Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-11-03
|ANCEl CHILD ON STAGE
AS a Rule She Meaus a Lot
of Worry to Manager and
Stage Director

"The child actors and actresses are
In the majority of cases II great nut.
sance to stage managers and other
aceors, except OF course In the pan
tomimes and In the theaters given up
to musical comedy. where permanent
and special arrangements exist for
their management" said an English
manager recently. when hear that
In nm ordinary theatre. where the
In an ordinary eheater. where the
stage manager does not know how to
deal with its kind. and the man who
is producing the play Is not gifted
with the combined insight OF q school.
mistress( nurse. mother, and toyshop
saleswoman)I could put my finger on
q theater where there is going to be
trouble
Here is picture from life of 4
young person being rehearsed for
the first time for play in which she
has to say three or four lines in each
of three acts:
The Producer of the Play-Now,
Miss A.. Will you come forward stand
here, look up at this lady and say,
But mother, you told me he was com.
ing back today
Miss A-What are all these lamps
for along the stage?
"Producer-To light all of you so
that the audience can see you. And
now WIN you look up at this lady and
say. but, mother, you told me hs
was coming Lack today
Miss AVN they all be lighted
when come in.
"Producer--Yes. every one will sec
you; so you must be very careful to
do what tell YOU VIII you look up
at
Miss A-But don't want to be
seen. not for tho first few nights nj
any rate. till have got used to II,
Need they all be lighted Just at first
"Producer-Oh. but every one Will
want to see you IL you are acting nice.
ly and doing what you are told. Now
VIII you look up ut this lady and
say
Miss A Tin tcars)-But | don't want
them to look! | won't come on to the
hateful stage II all those lamps are
lighted and everybody is staring at
me.
Producer tloolSing helplesBly
around for chocolates)- -Well, any.
how, they are not lighted now. Have
some sweets. and then just say that
line: But mother
Miss Al hate squnshy choco,
lates.'
After various rehersals conduct
ed in this fashion. my young lady be
gan to enjoy herself, acted her first
part with much spirit, and received
small ovation all to herself on the
first night. But at the end of fort
night or so life became dull again, and
with II Wow of varying its monotony
she sat down on the floor OF her dress
Ing room one night after being dress
ed and announced that nothing OF
earth should induce her to go on the
stage that evening. Her dresser took
no notice of the decision ut first, hui
when the callboy's' voice sounded on
the stairs and the young person still
sat motionless. she grew alarmed and
sent for the stage manager, whose
helplessness, however, when he an
peared, rlvaled her own.
II have an eye ache said little
miss. sitting calmly on the floor, SUR
veying her openworli stockings with
critical admiration. and my head goes
all wagglety when | walk
. Do you want me to pick you up
and carry you on the stage?' asks the
stage manaser wrathfully. H.
You; can ffv you like but i
shouldn't say. word when l. get
there, says miss. coolly, with one ear
on the final bars of the orchestra's
overture. to which the stage manager
also is listening in agony. 1t is too
late to dress the understudy: the
whole proceeding is out of his range
of action; there are tears of HELPLESS
rage in his eyes as he surveys the
young person 90 who. when the
overture Is within two bars of com,
pletion, jumps UP. descends the stairs
four steps Mt n time, and Is In her
place on the stage when the last note
dies away. The humor of these pro.
ceedings has appealed to her So
strongly that she repeats them with
vibrations once or twice fortnight
till the manager threatens dismissal
and the stage manager PROPOSES 10
resign when he hears that a new play
has been accepted with two child
parts"