The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-02-12
THE PLAY BEHIND THEscENEs
The Work That Is Done ana the Money
That Il snanh,


The Work That Is Done and the Money
That Is spenss
We all date our brief examination Of
the history of a play from the moment
the manager of the theater, or, per-
haps, the actor-manager, accepts the
work and decides to put it on"
though, indeed, most plays, even at
that early stage, have already long
and cheekered past, says Leslie's
Weekly. The stage manager takes the
typewriter, oilcloth covered manu-
script, in which form the play at this
time has it's material existence, and
proceeds to cut, slash, and generally
remodel it, by means of robust blue
pencil. If the author Is man Cor
woman, we ought to say nowadays) of
experience, he automatically assists ut
this operation, which means his prac-
teal acquiescence in all of the stage
managers somewhat dogmatic views.
II he does not acqulesce, the stage
manager goes on cutting and slashing
just the same, while the author
gnashes his teeth in impotent rage.
Then the play is cast-that is to say,
its parts are distributed to the mem
bers Of the stock company of the thea
ter, or the company supporting the
star" If such organization is not
already in existence, the people have
to be found and specially engaged, I'M
der contracts as easily breakable (by
the manager) as pie crust. Their pay
does not begin until the actual public
presentation of the piece, though their
hardest work is done during the weeks,
perhaps months, of rehearsal. Mean
while, the stage manager has prepared
a scene plot" wherewith to start the
scene painters, stage carpenters, cleo
tricians and gasmen at their respective
jobs. A list of properties is drawn
up, including all furniture and Access
series used in each act, and every sep
arate article called for, from an imi-
tNtion elephant to a forged will If
the play be a costume piece (requiring
foreign or fancy dress, or clothes of
another period than today, these have
to be designed, fitted and made to or
der for the principals of the cast The
wigmaker receives extensive and d.
veTs orders. The leader of the orcfes-
ira has troubles of his own with the
incidental music. Finally a call is
posted and the compP' assemblies for
the first rehearsal. - his may be in
the theater where the play is to be
presented, or in any other house that
happens to be unoccupied at the mo-
ment 1t is not MATERIAL stages are
alike, behind the curtain. They are
all bleak, dark, draughty and dusty,
and always smell of gas. Time, 10 a.
m.-The stage manager, sitting en-
throned at a little table at the front
and center Of the stage, with the man
uscript before him and a movable
bunch-light at his side, dominates the
scene. The cavernous gloom of the
empty theater stretches beyond. On
the stage the actors and actresses are
huddled in little whispering groups.
The stage manager calls time, and the
first words of the play are spoken for
the first time officially. It is a read
ing rehearsal, the actors having their
parts-little typewriter brochures,
with the cues red-lined-in their
'~AANS' A4ICL a lew udyS Iu6y are re-
quired to be "dead-letter-perfect" with
their lines, so that attention can be
concentrated upon the entrances. ex-
its, groupings and general business"
OF the action. All these are mapped
out on large sheets of paper resembling
meteorological charts. The stage man
ayers annotatiOns on the prompt
copy" of the play almost equal in vol
ume the words written by the author.
1t has been said, and very truly, that
plays are not written, but rewritten.
Weeks pass; rehearsals go on strenu-
ously and the thousand and one sug-
gestions and inspirations arising from
the daily contact of many minds crys-
talllze into a consistent whole which
Is the play as the public will see it
on the first night Of it's performance.
The preparation of it, as here outlined
has cost the manager or producer" in
round figures $4,000. The production
OF comic opera, in first class stvIe.
with large company and chorus cost
~ costumes and elaborate scenery
may and frequently does, involve an
actual outlay of $4,000 before the cur
tain is raised.