The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-29

end Of the fifteenth century, and The opera In
Italy had grown so spectacular, as long ago as
1870 that one purist complained bitterly OF .ne
prominence given, to scenic enect raunea sr a.
TO the singers, and said that q theatre manager
no longer troubled himself about his periornne,s
20 long as he could produce a good non or ,soi,
llshtning and an earthquake. ., Lfprst ws,S
these features OF q theatre rather thah one
character Of the performers, 9lthoush u rs
certain that the decline Of Italian opera w. as
attracted the attention OF English sh9whlen.
and an Imitation OF one was attempted az lhr
back Is 1892 although that was In a D3SIai Gv,
the phenomenon and not n a theatre. ~ vas
stopped on the ground that the attempt 70
Reproduce such an art 81 nature was sacr IN
England was also opposed bitterly TO what II
thought, TO have been the first effort TO produce
an earthSuase on the stage; sd Ih F,,, wdI and
y was given in London In 1928 under the name
The EARTHQUAKE, or the Phantom Of the Nile,
at the historic Adelphi, on the pom. Gov os
and going into trade. Tho last act Of Thu. play
described as The Great Temple Of Dendara,'
Of ,savases hurting %Jayelips, an sarthauake'
a ghostly apparition and a shower OF real water,
all introduced for the first time on a London
the earthquake in The Virgin Of the Sum-"
given at Coyent Garden In 1912, This was an
opera, and tho columns and walls OF the tempe
ECtlf III lllt lIht dtI VIZ n dik'h IA VNNybF
which fell down with a great olatter when
pushed from behind the canvas scene. A SIM
liar attempt TO create the Illusion OF an earth
quake In Samson ct Dalla," at the Metropol;
itap Opera House iiye years ago, was received
with undiseuised hilarity by the audience,
Snow on the English stage Is mentioned by
Holinshed as being used In the performance OF
O Latin tragedy at Christ Church College, OK
ford. In 1883. Snow scenes were common as
early as Queen Anne's time, and It used to be
said In later years hat th9 manuscrlpts oi
unsuccessful poets were used for the purpose OF
making stage snow. Paper has been, given up
cheapest theatres that require a snowst9rm.
In Paris the kid clippings swept up In the glove
factories are bought, as they create a better
Illusion and also stick where they fall:
was seen on the stage flrst. according to one
authority. in The North Pole, or The Arctic
Expedition. given at Birmingham IN, ISIS,
At tho Ambigu in Paris IN 1853 d'tpnery . Inc
iraysi Of the Sastawsy, contdIed q Wonder,
a great vogue. England saw the wohoerlul
Ice foes Of the piece a few years after the first
performance and as The Sea OF Ice inc orama
was at one time very popular here. these
scenes were usually nautical IN character al
though scenes merely representing the sea
had long before been common. one OF The
first of them was contained I'M play called lho
Hidden Loves" performed as long ago as ms
In Paris and the enterprising eighteenth cen,
fury impresario sent on the stage n full-rigged
ship with her crew and passengers on board.
In England the first attempt TO make the stage
represent the deck Of a ship for the scene OF
the action Of q play was made N a 1850 a the
ellers." The lime light which has since been
used with such wonderful effect came into use
In 1887, although in its later improved state
L was prGctifaly u nsna ior ,Me MS! T Sl't III N d lam
some stage managers refuse to substitute Tor
II electric light.