The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-06
REHEARsING "oINDERELIA."
Indications That tho Spectacle at the Metre
poIitau VIII Be Unusually Fine.

Indications That the Spectacle at the Metre.
poIitau WIN he Unusually Fine.
The preparations for the performance OF the
fairy spectacle cinderella continue on the
stage of the Metropolitan Opera House. where
during the daytime as well as at night the stage
Is crowded with contingents from the 5000
children who are to appear in the performance.
They sing and dance on the stage of the opera
house and dance and sing on the small stage up
in the assembly room. They parade in the lob
bies and they try fancy steps in the promenades.
Some OF the 5000 are scattered all over the
theatre, and once q day they meet on the big
stage to rehearse the great scene of the specta-
Gle in which, at the ballroom. tho crystal slipper
is tried on. Most of the youthful dancers in
town are 10 take part in the ballots, and apart
from those that are we'll known there Is a large
corps Of youngsters of both sexes who are dane
anf tyr that ine the hest stage directors are already con.
fident they will acquit themselves well at the
first performance.
There is to be no intermission from tho time
the entertainment commences. The. audience
will not have to face the curtain until it drops
play ia such that well-known soloists who have
volunteered to takc,part can be introduced from
time to time without damage to tho progress of
the play. Already there is a long list of volun-
tecrs. and every evening during the run or the
Characters will also be changed every other
night, in order that the leading actors may not
become fatigued from the effort OF appearing
Mrs. Barnes. who has had entire control of all
the children engaged in the production, comes
from Chicago. where she has arranged similar
exhibitions very successfully. This Is the first
she has ever attempted in New York, and in
deed never before has any production so ambi-
tious been given In this city. Already for q
month past have the rehcarsals been conducted
in various parts of tho city. There was n Har-
lem branch where the dancers and singers were
taught daily when they happened to live too far
uptown TO make it possible to come to the Met
-e-,1ttnU Tharn tpara ntIar hra nnhaQ In a iffnr-
ent parts of the city. until 1t was decided last
week that the children had been we'll enough
drilled for them to come together at the Metro
politan.
There will be a team of four ponies to draw
Cinderelia's carriage, and these have been
loaned during tho run of the spectacle. They
are Shetlands. and have won prizes in many
American cities. Not one of them is more than
forty inches high. As 1t will be impossible to
drive tho animals four-in-hand, owing to their
BY four lackeys. The costumes Of tho
chorus will be made in designs of paper,
which will be of the most elaborate char
acter. The colors arc said to be as delicate
as any that could be produced in the finest silks.
The principal characters will wear handsome
costumes OF rich material. The extra box office
at the Metropolitan Opera House has been open
for several days, and on each of these it has
been necessary to close 1t long in advance OF the
| time set, as the ticket 8 were sold so rapidly.
The first performance will be given on Saturday
| afternoon, and the run will continue until the
following Friday.