The Jersey City news., 1899-12-23

THE AMATEURS.
What Is Necessary Be-
fore a Play Is
Staged.
MEN VS.. WOMEN AS ACTORS
Nothing VIII Be Produced
Before January 81
Catholic Club Changes.

Few of the uslisatiated urders taId tie
troubles that beset the path Of the anna
teur company An anaateur compa ny,
which is part of a large organization that
supports many other depart ments, is
usually placed ii charge Of a committee.
This .com1ndttee, when wisely selected, IS
made up Of chose vine have enjoyed some
experience in the worls. III the case Of y
company that is organized solely Tor the
purpose Of producing plays That viii clear
a monetary profit each differert section
Of the work IS placed In different hands
The first actual step toward the pro-
duetson is TO consider the people Tor a
cast 1t is always easter TO N1sain Ten
serious minded n4en who will pay attea-
tien to the matter ia hand tnan it IS to get
one young lady WHO has the qualities re-
CURED Men viii do as they are told wiaen
the instructor shows a knowledge a the
work
The male members of a cast speak,
move about and form situations aceofd4Ig
to the ideas of the coach. They are also
Wiling to wear any costume essential 20
the proper Interpretation Of a character,
and make 1T a point 70 be OF ilansl at the
proper hour tof rehearsal. Of course tne
serious student alone Is coIssldered.
on the other hand the ladies. as a rule
form their own Ideas as TO the uses OF
the voice, the strength Of situations ana
the appropria atness Of costumes
It is a most difficult matter 10 shake
these opifl. Ions, particularly as regaras
dress. a y0ung gs9l does not care t. as
sumo the Character q an elderly lady
rs matter how well der talents III her for
this nne Of work Finally, when the gi1l
consents to play such a part sne shows q
decided dislike for the necessary gray hals
ana wrirlxlea face, ansi. The gown that
would become her mother is sneered at
ard in d number Ct cases cast aside for
the stylish. giriish eress. .that makes the
wrinkled face and gray hairs just cause
for laughter In her scenes the actress
assumes a manner more fitting 70 the
dress than the age written on the face
ana demanded by the author. Happily
there are exceptions 10 the rule, hut they
are rare.
After the possible members Of cone
pany are considered from various points
Of view a play is chosen. If q company
IS satisfied 70 produce some piece that Is
known 1t is easy to make selection.
Where the aim is to obtain something new
ii is a more difficult matter Dozens OF
plays are read and finally that ore that IS
SO constructed as to be available because
Of adaptability TO the stage and the tai
eat and the taste of the audience is Sc
lected The books are distributed and a
date set for the first reading. In some
cases this reading shows that it is not adj
visable TO centinue the play and another
is selected Dates for reheegsals are set
and gradually from chaos IS evolved a
smooth intelligent presentation. The coach
shows the beauty Of certain situations
ana pictures that bring out most clearly
the story Of the play and the talent Of the
actors The ''busness'' is shown and re-
hearsed as much and sometimes more
than the lines. Business is anything dole
on stage except speaking.
The property man. is called in and 1t
is his duty to supply all furniture and
other things used For instance, when
there is writing he must procure the ne
cessary materials and have them in the
proper places at the proper time. The
stage manager haBdies the scenery and
directs the dressing of the stage.
When the curtain rises the actual work
formanees Of amateur companies know
what that work is.
No actual work VIII be done in anna
teur circles now until after the first Of
the year. such thing as a rehearsal
in holiday times Is almost impossible ex-
cept in the case Of a production in the
very near future. There is no date an
III Al -T.,,,
so that the study IF parts is temporarily,
abandoned for the pleasures Of the sea-
son.
Tie Catholic Club Dramatic Union,
while not actively engaged in the re-
haarsal Of a play at the present time is
busy making several Important changes
in the mechanical departnent Of the the-
atre. The stage is undergoing a thorough
renovation and several effeetive improve
nents are being made in the scenery and
lighting arrangements. Since the electric
lights have been put in 50 many uses
have been made Of them that delightful
effects are easily ehtainable.
Mr. Miah Sweeney, who's is row in
charge Of this department. Of the club,
has decided TO do nothing until March.
Il is likely that three performances VIII
be given March le II and 49, Several
appropriate plays are now being consid7
cred, chief among them Shamrock ana
Rose"
'sThe Wreclsers'' IS the title Of a strong
dramatic play that will be used for the
display of the talents Of the Booth Dra-
matte Society. The presentation is to be
made in February for the benefit Of st.
Pauis Church Of Bayonne. The success
which has attended the efforts of this
company in the past has placed 1t in
the foremost ranks Of the amateurs of
the county
nrnLinifnhM COMMITTEE crfn