The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-30
SHE DEFIES TRADITION
MARGARET wYcHEBIY, AT THE
ORPHEUM, A WOMAN WHO
| DRESSES IN SECONDS.

Every. time an audience files out Of
the Orpheum theater this week every
feminine member of the : assemblage
bears a striking resemblance to a
human Interrogation point. The reason
for this interrogatory attitude is Miss
Margaret Wycherly's rapid costume
changes during the presentation Of Bay
ard Yeiller's ''In Self Defense If
all the conversation floating around the
made into one composite sentence, it
would be the treble question: Chow
does she do it," ..-'t
>, 1t is because of this natural curios-
ity as to Chow it is done'> that a
| acknowledgements view: Of Miss wyeh-
erly's performance is even more inter
esting than that had from the audi
torium, for the fulness Of the secrets
of the quick changes are there appar-
| ent 80 80
The work begins in Miss Wycherly g
dressing room, where two delft young
maids take her in hand the moment
she arrives at the theater., For "the
| events of the evening" Miss .Wycherly
is dressed in clOse-ftting white silk
knickerbockers, black silk stockings
and a low-cut, tight. fitting waist of
white muslin, trimmed with lace. Her
long, red-gold hair is brai ded into two
|
confined in silk cover, held in place
by a band of elastic over her head
The Callot frock of heavy gold silk,
embroidered with solid bullion and
studded with real topaz, she puts on
before leaving her dressing room, and
this is her first costume. Before the
curtain rises on the act, the maids car
ry all the costumes, shoes, stockings,
wigs and materials for the makeup, to
the temporary dressing room which has
been made just behind one side of the
stage setting which represents the Hast
ings library.
The play begins, the murder is COM
mitted and the audience sees Mrs.
Hastings making her escape thru the
long French window opening into the
garden. The man behind the scenes
sees Miss Wycherly come running across
the stage with maid flying at her
heels. As she runs, the maid tears the
exquisite frock from the actress shout
ders and let's it fall. At the same in
slant Miss Wycherly throws off he1
as she runs toward her makeup glass
plunges into the gown worn by the serv-
ant, Annie, which another maid holds in
readiness. In moment a new wig is
adjusted few lines added with the
makeup pencil, and the ugly, dull-wit.
TED, mlddle-aged servant enJerS, TOUR
teen seconds after Mrs. Hastings dis
appeared. -:
The change from the servant to the
lame girl, Nell, is made in much the
same manner, only the character make
up is removed and fresh, "straight' .
makeup put on. The blue silk wrapper
and the fine nightgown are all in one
piece. the stockings and the bedroom
slippers are drawn on while the actress
is adjusting her wig, and in a little less
than nine seconds Annie Is transformed
into Nell.
twenty-five seconds are required fo1
the change from Nell in Maize Mazette
calling for new shoes and stockings, q
lace shirtwaist, cloth. skirt, bolero coat
all consuming time in adjusting. The
hat and wig are fastened together: The
cannot be detected few feet away.
The change from Maize to the grand
mother is made in less than ten sec
onds, and the most remarkable Of all
from the grandmother to the chauffeur
in less than five. And the chance visi
tor seldom sees any signs Of nervous
} ness or unusual hurry in the clocklikt
machinery which transforms i Miss
Wycherly from one character to an
| other.