Evening star., 1903-10-10
STAGE DISCIPLINE.
A Discourse by Horace Wyndham, st.
James Theater, London.
From the Sketch.

From the Sketcn.
1t may possibly come as news to those
who only witness a theatrical performance
from the auditorium to learn that discipline
is enforced almost as strictly on the stage
as it is in government department
Every big London theater has code OF
..rules and regulations under which it is
conducted, and rigid adherence to TINS Is
insisted upon from every one concerned
principal to call boy alike. Speaking gen.
orally, the regulations about twenty in
number. Some managers, however, ara"
up 50 lengthy list that they find it neces-
sary to enbody it in a small handbook.
Among the rules common to all thedters
may be mentioned the following: % The
hair of the face must be ShaVen II required
by the exigencies of the play represented;
(2) 'All engagements to be regarded as eX-
elusive, and no artist shall appear at any
other theater or hall without the consent
in writing of the manager or his repfeseh-
Iative;" 80 .'All artists engaged are TO play
any part or parts for which they may De
cast, and to underStudy If required; ana
"a In the event of the theater being closed
through riot, fire, public calamity, royal
demise, epidemic or illness of principal no
salary shall be claimed during such clos
ing" At the foot of the contract is an in
timation that amy breach of the above
rules and regulations subjects the person
who infringeS to immediate dismissal at the
option OF the management.
AS matter of tact, however, such op-
ton is only exercised in extreme cases. The
usual method adopted for enforcing com
pliance with the theaters rules is much
milder one 1t consists in levying grauu-
ated scale Of fines for every infringement
brought to light. Such fines are deducted
from the offenders weekly salary, and may
be anything from siXpence to a guinea. "A
very ordinary one to impose Is nall
crown, for the breach of discipline it meets
= hot of Iii hph nd r.
ing performance-iS, perhaps, more often
encountered than is any other. Late at
tendance at rehearsal Qf exceeding the
limit allowed for variation of watches
means incurring a similar penalty.
One of the graveSt OffenSeS of which an
actor or actress may be guilty is that Of
addressing the audience from the stage dur
ing the course OF i performance. In some
theaters the only recognized punishment
for this is instant dismissal, note to this
effect being inserted in the contract. Inter-
polating into the dialogue words or 'busi-
ness not previously sanctioned by the
management is also held to be particularly
heinous.
An exception, however, is usually made
where musical comedy is concerned, for in
entertainments OF this nature the practice
of "gagging' is more or less freely adopt
ed. Librettists, indeed have much reason
to be thankful that this is the case, since
the success of their work is often largely
due to the manner in which the comedians
build up their parts for themselves.
The individual in whom is vested the re-
sponsibility for maintaining due order be-
hind the scenes is the stage manager. Con-
sequently everybody makes IL his business
to cultivate pleasant relations with .him
from the outset. AS may be imagined, his
position is delicate one, calling for the
display of a good deal of tact, since in the
execution of his office he is sometimes re-
quired to drop on" a personal friend.
Should he show favoritism discipline is
bound to suffer, with the result that he
himself is called to account. No one, how
ever, seems to know exactly how this is
brought about, for ina agination pales before
the idea OF a stage manager reporting him
self for neglect of duty.