New-York tribune., 1906-11-13
COSTUMES FOR THE CHORUS.
M Edel, Hippodrome Designer, from Paris,
Discusses Stage Clothes.

Although the American dressnaker has made
wonderful progress within the last few years. the
Partisan couturiere still leads the world according
to Alfredo Edel. the celebrated costumer of Paris
ana Milan. who has made gowns for Meibs and
Eames and costumes for Jean de Reszke and is
now In New York for the costuming OF the Hippo
drome's new spectacle. "Neptunes Daughter"
I go TO the opera here" said NJ Edel "and
such blaze Of luxury and loveliness Il is as
see not anywhere else IN the world. And see
many creations that I know absolutely could have
come from nowhere but Paris. How do I know
that? All. It is betrayed to by hundred and
one little signs that TO up an indisputs BILE
proof
But though the Parisians Ike their own gowns
rest things American seem TO be at a great pre-
,r Ih9re ere, is scarcely single burlesque or vaudo-
FlIe theatIe IN Paris where there not an Arnori-
can can , ACT OF some kind" said NJ Edel. Even the
cans. and I daresay the average Erenchmsn Is
unable TO tell the difference. ! was piacsd in
for the Theatre le Chatelet recently-Polichinel
r-btS ~ MJs caIleGusnd among my costumes some
nII4CI We're designed for what was called La Danse
S 49, MY ideas for the costumes got mainly
lean aganes T6ers IN Ras 5se t back OF yo9T amer
1beef Trust), the Trust des Souliers (Shoe Trust
trust 1t was a great success. / think that the
t Ilrtslah an pubic is acquainted with some of the
most characteristic features Of American life
IN IN ue matter of theatrical costumng NJ. EdeI
nlds that the American designer has made great
PLostess since he last came 10 costume a
spectacle for the Hippodrome.
ton 10 each individual costume and too little 70
what We call the nlise-en-scene. This is psssi on
Win us. No matter how much pains are taken
with the details of big show they Will be very
nearly wasted unless reference is constantly had TO
the grouping Of these details into whole that shall
harmoniZe before the eye of the spectator. I think
your native coStumerS have come 10 realize that
There Is a great difference between the ArnerI-
can and French schools Of stage costuning
Ihe English style Is at present all clothes is IL
notE The English chorus girl-she is smothered
with clotheS-yes? 90 not mean necessarily that
she wears too many clothes but that too much
stress Is laid upon her clothes-too much attention
70 garb and too little to girl Her personal beauty
IS oVershadowed. OF course. the French school
runs too much 10 the other extreme at present
Possibly the average American would say that
there IS IN it too much girl and too few clothes
But the essence Of The French school is the en-
phasis IL places the personality OF its stage
am sure, Will question the beauty of the clothes
our chorus girls wear but don't allow them to
be smothered by things OF less importance than
themselves. The American style, eh? Oh, that
obviously, IS the mean between these two extremes
Your choruses very beautiful. indeed"
N E1dePs task al the Hippodrome has been a
cirlcUl- one, for tWenty-four Of The chorus girls
represent nernlatds, who actually swim in the
water ana II has been necessary prepare these
costumes in such way that they Will appear
graceful either on land water, and at the Same
time withstand the action of the water 1t is said
that this has never been satisfactorily accom-
p--sheC before.
N Edel is accompanied by his wife formerly
Miss Parker, OF kalamazoo, and by their two little
daughters, Ellen and Elise.