The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-11-12

pressing room doors slam, there is
s,nrry OF feet encased in satin slippers
or clad In the boots OF the cavalier. lights
eleam out for an instant and disappear
a chorus OF impatient exclamation and
then--silence.
The dressing rooms are now deserted
save for an occasional dresser arranging
his wigs and cosmetics; through a half
onen door a glimpse may be caught OF
him. surrounded with costumes swords
wigs and what not. fittully Illuminated
By the farng gas jet in Us iron cage. Be
lov the stage is set and draped' the /
electrician stands at attention beside MS |
switchboard, the wings are crowueo WIN
actors, and the stage crew are noppihe
their perspiring faces behind the Dack
drop. Aloft the iyman, with hand on
windlass. awaits the signal TO ralse ,he
curtain. Indistinctly the CLOSING strains
of the overture float on the air, mngieo
Win the low. peculiar murmur OF the
audience arranging itself for the play
IN the prompt" side OF the stage, Just
within the wings, stands man VINO ho'os
in his left hand a bulky roll of manu-
script: his right hand ~ uplitted III
gesture of warning and command. me
overture has terminated, absolute silence
prevails. lie touches a button at ms
side and instantly a lively strain from
the orchestra arises: another button, and
q green electric globe flashes out mat
tells him the hyman has received MS
signal The electrician manipulstes his
switchboard and the mimic gas logs III
hhe CRATE, the chandelier swinging from
the flies. the calciums, the foothghts' aH
spring into life, and the curtain rises On
the scene.
An this Is the result of much arduous
work for the success OF which the stage
director is alone responsible Even ther,
his work IL not finished We hnd MN,
manuscript I'm hand. I'm the wings, Watch-
ing with an all-seeing eye that his NUM-
crous orders and suggestions are mtelh-
gently observed and carried out.
Rtlt before theatrical production
reaches this point--its first presentation
"a tremendous amount of effort is neoes-
sary. The Call man is Indebted 70 the
courtesy of Mr.. Barry ONeill, stagedi-
rector OF Blaney's Theatre. Tor the lol-
lowing. and this is, in detail what "e-
ours:
The management delivers to the stage
director the manuscript Of a play, ana
inStructs him TO produce IL on a certain
date. The stage director retIres TO MS
den and carefully reads the play. NOTING
The most telling situation and opportun-
tiles for scenic elaboration After he mas
arrived at a thorough conception OF tne
authors purpose and intent. he proceeds
TO draw a scene plot, In duplicate one
for the scenic artist. the other To DE re-
sained by himself This scene plot ~ q
diagram Of the stage for each act ana
.necihes what buildings aud landscape
are 10 he portrayed. their relative size
and importance and even the position
~ each article OF furniture or ornament
tiat Is 10 appear.
lie then draws a property plot which
dcscribes each article. outside oi the
scenery. incidental TO the play, ana indi'
Gates on the diagram, or plot, its eSac'
position on the stage These property
plots are sometimes quite interesting II
the number and diversity OF articles re
uuired They frequently call FOR horses
dogs cats or other live stock OF do
nestle nature; antique clocks brlc-a
brac and articles OF virtu; glassware ant
crockery: furniture; and many strans'
and curious things that have to be con
structed behind the scenes, such !"
prop elephants, snakes. automobiles
railway trains. bust OF prominent or MS
torical charscters-anything
Ii Is then necessary 20 go all through
the play again, studying out each slt
uation i'm advance, and construct the hgh
plot COR gas ploo for the electrician
This stipuiates just what lights are to %
used. and when; at what time the 700
lights are 10 flash up quickly, shine stead
ilv. or die away or be slowly extinguished
and what colors are 20 be employed. Thi
also applies To the border lights that II
Illuminate the top OF the stage, hidden b
the pendant scenery. Then, at times
there are moonlight effects 20 he an
ranged. sunlight. lightning. storm. dawf
twilight calciums 20 be directed on IN
star, a city afire In the distance hgn
at sea the opalescent starlight OF IN
desert or the sepulchral gloom of IN
graveyard.
These three plots arranged. an inter
view follows with the stage carpente
instructed rAeEa-te place 81
traps II any and 90 construct mantel
staircases. etc, and tho mechanical d'
tails are then about finished and ~
stage director drope the role of mechan
and assumes the character Of the arus
His FIRST duty in this capacity, is
furnish costume list 20 the costume
who takes measurements of the warrior
members OF the company and makes the
hzhiliments in the style that the Tin
and locality Of the play demand. The
are many works ON Costumine that de
with every age and CLINE. These a
consulted and the patterns made FRO
accuto and historical models Some
these coftumcS are 81 very tidpNt" T"
and costly chnrac er. ana usually IA
10 be prepared on very short notice
scenery. lights. properties and cosium
attended 70. the stage director e me-
difficult task looms Into v.ew-he INT
east the play. Assuming t1e play Us
be produced by stock company
director can get a line on their ntness
the work lie then considers each chr
sctcr In the production and its icquH
rnents. and selects the actor to u
Dersonate e. No matter what thc IN
NAV be- there are certain grada tons
character apparent In them ali and
thus classihs,i by the stag director Ti
yc technically known a. ieading in
heavy man. comedian. tuveniic. char
Or mar. eccentric comedian and first
man. ~ regards tho nasculue portion
s,e COMPANY. The other sex romrri
tb,'lesding lady. heavy woman. iu'"i
woman. inrcnue and roubrctte and q
olJ woman. Added 90 thess sro @'N'
pembers OF the company Know ~
soopsibies." frequently called uRou to ,
form minor. but nevsrthsiess irnport'
vsrfs. srd are usually the undcrstuoic.
she more important character. "
.ous what are known as the 'niill
-. - RClef OF NnIUl