The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-08

"agriwator," and as it is frequently re-
peated. ask myself, where is the
curiosity about the theater, it's people
and its life, to end? The question is:
What social conditions exist behind
the scenes?" Now to be quite frank
the first few times this query appeared,
l was distinctly aggravated. 1 said to
myself. do these ladies and gentlemen
yes, three males are in this inquiring
group-do they think we are people SO
apart from all others, that we require
a separate and distinctly different So
cial code-that we know nothing of the
law governing the size, style and use of
the visiting card-that congratulations,
condolences are unknown rites-that in
vitations. acceptances and regrets are
ancient Hebrew to us, and calls, teas,
dinners, and dances are exalted func-
tions far above our comprehension?
And then / read the question again and
saw ] was making a ninny of myself
an easy thing to do with the thermom-
eter at SO in the shade-that it said:
behind the scenes" and with a laugh
recalled the little child, who had de-
lightedly witnessed her first Christmas
that / was one of the people in the
play. she watched and listened eagerly
some time before coming and resting a
dinpled hand on mine, to ask disap-
pointedly: please does all the actin
people have 'emselves jes' same as any
one?" Poor, blue-eyed tot, she had ex-
pected at least a few twirls about the
room, a few bounds and hand kisses,
and here was " having jes' like any
szkA frNN
gone I'll try to make plain our social
condition behind the scenes.
In the first place then, a theatrical
company is almost exactly like one
large family. Our feeling for one an
other is generally one of warm good
fellowship. In our manners there is an
easy familiarity, which we would not
dream of using outside of our own lit
tie company circle. We are socially
inclined people, communicative, FOND OF
friendly conversation and hopelessly
given over to jokes, or as we put it,
ito guying." But don't imagine there's
any socialism about theater, that
means community of property and as
ISOLATION, on the contrary we enter in
to the keeneSt competition with one
another. dare say an outsider-as the
professional has been termed time
out of mind-watching our conduct for
a
that though quite harmless, we are all
a little mad. For the actors funny
habit of injecting old, old lines of old,
old plays into his every day CONVEX
sation, must be somewhat bewildering
TO the uninitiated. If an elderly,
heavy breathing, portly gentleman,
lifted his hat to a gentle dignified little
lady, remarks: "Beshrew mo, but l do
love thee still! Isn't it hot this morn
l. ,f,fSS nv var
slender, pop-eyed young comedian,
while wiping his brow, says: Now
could drink hot blood, and hold it not
a sim" And some one else calmly an
swers: You haven't got those words
right. old man, and you couldn't drink
anything hot to-day, without having a
fit!'' Or if two big; stalwart men.
meeting in the entrance" fall sud
denly into each others arms, with
cry of "Camillel" Armand" Or If
man enters the green room with his
hat on and a half dozen people call:
DO you take this for an ale house,
that you can enter with such a swag-
ger?" and the hat comes off with
laughing apology. Or if the man with
the cane is everlastingly practicing
carte and tierce" on somebody, or DO
ing a broad-sword fight with any one
who has an umbrella. If woman
passes with her eyes cast down reading
a letter and some one says: In maid
en- meditation, fancy free!" If she
eats a sandwich at a long ,ehear-
sal and some one instantly
begins: "a creature not too
bright nor good for human natures
daily food" If she appears in con-
spicuously new gown and some one
cries: 1.-The riches of the ship have
come on shore" ten to one, she re-
plies: "A poor thing-but mine own!"
These things will look and sound queer
and Eighty to the outsiders who are
not thoroughly acquainted with the
plays from which the lines are taken
and cannot of course see how aptly
some. of them adapt themselves to the
situation. But this one is plain to all.
A young girl who was a very careless
dresser, was trailing along the EN-
trance" one evening, when behind her
the leading man, quoting Juliet, re-
marked: Thou knowest the mask
of night is on my cheek or l should
not dare tell you, your petticoat is
coming off" a perfect gale OF laugh
ter followed in which the little sloven
Joined heartily.
One morning, rehearsal being dis
missed, was hurrying away, intend
ing to enjoy a ride on horseback, when
Mr.. Davidge-Mr. Days "old man.,
lifting his hat politely and twisting
Macbeth's words very slightly, re-
marked: II wish your horse swift
and sure of foot, and so do commend
you to it's back!' and as I laughed:
Macbeth, Act ILL.," we parted in
mutual admiration for each others
knowledge of the great play.
The gentlemen are attentive to the
lady's small needs, providing seats
when possible, bringing a wrap,
glass of water, tanning her If she is
warm, carrying her long train If it is
heavy-but never, never losing the
chance to play a joke on her If they
can.
There is generally some ring leader
of green-room fun-for most actors
are very impatient of waits" between
the scenes and would rather pass such
time in pranks than in quiet CONVERSE
ton. On one occasion some of the
actors had made noise enough to reach
the managerial ear, and they were
fined. The actresses laughed at their
discontinue and revenge was at once
in order. Next night. four young men
brought bits of calico and threaded
needles with them and when their
wait" came, they all sat quietly In
row and sewed steadily. The sight
was so ludicrous the women went OF
into unbounded laughter, and were In
their turn fined.
Nothing excuses the use of swear
words behind the scenes and even