The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13
TN THESTAGE SKYPARLOR
A Brief Interview With the Man
Who Rules the Curtain.
The FIyman's Important Duties in n
Perch Overlooking the Players Be
low Him-His Responsible, If Some
what Humble, Position-A Neglect
That Came Nenr Spelling Scene.

The occupants of, the private boxes OF
keenly and attentiyely above in the direc
tion of those pices OF. scenery technically
known as the flies, discover. perhaps a
human figure which is either wonderfully
active or listlessly Vatchful of what is
going on below or upon the stage. This
is the lyman. and the remote place where
he conducts his operations. which are
"caviare to the general" is a rude wood
en- gallery. commanding a bird's-eye view
of the stage with the musicians and the
box occupants thrawnsin. In houses where
the scenery consists for the greater part
of stock sets, 1t is possible that there is
only one lyman, and. if so, this individ-
uaI's Office is like all exalted positions,
lonesome one. Not but what the lyman
has lots TO occupy his mind, too. Should
he make a mistake in his manipulation
of the vast array of curtains, drops"
flies" 'fancys," straight drapery," or
'teaser." very embarrassing consequences
might ensue to the performers, and sur
prise to the audience. He must there
fore, be very careful person, and take
an interest in his profession, and have all
the apparently complicated tangle of
ropes with which he works literally at
his fingers ends. The experienced lyman
does not have TO be guided by the prompt-
er's bell. He knows himself. after tae
first rehearsal, Just when to give a drop.
or fancy. or curtain, as the case may be,
and his judgment in staging a piece is
often sought by the manager before its
production.
Animated by desire to see and confer
WIN TINS extraordinary person, the writer
made his way at some hazard of life and
limb, up an exceedingly narrow and steep
night of steps, that led from the stage
10 the elevated perch or gallery which
the lyman had, in this instance, all to
himself. He was a cheerful and intelli-
gent man, and seemed glad to see com
pany. He had been a sailor. he said,
half his life, and indeed, save for the alb
sence of the sea, he might well fancy him
sell. where he then was, Up aloft among
the sails and rigging of some huge vessel.
On one portion of the bare brick walls
around were portraits of distinguished
actors ana actresses who had. at one
time or other. appeared upon the stage
below. and some OF whom mad made their
last exit IN this world. The dyman him
self had seen most of them, contributing
in his own way to the success of their
performances and indeed it was he who
had pasted up most of the pictures 1t
was no wonder. then, that he was some
what blase in the matter of witnessing
shows as rule, though his interest was
still capable of being awakened to a great
degree by display of feminine beauty and
attractions.
He had. to guide him in his opera ions.
piece of paper on which were written
against the names of the various scenes
the kind of fly called for. The lyman
manages every piece of stage setting
which hangs. To raise or lower these
promptly and precisely. and in conformity
with the rest of the sce1ery, is his prov
ince. The very moment the wings. or side
pieces. are set, the 81, which is stipa-
lated to accompany them must be lowered,
and the drop or curtain coneealiug the or
GRAFTON, raised. The piece of paper which
the fyman uses contains the description
of fly to go with each set, these being
known as 'fancys." Thus, a scene in
which the c0lors are of dark shade, calls
for fancy in which the hues correspond
It is possible to give woodland fancy"