Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-25

rehearSe0 happens TO be either q comic
opera or tragedy-s funny, 1t is funny,
that is to say. to the disinterested man in
front" 1t is often very heartrending and
nerve-racking and tragical to some of the
players who figure therein But the mere
onlooker, comfortably seated in the dark
auditorium, and having nothing to win nor
to lose in connection with what is going
before him on the dismal, grayshadowed
stage. can't help but perceive whole lot of
fun in almost any theatrical rehearsal.
Maybe the fun for the onIooker consists
chiefly in his dispassonate contemplat ton
Of the tremendous earnestness and serious
ness of the men and women taking part in
the rehearsal and the quick changes from
hope to despair from rage to tenderness
from sarcasm to approval. from frenzy to
deadly calm. on the part of the skilled
stage technician who directs the rehearsal.
Whatever 1t may be. an average early re-
hearsal OF a production in embryo is really
a great deal more diverting than a sitting
at the finished production; so, at least, has
1t seemed to one who was enabled to look
on at a round dozen Of theatrical rehear-
sails last week.
stage of one Of the Broadway theaters,
from IL in the morning until in the even
Ing. with an hours intermission for lunch
had for its subject matter a romantic eigh-
teenth century drama, adapted from a
novel, that Is to be produced about the
middle Of September. Most of the player
people" on the gloomy stage were we'll
known stage folk. 1t was very hot, and all
of the men on the stage were in their shirt
sleeves. The first set was supposed to be
an elaborate drawing room scene, although
the stage was bare Of scenery. The star of
the forthcoming production was doing the
actual rehearsing of the company with the
| assistance of the adapter, the manager and
the "angel." who sat in solemn and APP
parently bored grandeur in the orchestra
leaders elevated seat
The leading woman who looked warm
moist and uncomfortable, was essaying her
Interpretation of a little comedy scene in
she was half through with the scene the
male star and the adapter EXCHANGED
glances of utter disapproval.
'Horrible!' exclaimed the star to the
adapter.
The limt! calculated the adapter.
I'VE would be egged!' groaned the male
star.
And cabbaged!' muttered the adapter.
OF course, the leading woman had ceased
by this time and was looking up inauir-
ingly
Don't I read it correctlyT' she asked
oh. yes. you read it correctly-you read
1t like a smokeless monograph replied
the male star, shaking his head, an ex-
lures. You read 1t like a wireless type
writer! There's no complaint about your
reading. But how about acting 1t little?
Just move. you know--act Acting doesn't
Do you perceive the word business writ
ten anywhere in your part? Or are the
words just stand still with your arms
hanging limp at your side" scattered all
through your book? .Reada 1t? Merciful
sheavens! yes, you read it. But you don't
animate 1t. You don't swim it. You
don't hop. skip and jump it, Move across
the stage-ah! you can move, then! Star
Ting, II truei The lady really can walk!
Amazing Miraculous! And she scratches
her nose! Phenomenal! And, more extraor-
binary still. she actually tucks one of her
hairpins in! Unbelievable! Now, Just run
over that again. will you, please. and en-
deavor to convince yourself that this isn't
one Of the scenes in which you are rooted
to the spot all the time you're on the
stage" ~ J"
The scene was gone over again. this time
a bit more satisfactorily to the male star
and the adapter. who vet looked into each
Others eyes every now and then with woe
unassuageable in their gaze. The old negro
slave, however, failed to please. The male
star walked over to the man who was as
Stunning the part. passed his arm around the
players shoulder with mock tenderness and
entreated him thus:
ing for me and playing this part. that you
ever did knock-about black-face act on
the variety stage, won't you? l know It'll
be hard. terribly hard, and wrench you TO
the souEbut try. You're playing the part
OF an aged and deorepdt black slave who
dred years ago. you know; 1t may be aw-
fully dthcult for you to convince yourself
that you're not playing the part OF a mod
ern Thompson street crap shooter with q
four-foot tin raSor and q Lew Dockstader
coller-but In the name Of heaven try to get
Contiguous q s,s t2 yourself: You really don't
or anything like that In this production,
you know. Those compositions, you SEQ.
we're quite unknown In the last century.