Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-08

begin the work of alteration. The scenery
is divided between the theater where the
production is to be made and the studio
where the managers have their American
productions built. The properties go to still
another establishment, where they undergo
a process which can be described only as
Americanization. "Trick props" are re-
garded as certain fun makers by American
producers of spectacle.
The work in the costuming department is
comparatively simple because it moves on
steadily and without interruption from the
arrival of the impOrtations until the drCss
rehearsal. The property man and The mas
ter mechanic have more difficult tasks, for
the theater in which the production is to
be made is occupied by other attractions
until few days before the opening. This
means two shifts of workmen, who snatch
every opportunity, night or day. to install
the new scenery so far as it will not inter
fere with the staging of the attraction al
ready in possession of the house
The costumes have been sent over from
England in perfect condition. so the work
in the American costuming rooms consists
principally in fitting the wardrobe to the
new company. The garments are shipped in
huge hampers, lined with heavy muslin. and
are accompanied by a schedule which dupli-
Gates the one used by the stage and ballet
master. The costumer and the stage direc
tors confer, and chorus and ballet girls are
grouped so as to require as little alteration
as possible in the costumes. The girls are
then given a first fitting, the alterations
are made and a week or so before the dress
rchearsals a final fitting is given For days,
and nights, too, for that matter, in the
oh,l 20 hn
ing department can be seen a continual
procession of shapely young women and
anxious-eyed dressers or wardrobe women.
As fast as the costumes are fitted they are
rackCd back into the hampers, ready for
transportation to the theater and are not
.pCned again until the dress rehearsal
The Installation of English scenery in the
ordinary New York playhouse is Of itself a
big task. America as yet has no theateT
built to accommodate the English spec
tacle, and the cost of making room for
scenery alone is an item to stagger people
who view the play from the front. For
last seasons reigning spectacle rock was
blasted from under the theater, and sec
ond or sub-cellar was built. This year, the
entire scenic investiture is worked from
the sides and the fly galleries, which neces-
states the use of tN entyfour sets Of new
lines or ropes in dropping the scenery
from the lofts. An iron bridge was also
erected on the right-hand side Of the fly
door, in mid-air, for working the cleo
trical effects, and the electric plant OF the
theater was reinforced. Forty-eight stage
men worked in night aud day shifts for six
weeks laying of only for matinee and
evening performances. During the day re-
hearsals were held on the stage, but as only
stage carpenters can, they lodged round the
players, the music OF their hammers keep
ing time to the strains Of the over-worked
pianos.
All OF the fitting of scenery is done under
the direction OF the master mechanic. A
cool head and executive ability are as
essential to the success of this autocrat
behind the scenes as is mechanical ability
He must have no more men under him thar
are absolutely necessary to the staging
of the piece as space is at a premium, and
so he must train each man to act promptly
and deftly. moments hesitation on the
part of a man high up in the fly gallery
will spoil situation as surely as the fail
ure of an actor to take up his cue Once
the scenery is installed 1t is rehearsed
until each man works with the regularity
and promptness Of a piston rod in a well
oiled engine.
The stage men guard not only the sue
cess OF the piece, but the lives OF the
actors. In a spectacle, the scenery, ac-