The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-22

atrical Slang" Contemporary Theatrical
Slang" and Theatrical Slang That Has Be
come Good English"
The citations of Mr.. Boyd are about 200
IN number. from which some few may be
quoted with profit to the reader. To mem
bers of the theatrical profession a success
ful performance is "a hit" while a failure
is "a frost" The performer himself ethel
makes good or is %'punky." In referring te
big business it is said 1--WE stood 'em up,
and being denied the customary courtesies
by n manager is being turned down.
A role which affords opportunity for cred
liable acting is a fiat part" lines which
make an appeal to a political or national
faction are "bunkum." and their speaker de-
scrtbes the applause which follows their
repetition by declaring that he got a
hand"
Theater-goers who do not enthuse are
called trapped" and if the player ~flatters
himself that his work was not understood
he announces that lit went over their
heads" Colored actors are "dinsies." those
who represent Irishmen are 'harpS,' farm
er characters are designated as "rubes,'
and a Hebrew impersonator is a goose or
a .Yid."
! Faudevillians are "twenty-minute actors
and to go on in a vaudeville house is to do
n turn A monologue is "a string of talk"
or junk" Members of the chorus are the
bunch" and those of an organization who
! '@hC AiaiaNilS pAi - VI P"H'S - 49,
no words are spoken, are "on with the
| Others
An actor who has ceased to be popular is
a has BEEN and one who boasts of his
prowess is .'chesty.' A 'shine" is a player
not quite up 10 the standard. and a disliked
performer is liable to be known as a "neel."
ss
| Fred Stone. who plays the scarecrow in
The Wizard of o." has to stand motion
less for eighteen minutes at a stretch
| perched upon a pole in a cornflold. while a
scene is taking place in the foreground.
TIL eyes of the audience are constantly
upon him, and he must not move a muscle
of his face or body. or the illusion would
be destroyed.
His outstrctched arms are supported by a
cross-pieCe nailed to the pole, and during
the first performance of The Wizard of
or both Of Stones arms went sound
asleep, and when Dorothy came to take
him from the pole he really needed her sup
port until lie could restore the circulation.
The other day the "scarecrow" related an
amusing incident of this tedious pose.
one night said he, when the scene
was about half through. l felt an almost
uncomfortable desire to sneeze. The very
thought of such a calamity filled me with
horror. and / resolved not to give way to
the temptation. 1 all my will
power to bear on the situation, at the same
time holding on to those twitrhing muscles
Ike grim death to a grasshopper.
Those seven or eight minute before 1
was expected to come to life seemed like a
thousand years. The tears ran down my
checks and the prickiing. champagnelike
sensations spread from my nose to my head
and ran down my neck like a dose of
electricity.
Al this time the sneeze was gathering
accumulated force. and. finally. in spite of
me. it burst out like a charge of a Calling
gun.
Then I heard a roar from the audience,
and knew that I had been able to restrain
the sneeze until just the right minute. when
Dorothy was supposed to bring me to life
by means Of her magic ring. My sudden
awakening made 2 hit that night, but I
would not go through such an experience
again for any amount of glory"
Marie Cahill. the star of the new musical
comedy. Nancy Brown" tells this story:
Il was playing on one occasion in Mime
apolis with one of Augustin Days compa- |
MES. when y committee waited on me and |
asked if | would consent to appear at a !
benefit to be given the next afternoon in
aid of the families of several firemen who |
had been killed shortly before, while in the
performance Of their duties. I was told |
that Joseph Jefferson had consented to APP |
pear and deliver a talk on the drama. OF |
course. | consented. feeling honored to par |
tlcinate in an affair of that kind. especially !
as was to play with Jefferson
That next afternoon L found myself one
of n great gathering OF professionals of all
kinds-mostly vaude Vile performers, 1
fancy. I stood in the .wipgs as Mr.. Jeffer-
began his address on the drama, and
deeply interested in what that distin-
player was saying, when suddenly
l became aware that a frivolous young
was peering over my shoulder.
"She was blonde of tress and wore short
,s-1- Il u, 1870 a~I 800 -%t i
irdelibly stamped on her. At that mo-
,nent Mr.. jefferson, with rare eloquence,
was referring to the comedies of Wycherly
and Sheridan and Goldsmith, and I lost
sight for the second of my companion,
| was startled to hear. in a loud whis-
per from somewhere back in the wings. a
shrili giriish voice saying: HI. Name, who's
On now?'
"The song and dance lady beside me
turned her head and whispered back:
AZ dunno. Some old guy doin' a mono
Charles Frohman recently presented the
matter of the proposed testimonial to A.
". Palmer at a meeting of the officers of
he Actors Fund of America, held in New
York. Those present at the meeting were
Daniel Frohman, vice president, in the
hair. in the absence of Mr.. AL Hayman;
Harris. Frank Mckee. Joseph
5rooks. Tony Pastor. F. F. Mackaye and
Ir. DeWolf Hopper.
After the regular meeting of the fund.
yharles Frohman's scheme for this testi-
nonial was acted upon.
1t was decided to hold the entertainment
arly in May at the Metropolitan Opera
louse, to present one play having good all
round parts. to be acted by a specially Sc
ected star cast of players.
A committee on the benefit was formed,
onsisting of Joseph Brooks, William Har-
is, Frank Mckee and Daniel Frohman, as {
to decide within the next two or
hree weeks upon this play, and to see ,
-hich prominent stars can be secured for =.
he entertainment. Charles ,Frohman has
$1,000 to the A. NJ. Palmer testi-
.
Tom @. Seabrooke, comedian, has been
eading French novels in the original and c
casting of his ability to not alone trans .
ate them thoroughly, but also pronounce >
ach word correctly. =,
This was doubted by William Pruette, =
.MATEURS TO PRESENT DRAMA. D
'roceeds Will Go to Baptist Hos IL