The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-22
STAGING A PLAY.
An Interesting story of the "BuiId-
ing of a Production.


An Interesting story of the "BuiId-
ing" of a Production.
Staging a play is not an easy task. If
the play is one for instance like Jack
and the Beanstalk," it is an exceedingly
eomplimated matter. Klaw & Granger
have eighty people in their company and
it is no easy thing to look after play
with a cast of that size and get it ready.
For month before the presentation of
big spectacular attraction those interested
in its production work night and day, and
often this work is kept up for a month
after it has been produced in trimming off
the rough edges and in bringing the people
into thorough understand of their parts
and getting them to work together. II re-
quires year fully to outline and develop
an attraction like Jack and the Beam
stalk
Ben Teal. general stage director for
Klaw & Erlanger gives an interesting ac
count of how a big play is got ready for
the stage.
On securing a play like "Jack and the
Beanstalk," Mr.. Teal said that his first
work was TO divide his stage and plan
his scenes. After arranging the different
parts, he decided on the number of people
necessary for each act. Then, taking up
the first act. he developed the scenery and
arranged the different groupings on the
stage. This was done by means of what
he calls ground plan, which shows the
position of each piece of scenery and the
groupings of the peop.e in each scene. HaV-
ing arranged this 60 his satisfaction, he
submitted his ground plan to the scenic
artists, showing them just what scenes
he wanted their size and the color eff
fects The artists made a model on
scale of One-half an inch to the foot in
color This not only applied to the scenes,
but to the wings. flies and drops as well.
Next came the question of costuming,
and the wardrobe men were called on for
suggestions.
ut is necessary" said Mr.. Teal, that
the costumes correspond with the scenery.
There must be harmony in color at all
times, and man who is color blind can
not stage a spectacular production. When
the general style of the costumes has been
decided, specifications showing the num-
Der of people in each grouping and the
colors NECESSARY are sent to the costum-
ers. Designs are submitted. Often it is
necessary to have this done several times
before the costumes harmonfze with the
scenery. When the costumes are approx
ed another model is built showing the
this requires several months work.
Meanwhile the balletmaster has been
selecting his people and gradually working
out the dances which have been decided
on. This is also slow work. Special at
tention has to be paid TO the time of each
dance and the number of people which
will make it most effective. With the bal
let secured attention is next turned to the
principals. They must harmonic both in
their business, dialogue and presence
with the scenery and ballet"
"When the regular rehearsals begin the
first attention is paid 10 the details of
the ballet and chorus. The first week is
devoted to rehearsing the music, then
follows the chorus and ballet
Here" said Mr.. Teal, lis where the
stage director finds his hardest work. IN
handling half dozen different sets of
people he is kept busy from early morn
ing until late at night. First, the general
assembling of the groups is studied, ana
then the individual presence of the people
is discussed. Every one must receive spe-
cial attention. In rehearsing this produc-
| ton it was necessary often to work all
night for the purpose of catching a GER
tain effect which Mad to be drilled into
| each Individual"
After the songs. the music and the
dances have been thoroughly learned, the
principals, who have been studying their
| parts begin rehearsing. Every move, eV-
| cry word Is carefully studied, and it's effect
noted Each person has a different con-
ception of the part assigned to him, and
| it is necessary to assimilate these concep-
tions so that they will fit into harmoni-
Gus whole.
after each department has been care
fully rehearsed. the dances, the songs,
! the choruses. the dialogues, the group
| ings and the orchestra has been studied
! alone. all are assembled and the first
! complete rehearsais begun. Another
week, or often six weeks is spent in the
full rehearsals, and many changes have
to be made. What might look well by