The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-28
THE HANDLING Of
STAGE ZEN |: ]! ]!
Big Productions From Behind the.
Footlights.
WORK OF THE STAGE HANDS.
Much Work is Necessary Behind 10
Produce The Proper Effect in
E,ront-How the Lights
arc Produced.

Richmond theatre-goeG's nave 1eceiieis
witnessed a number OF gorgeous scenic
productions. some of which haze ex-
celied anything ever seen in shis Guy.
Companies, such as The Little Minis
ter Cranes "a Virginia Courtsnip,
..Ihe Runaway Girl and THE Sign Of
the Cross. carry their own scenery.
Every piece Of property" used an the
s,roduciions belong TO the companies, and
many or the stage settings are anasnl'i-
cent and most intricate.
In order to handle this scenery, ana 10
place it upon The stage properly, expert
men must be employed. for the shghtesl
variance in setting plot Will destroy
the effect upon the audience. Only men
that know every detail of their business
are competent 10 handle the great mass
of scenery and accessories. An expert
electrician Is required and what are call
ed grip" men and fly men arg com
PEELED TO be away up in the business pc.
fore they can touch or handle such elab-
crate settings.
Gas is never used now in making the
various grades Of light upon the stage
Electricity has taken its place, ana each
light or set OF lights is manipulated from
Z, Keyboard. Each key on the board con-
trolls its special light, and the turning OF
one key will cause "a moonlight sun
shine" or a twilight effect There are
three sets of electric lights at the Acad-
cmy-1ed. white and blue.
THE Use OF LIGHTS.
The red is used for sunset and fire
scenes. the Blue for moonlight and twl-
light and the white for ordinary day
light These lights are worked on sig
mails from the stage manager by Mr..
Arthur Fisher, who has absolute control
of the switchboard. The beautiful Ell
fects in ..a,he Little Minister and The
Sign of the Cross could not have been
made without these lights.
Frequently there are mere than nun
dred separate pieces OF scenery ana prop
critics in one stage setting. These sides.
BORDERS drops and "tormentors
are Joined together from behind with
..gri,,s" and braces which are ananipu-
lated by the "gripmen.'' Nessrs. Jones ana
Evans are the regular .tgripmen" at the
Academy, but in some of the big pro-
auctions, assistants must be secured. VINO
work under the direction of the stage
manager, Squire Graves Scene-shltt-
ers' are men Of the past. their occu-
patton is gone. 'tGripmen' and lily
men" have taken their places.
The Lyman plays an important part
in the proper setting Of the stage. lie
spends his time aloft in the flies, and he
has at his command myliads OF rope,
each one representing a border" or a
drop A border is the piece OF
,scencry that hangs from the top Of the
proscenium and a drop is the back
part Of a setting that is lowered, like the
curtain, to represent either an interior
wall or a rustic scene. The man that
handles this important part of the set
ting at the Academy Is Mr. Cohen:
MIGHT SPOIL A PALACE.
It Is necessary for him TO keep cool
head and an alert ear in order to keep
from getting his signals from the stage
manager and his drops mixed. He might
spoil the interior of throne-roon by.
dropping a kitchen interior.
The stage carpenter and the property
man are now practically merged. This
man Is a useful man to have around. HIS
hammer and nails are necessary i'll eject
ing balconies for the stage Juliet. The
Academy property man as MIR. lsaacs, a
competent young man. There is alWaSa.
in every Wcli-reSulated theatre good
all-round man, one who can put his hand
to almost anything and do it we'll. This
position here is held by Mr.. Ben. Lowry,
who was almost raised on the stage, by
the side of Squire Graves.
Those who sit in front and enjoy
play, with all its beautiful and grand
surroundings, can scarcely realize the
difference behind the scenes. There,
whar appears beautiful and grand in
front seems dull and gloomy. The actors
themselves are transformed into c.ere
commonplace folk. Their tinsel and
handsome costumes have lost all their
splendor. there is no charm in their pres
ence and the make up'' on their faces
causes them to resemble spirits and
ghosts.