Evening journal., 1898-03-30
BEHIND THE SCENES.

ing Duchess" by Miss Ffolliott Paget
and a strong company, the Wayfarer
was behind the scenes, thanks to the
courtesy of Manager Baylis, Stage
Manager RICHTER, of the house, and
Stage Manager FranlIlyn Roberts, Of
the company. Having seen the per-
formance from the chairs on a previous
occasion, It was his desire to witness 1t
from the reverse point of vantage; or
rather, not so much TO see what trans
pired on the stage within view OF the
audience as what occurred beyond the
range OF vision of everyone before the
footlights
It was shortly before o'clock THAT the
Wayfarer reached the stage. The cur
tain was down and only three or four
persons were in the large auditorium
Behind the curtain the stage carpenter
and his assistants were busily engaged
in putting the finishing touches on the
settings and placing the various prop
critics OF the house and the company
where they could be obtained aud util-
lied with the least trouble and greatest
expedition.
The first member Of the cast to make
his appearance was Harold Walsh, the
precocious little 7-year-old. who did
such credita'ble Juvenile acting later in
the evening. He was in full regi-
mentals. Marching up to the stage
carpenter he challen'ted him to play a
game of pool on the table which fig-
ured in the first act The challenge
was accepted. The little fellow made
more scratches In the next ten minutes
than a dog with the mango. Boy
never set up bigger bluff at doing a
mans work. But he was honest, and
when he made a scratch he kept ac-
count OF It as religiously as though
there were money on the game BY
the time a man interrupted the play by
jumping on the table TO adjust the
chandelier lights, Master Harold owed
the table all the balls there were on t..
and few more besides Having roth
ing better to do he endeavored to put
the fellows feet in the side pocket, and
scratched again. He is a smart little
fellow, and evidently the pct OF every
one connected with the company.
One by one the other members Of
the cast came ND from the dressing
rooms. and disposed themselves as they
saw At, some sitting at ease and others
walking around and seeing that every
thing was property arranged for the
first act. The women chatted with one
another, and the whole company ap-
peared to be ON the best OF terms with
itself
Finally the curtain went up, and the
audience knows all about what follow
ed. II was a rather "talky" introduc-
tory, as Manager Roberts, who played
the part OF Douglas, Earl OF DesbOr-
ough, remarked to the Wayfarer be-
tween his lines, and one which kept
almost the whole company on the stage
during the entire act. While II was In
progress, Allen Davenport, who took
the part of Major Moystin, the villain
Joined Mr. Roberts, the hero. back Of
the scenes. and remarked to him that
he could never get through his lines
with the heavy cold and hoarseness
which afflicted him. He received a few
encouraging words, and soon both men
were back in the drawing-room, taking
part in the small talk which character
lied the social gathering.
Miss Charlotte Lambert, whose role
was that OF Vivian Darville, the ad-
ventures, stood for some time in the
wings before II was time for her en-
trance. She and j. ID. Walsh, or
rather, Joe Alymer, the horse trainer,
had long and animated conversation
about something entirely foreign to tho
play. All at once Il was interrupted
and she went on the stage with all Of
her captivating grace and dash
When the curtain went down the
men and women rushed on to the
dressing-rooms to make their changes
for the next act, which was OF the
horse horsey, from William Friends
trousers to the thoroughbreds at the
of no ufu urrnr
doing this the stage carpenters were
busily engaged in building the downs
at Melton, Yorks. The strength Of
these stage carpenters is amazing. The
Wayfarer saw one OF them pick up a
forest and about forty acres Of land In
a high state OK cultivation. to say
nothing of the farmhouse and little
white church in the distance, and carry
them about as easily as would a land
grabber or forest destroyer. Samson s
feat OF carrying OF the gates OF GAIA
was not a Circumstance to the carry
ing capacity OF a good, healthy stage
carpenter. II he had been in Samson's s
place he would have carried off the
entire city OF GAIA, and left nothing
but hole in the ground to show for It,
Pretty soon the members Of the CON-
pany began to arrive on the stage In
readiness for the next act. They were
nattily appareled, and loaded down
with fleld-glasses and stocks While
the horses were being led out for the
race they gathered around and looked
at them, gave gratuitous advice to the
jockeys and received gratuitous advice
in return.
In that manner the evening passed
Miss Pagets glove was ripped by he
bull-terrier making a lunge and drag
ging the chain through her hand. On
of the women declared that she did no
propose to buy an opera cloak. An
other forgot all about having to maxi
a change, got on the wrong side Of III
stage, and had to make centre rusl
for the dressing-roQm just as the cur
tain was about to ascend. After Mis-
Marion Barnwell had taken such an al
fecting leave of her little boy. VIII
had been given to the custody OF hi
father, and while the audience wa
mentally cursing Mr.. Roberts for hi
stupidity and heartlessness in so cruel
ly misjudglng his wife, she left tn
stage, started to go down the narroy
stairway with a light and merry. tread