The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-13

Why asked his father.
"'Cause they haven't a thing to do
all summer long," was the reply.
The boy was wrong. Actors are
very hard working lot of people dur
ing the time between the closing of
the theatres in late June and their
reopening throughout September. For
then they must prepare for the enter
ta:nment of the public when cool
autumn days send them back to town.
Summer is the only time available
for this task; the rest of the year is
taken up in appearing in doublet and
hose before the footlights.
So it comes about that New York,
as the theatrical headquarters of
America-the spot from which nearly
all of the travelling companies OF
player folk diverge-is filled to over
flowing every summer with actors
busily engaged in rehearsing their
parts for the coming productions.
During the latter part of July, all
of August and the first week or two
of September this year every theatre
and every hall in New York was oc-
cupied all day long by companies re-
hearsing their new plays. Even now
many companies, whose initial per-
formances are scheduled for later in
the month, are still rehearsing hours
every day, and working harder than
ever they will when they finally offer
their productions to the judgment OF
the capricious public and the critics.
According to one of the leading
theatrical managers of the metropolis
at least 1000 actors, making up 500
companies, have been rehearsed this
season IN the western worlds his
trionic center.
These figures" he said, "are ex-
elusive of concert and other COM
panies of similar nature; and hum
dreds of such organizations have been
drilled here. In fact, it has been the
hardest kind of work for all of us to
secure suitable quarters for our re-
hearsals, so much in demand was any
room ever so slightly fitted for this
purpose. But, happily, the hardest
part of our years work is now almost
over, and well have a chance to rest
up bit before next rehearsal season"
That's the way the actor also feels
about rehearsals To him it is the
hardest, as we'll as the hottest, work
he has to do the year through But
among all the disagreeable features
of rehearsals-and they are by no
means few-there is one thing that
stands out in bright relief The player
who knows how 10 relish other peo-
pies foibles and is capable of recog-
niZing unconscious humor when he
hears il, can make this task much
easier for himself by giving heed to
the actions and words of his fellow
sufferers in the dim, disheveled thea
tire, with its stage minus all the gor-
geous trappings that the public sees
This is in evidence just before the
hard work begins.
The leading lady, a veritable fash
ion plate from the French heels OF her
boots to the fiat hat on her head, Is
silhouetted for an instant in the oper
stage door, and then walks condo
scendingly up 70 a group OF the prin
cipals, seated around the piano while
waiting for the arrival of the re
hearser
My" she begins, do you know
I'm disgusted-thoroughly Disguised
with horseback riding. Here W.
been spending my time the last tive
weeks riding the finest Thoroughbred
at Newport"
"Bet it was an old nag" whisper
the second lady.
ITO reduce my flesh. But what tn,
devil do you think? actually gainec
FIVE poundsp
Where the deuce is that re
hearser?" breaks in a masculine voice
Doesn't he think we ever eat lunch? ?
THAT reminds me-" speaks up tn
little, black-haired caricature, who ha
been engaged for the funny role
"when / landed in Frisco, the hun
eriest man that side of the Rookie: