Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-13

wrought.
The stage hand is the mudsill OF the
business II II were not for the mudsill
the dam could not stand, and If 1t were
not for the stage hand, the show would
have to be given without scenery. He Is
development of the business. A few years
ago, when scenery was painted on cur
tains and grooves were used exclusively
the possibilities OF the scenic artist were
limited to what could be accomplished
with few fats and drops. The fiys and
wings supplemented this to a limited
extent, but nothing like the present
settings were undertaken. Nowadays
the conditions are different. All
sorts OF things are done on the stage in
the way OF providing appropriate environ
ment for the dreams Of the author as ex-
pressed in lines, and not infrequently the
most ENJOYABLE part OF the performance is
that furnished by the scenic artist. Take
that set Of the backyard in "The Little
Gray Lady" for example II 1t had not
been so realistic, the effect of the situations
would have been lost entirely, and the play
would have been a failure right there. II
ever there was a case Of the actors sup
porting the scenery, that Is one. And
that Is only one of many. The stage hand
is required to put all that stun together
In the briefest possible space of time set
ting everything Arm, so that boy can leap
the fence, lover can swing in the ham
mock, or a tired man may lounge on the
door step or against the porch post in
perfect safety. He works with lines and
braces. makes connections ties knots that
will hold Arm and unite quickly and builds
with an expedition and celebrity that would
ager. Not one OF these ever had a crew
that could work fast enough.
The stage hand is also the actors true
friend. for the actor who can make good
hack OF the footlights needn't worry about
the public. The actor may blum the
audience. but he can't blum the men who
have set the stage for him, and are wait
ing tin he gets through so they can SCI
II again. II he's rotten" why they tel
him he's rotten, and let 1t go at that On,
. evening a popular actor made his exit a
"one" on the prompt side at the Boyd
and waited for the recall that was SLOW
In coming. You'll have to g back
said stage hand. "Why?" queried th'
actor. somewhat astonished There's
wing on the other side you didn't chew,
said the stage hand, as the command
Sltthts came 10 emu any pOh1luit NldAN'
the actor had for a curtain call. And tina
actor went to his dressing room anC
thought Usually the actors and the stag,
hands get along very we'll together, 10
each knows what the others part OF tn,
show Is, and each Is too busy attending {,
his own affairs to NEEDLE with the others
-
Some Of the feats accomplished by tn
stage hands are little short OF marvellous
Only recently the Little Johnny Jones
company came into Omaha after o'clocl
in the evening, Three carloads OF baggag
and scenery had to be shifted from IN
depot TO the stage at the Boyd thea ter
sorted out and placed ready for the per
Torrance. II was almost o'clock befor
the first truck loaded with the shows s;ui
reached the theater, and after when IN
last load got there. but the curtain wen
up at s.SG with the stage set perfectl
ana everything IN Its proper place. Afte
the performance was under way Manage
Charles J. Won OF the company said I
Manager Burgess OF the theater: MI
burgess, / have been all over the Unite
states with this show, but I never say
such work as was done by your stage ere,
this evening II Is wonderful and I be
Iieve you have the best set OF stage hanc
IN America today" Il Is this sort G
hustling that has made the stage han
famous. Only his fame q confined 10 n