor-
d~inary-of tho Metropolitan Opera House.
MIR. Sledle 10 tho man for YOU" said
the Grand Mogul. Hes the property master.
keeper OF the dragon, custodian. librarian. ar
moror. bird catcher, and everything else. He's
sure TO be here In the house IL he isn't some-
whore else. What, ho!" and the Grand Mogul
despatched . slave (from the Bowery) to hunt
mp the man Of many properties. He turned out
TO DO somewhere else. But there were others.
These were his assistants. They inhabit .
large amount of space at tho very top Of the
building, whore they can hear the real rain
pattor on the roof and the real wind whistle
overheard. so that they have good models after
which TO fashion their stage storms. Charles
DAILY transferred his attention from some new
f~sRpoles for "Le ca" and led tie way into an
immense room with moro different things in II to
the square yard than any other place In town.
except the other rooms near II. Horo was tho
forge. q wooden framework covered with
painted canvas. It has q real wise attached TO
one corner, and there are q wrench and a num-
Der of hammers and pincers.
w use six swords now" said Mr.. DAILY,
I'VE did use seven. but we arc always planning
to simplify the mechanical details SO that they
can be managed with as few men and tools as
possible. In tho FIRST place, hero is Mines
sword. II 10 a trick sword, you see. made Of
three pieces which are simply soldered together.
Sfe1frted strikes II on the anvil, and, Of course,
tho soldered places being weak, 1t falls In
pieces. Then here are the pieces of %SieomuaIs
sword. Steof,ted prctends to break these up,
but Of course no doesn't; he uses these other
smaller pieces which arc lying among the tools
on tho forge. He puts them In tho jar and. APP
p%arently. sets II over the flame. Then he WORKS
tho imitation bellows and the flames shoot up
through the opening In tho forge. That effect
was formerly produced by a man who was con-
cealed under tho forge and blew a quantity
OF lycopodium rowdsr into the gas fame. Now
wo simply turn the cock OF the gas jet 80 that
the fame shoots up through tho open jet.
Next, SieUf, led takes up this imitation
mould. made OF papier mach6 painted TO look
like clay. and Stems TO pour the molten metal
Into It. or course there isn't any metal. molten
or other. Tho red glow which seems TO come
from ~ "a prnApn~d he AN .l.,,xto LII. L.. -
globe. When he throws the mould into the
tank a man turns on the cock OF q steam pipe
which is connected with the tank. and the steam
rises. Instead OF taking out tho mould he put
In. S<lfrfed next takes this sword.' picking up
an old sword partially covered with yellowish
plaster like clay. I'VE prepare this before each
performance so that no can knock tho plaster
of. He puts this over the fire. but when he comes
to take It up tho next time. he picks up this
sword Instead" pointing to one that was paint
ed red. "Ho throws this into tho tank and
again the mar turns on tho steam. Then he
takes out another sword, from which he rubs
the dirt SO that no seems to polish It. The sparks
come when ho hammers the sword on tho
anvil are produced By electrical connection. The
anvil IL made OF wood and paper and 10 In two
pieces held together by a catch. When he strikes
a certain point 1t releases this catch and the
pieces fall apart.
Here Is another bit OF mechanism pointing
to . box which was labelled :" Birds for Sieg-
He opened It and took out a dove;
opened q 4-inch door In tho breast OF the dove
and showed q set Of wheels. There is q cord
across the stage. three OF them, in
fact; one for each OF these birds. which. you
come from different entrances.
Another ct ring 10 tied to this hook on tho beak.
md n man pulls the bird across by that string.
The other cord runs right through. the bird and
When the PUSHES move. in tho second act.
during tho Udldueben music. q man under.
to the lower ends OF them. They are made of
bamboo. and so 50 spring back OF themselves.
"Is tho same old dragon, Of course"
"Oh, no. II isn't. This is q brand new dragon
made for this season. and he's a great i'm.
made on a frame and couldn't be taken apart.
When the German opera company went to Chi
order to manage 1t better in transportation. and
half Of 1t got lost Every time they went any
frsSon. !. until til there WASN'T .nf' much SSa Of ne e l en b Sas
lhe head and forelegs. This dragon Is made in
'ss : nsrt ana So foids up p SO that I. all goes INTO
srate dimensions. Here are tho legs, made
'f ioo,e sanya. except the feet, which
Ovrrall,; Then ,ho gets, into this iron
,rnme. which Is really the spinal column OF tho
IAN move the old body AS he pleases. He works
ne Jaws and eyes by means of strings. So you
,eo tohcn ohIS Quo man 10 manage tho whole
iragon, or course. tho singer Is underneath ,
he bridge and sings through q big funnel" !
Everybody has observed the valorous way In ,
which Sitqfried Frances around the doughty .
lragon and pokes large holes In the atmosphere =
With his tashing sword, which. by the way. ,
'ears not the slightest resemblance to any one !
= the six SWORDS and pieces Of swords used in ,
he first act. The care which Jean de Reszke =
not TO punch holes in the dragon mas :
ndeared him much to tho property master. IL .
snt every Sisg,rt,d that Is so sure OF aim. :
vhen q large dragon Is wabbling around at the
10 or ones sword IL needs calculation TO miss
nm. 80 he sometimes receives wounds more or
ess gaping. They are never mortal, however.
lie goes into hospital up under the roof. where he 7
; patched and painted until he Ia as good as =
Some, bloodthirsty operagoers have ex-
,ressed the hope that, AT the last production OF
no opera this season. SieGrrisd will slash the 4,
rhg0n up in true heroic military style. This I
Iowever, cannot he. The life OF a stage dragon I
I good constitution La AT lnnaI irun o. .Ln. -