The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-12
CHORUS DRESSES TANGLE EN-
COLUMBIA PLAYERS FIND THEM
SELVES IN A SNARL.

Twas (Which sIde UP Does Thing Cop
INT do You Put . SKIRT o. From
Above or Below ?"-Thfee Changes IN
One Show o Hard strain on Amateurs,
The students Of Columbia who are to
appear tonight for the first time in their
annual varsity show donned their stage
clothes for the rehearsal yesterday after
noon, and from the number OF complaints
that were made by the men who are taking
girls parts in the chorus the management
now fears a strike. The chorus girls are
called upon to make three entire changes
Of costume, and they declare that on 40
count OF the intricacy Of their dress the
ordeal will be too great to endure every
night during an entire week.
1t so happens that the author Of the
play quite overlooked the fact that he was
writing for actors who are not used to the
work and took particular pains to arrange
for the changes OF costumes.
Before the opening Of the play all went
we'll. To each Of the students had been
assigned a certain share OF the limited space
behind the scenes, and each hadibeen in
structed that all his costumes and appur-
tenances we're to be piled there in such a
way that they might be easily got at.
On the top Of each OF the chorus girls
heaps of clothes, therefore, there lay a
bright green silk dress, a darker green para
sol and a wig of blond hair. The young men
were prompt in attendance and at once be-
gan TO dress. The easiest part Of 1t all was
the removal OF their own apparel. Then
they were confronted with problems such
as the distinction between the top and the
bottom of a corset. the rotation OF the vari-
Gus skirts-at least three having been pro-
vided for each mainland the hooking OF a
dress without assistance, and finally the
chorus was ready for the first scene. By
this time another section OF the chorus
which was to appear in a nursegirl cos
tune, was busy In another part Of the dress
ing rooms. The same troubles were met
and dispensed with, and the nurses were
hustled out on the stage TO- accompany
q band Of policemen that had filled another
part Of the greenroom. When the various
sections OF the chorus returned TO the dress-
ing room for their second costumes there
was trouble. ,
Three Of US might get into it, said one.
"No wonder came Il snappy reply from
a man who was holding q high heeled slipper.
That is the bottom. Of the skirt Turn it
up the other way. '
Gee the string on my corset ID broken.
Who has some twine2''
Better drop that skirt to the hoorinstesad
Of trying to get it over you hat, Bob
All the little piles OF apparel had been
tossed about and no one seemed to know
just which parts Of which costumes wsre
to be worn in the country girl dance. The
outside costumes were yellow and were
set of by huge sunbonnets that had to be
tied and pinned on to stay in place. Finally
it was left to Assistant Coach Adams, who
has had three years OF varsity show ex-
perenoe, TO straighten out the tangle.
The Indian costumes we're more to the
liking of the chorus. A brown jersey and
a pair OF full length tights were the key
garments, and went on first, while the
corsets we're returned to the heaps Of dis
oarded clothes. 1t was the ~leggings and
the Indian wigs that caused trouble at this
point. The wigs went on easily. enough,
but four feathers were to be stuck in zach
tickled the students cheeks. Although
tho instructions. were to keep the feathers
in front, it wac decided finally that they. had
better be put on the top and the BACK OF
the heads.