The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13

to street scene at night. and Kitchen
| fancy" to the same by day. The harmon
izing OF the various colors in scenery af-
fords the higher stage hands quite a field
for the exercise OF taste. This. as well as
all other matters pertaining to produc-
ton, is settled on the Monday morning
rehearsal. although there may be after
that time vague doubts still lingering in
the mind of some individual regarding the
propriety of the arbitrary taste of the
stage manager.
1t may not. perhaps. be generally
known, even among theatregoers, that
the proper and technical name for the
piece of scenery which is discovered i'm
mediately back of the curtain, or rag"
is "tormentor." This may. or may not.
conform in character with the remainder
of the set but certain color scheme,
or harmony. must always be observed
Thus the hues of the "tormentor" usual
ly a representation of two huge and gor-
geous marble columns) consorts in some
measure with those of the curtain, as
well as with the remainder of the seem
cry. The fly accompanying the tormen-
tor is known as the straight drapery,"
back Of which. again, is the "teaser."
The Importance of the proper manage
ment of the 1ys in tragic pieces can
scarcely be overestimated. An impress
sive and affecting tableau, given Just as
the curtain falls, may, through the neg
iect or oarelessness Of the fiyman be-
come ridiculous spectacle, aud call
forth from the audience, laughter instead
OF tears. As matter OF fact, this catas-
trophe was effected by fiymen at a per-
tormance given in this city by the French
actress Rhea. The last act of the play
being extremely long and lugubrious, The
in ha A.r IL.
to strengthen their shaken feelings with
a slight potation at an adjoining saloon
Accordingly, they made their way out
IN body, calculating the proper time for
their return to a nicely. As luck would
have it. however. they remained out for
such an extended period that a tableau
representing most effecting death scene
was entirely spoiled in its effects, the
actors having to remain mute, in pastures
O. intense agony SO long, that even the
corps got disgusted and was just about to
wake up and walk off the stage. when the
corps of delirquents returned and real
ing the state Of affairs from certain heated
and uncomplimentary remarks of the
stage manager, made a wild rush up the
narrow steps at the imminent hazard of
their lives, and. after some struggling as
to who should lower the curtain. at
length relieved actors and audience from
their respective embarrassments.
1t used to be the custom. when drops
or back scenery were to be raised in
hurry. for the lyman to send assistants
up to the beam from which the pieces are
hung, and. when the signal was given.
these men attached themselves to the
counterbalancing end CT the various ropes,
and rode" the drop landing themselves
on the fyman's gallery. II CHANGED, on
one OCCASION, when this expedient was re-
sorted to. that the drop riders had been
especially cautioned not to descend before
the curtain in front was lowered. How
ever. upon the ringing of the bell for the
lowering Of the curtain, they evidently
snistook the signal. for down they came
and up went the several back pieces, dis
closing to the astOunded audience the
spectacle of the bare brick wall behind.
and five or six men flying through the air.
apparently. like impossible cherubim.
These, and many ;rore amusing anec
dotes, were revealed to the writer by the
lyman in the intervals of his duty, so
that the experience was well worth the
climb up those narrow and giddy steps.