The Washington times., 1903-07-26
The Chorus Girls Summer.
A Dog-Day Round of Rehearsal, Crit
cism, and Work.


TO the beholder who sits in the dimly
lighted. cool auditorium of the theater
watching the perspiring footlight favor
ties as they go over and over again
difficult dances and songs under the di-
rection of a more or less affable stage
director.
The roof gardens, with the weekly
change of bill. are given to more re-
hearsing than are the regular shows,
which have been running for some time.
AT the Paradise Roof Garden. every day
last week from IL O'Clock in the
morning until or o'clock in the after
noon. and sometimes until or S o'clock,
the second edition of Mr.. Hammerstein's
extravaganza, Punch. Judy & Co" was
being reheaFsed by the manager himself,
and Miss Gertrude May Hoffman, the
woman stage director
Close upon 10 o'clock each morning
the young chorus women arrive at the
stage entrance in groups of shree and
four and, retiring to their dressing
rooms, they divest themselves Of all
unnecessary attire in anticipation of the
laborious days work before them
On Saturday the last rehearsal was
called for II O'Clock. prior to he intro
duction on Monday of the new songs and
dances. At five minutes before II all
of the young women were assembled on
the regular stage of the Victoria Thea
ter.
Only bunch light in the center Of
the stage close to the footlights shed
faint lustre, which lighted up the fea-
lures of the girls sitting about on chairs
and broken bits OF scenery and such de-
bris Of stage accessories as sis usually
left by carpenters and property men in
an unfinished state during the day.
Some of the girls wore dancing bloom
ers and shirt waists. with sleeves rolled
up. Others wore the short skirts of
peasant costumes worn in the operatta
at night. The bodices to these were
curtailed kimonos Grotesque indeed
was the appearance of most of the
young women with only the ALTERING
glare of the bunch light" for iIlumina-
ton
Enter then Mr. Hammerstein upon the
scene. He advances to the center of
the stage. cigar in hand.
We will take the first verse OF the
new song, II you please" he says, quiet
ly authoritative.
The young women rise from their va
rious seats and perches and gather in a
semicircle several feet in front Of the
stage manager. who stands with his
back to the auditorium.
An accompanlst with his shirt sleeves
rolled up, collarless. and with business
like energy. comes from somewhere out
of the wings. seats himself at the piano,
and strikes the opening chords of
Mickey O'Donohue," the hodcarrier
song.
! From the right, first entrance, Miss
Hoffman crosses to chair near Mr.
Hammerstein. watching the progress OF
the verse.
A Hit A Hit.
Stop stopi" commands Mr.. Hammer
stein before the end of the second line
is reached
stop, stop. you sing like a lot Of
mechanical dolls. That will make a fine
hit (this is satlre). Beautiful, Beautiful
I don't think, Now we'll take that over
again from the beginning and see if you
can't put some life into It, 1t wants to
go with a swing So, SO. So" He throws
his arms in the air with three rapid GEES
lures. eloquent of the spirit and vim
which he wishes injected into the rendi-
tion of his song.
They begin again. This time they pro-
coed rninterruptedly throughout the
first verse. Hammerstein mods his head
repeatedly half IN appreciation, half in
order TO mark time at the end Of each
line.
When the first verse is concluded
Miss Hoffman steps forward
Now girls, for the business Of the
chorus" she says with sharp little
dominant note in her voice. The line OF
girls SWAPS backward from the middle
on either side, Miss Hoffman takes the
center of the stage, the eyes of every
chorus CIR! are fixed upon her as she
huns the chorus lightly and illustrates
with gestures the business which is tc
mark the chorus.
Miss Hoffman mods her head at the
accompanist Let US take the arst two
lines of the chorus now, please" sh,
says.
The piano strikes up a swinging Irisl
melody. Miss Hoffman returns TO hel
position beside Mr.. Hammerstein ant
the line of young women follow the
gestures which Miss Hoffman illustrates
Look here, girls, that step on tn
last line is all wrong. Now watch. II Is
so. and so. and so, and so, ira la la la;
la la-la la la-See, Now again, Jus
from the beginning of that last line.
Now Mr.. Hammerstein offers sugges
ton.
"As you come down stage on the las
line" be calls out, interrupting Mis-
Hoffman. 81 think I'd rather have yOl
use this business" He takes the centei
OF the stage. and waves his right arm
illustrating his idea.
Miss Hoffman interrupts. But Mr.
Hammerstein. don't you see they can
do that IL they use this step?'
The Days Work.