The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13
THEATRICAL NEWS
Preparing a Mammoth Extrava-
ganza for the Stage.
Trials Of Julian Mitchell, the
Foremost j." Producer"
NERVE-RACKING WORK.
A Good Deal Like Instructing a
kindergarten Glass.
Other News of the Plays and
Players.
WORK.

The short. swarthy deaf gentleman
who is standing in the middle Of the
Grand opera house stage muttering to
himself and slowly going through what
seem perfectly absurd and meaningless
motions with his feet and hands is not
insane nor a victim of epileptic fits.
though YOU might reasonably suppose
as much-
1t is merely Julian Mitchell. the fore
most producer of extraVaganzas and
musical comedies in America, figuring
out TO himself the details of new
dance step, says the Chicago record
shortly it win work itself out in his
brain and be entirely clear TO him Ihen
he viii abruptly summon all the way
from sixteen to seVenty-ilVe more or
less intelligent young men and women
and invite them TO do exactly as he
tells them to- For the three hours en-
suing they will patiently try so to do
often they VIII altogether fail to
catch his meanings. Then he viii say
NO No. No, Now once more. Like
this" Whereupon he will once more
give a very realistic imitation of a man
with wooden legs, or q victim q flts,
or a person suffering with the stomach
ache. The chorus win beam respon-
Fively at him, and reproduce his mo-
lions and attitudes, but gracefully anR
to the rhythm of a swinging air.
The spectator. if he remains long
enough on the chill stage, viii suddenly
see all those absurd gyrauOns of Mr.
Alitchells become the poetry of motion.
taking the form of stately marches and
counter marches. intricate dances, ana
beautiful groupings.
Mr.. Mitchell IS a very patient man. a
miracle of consideration compared with
most stage directors. but sometimes
even his stock of amiability runs low
When it does he has various methods Of
vOicing his discleasure.
Now he viii drop Imply into a chair
and FflrW his head n az 10
whose grief was beyond words. Again
he VIII cry stop and gaze fixedly at
the chorus as If he would burn a sense
OF remOrse into its soul AS a chorus
IS not especially rich in soul. that body
bears up very comfortably under his
scrutiny Not often does he voice his
feelings In words. but when he does
they are short and to the point
To q group Of young women who
were rehearsing a mariOnettes dance he
roared Stop They stopped and
looked steadily at the floor. In tones
that were intended to CONCEAL their
Dlood-only a chorus girl doesn't con-
geal easily-he said: Now. I won't tell
you three young ladies about thar
again We told you twenty times to-
Gay. start in fning at once. Yon
don't give me a chance to watch tn.
marcn' 70 study the results have to
watch YOU"
after which declaration matters wen,
WIN more spirit for fifteen minutes
Hold that pose longer" he cried
again: make it more grotesque-
way"
Then he proceeded to have another
MI, while the young women looked on
seriously When he came out of it the
dance for the marionettes proceeded
tamously, for the girls had at last
caught his idea
Always he t~ies to make the reason
OF the steps and posings plain to them.
and he dignihes their work bv often
sketching out the Significance Of the
dance in few words. and then adding.
Now don't do so-and-so because I
tell you to, but because it's the sensible
thing to do"
His is n nerve-racldng as well as a
very arduous occupation. and after YOU
have watched him at 1T for three hours
you hardly wonder that Mr. Hamlin
was glad to secure his exclusive ser
vices, even though he had to make him
q partner and give him handsome in
terest in The Wizard of o." and its
coming successor. 1.-THE Babes in Tow
land, " to do 1t. The Mitchell eve must
note every detail in the movements Of
some fifty people as they advance down
stage toward him in march. and must
be able to detect instantly the slight
est deviation by any one of the hftv
from the symmetry and rhythm of the
march.
Miss - don't swing your arms, "
he calls to one.