Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-27
Nhen Shop Is Taboo

When Shop Is Taboo
re got to get lot of snap and go
that gambling bit, or it will fall
.,gfully flat. Everybody wants to pick
up their cues quickly and 'ad lib (talk
as you please. to cover any breaks and
waits. Try to make it seem real"
Then shop was taboo, and the con-
versation drifted to other topics. Shortly
the breakup came, and each departed his
own way, to rest or study or amuse him
self as he saw fit It'll time for the even
ing's performance.
Tuesday was just repetition Of the
day before except that the last two acts
of the play were taken up and the work
was over shortly after noon.
First two acts perfect at IL tomorrow,
Mr.. De Grasses parting injunction as we
stopped work for the day, and on Wednes-
day we came prepared for the first half
of the play, the lines learned, and acted
it without reference to our written parts
Then followed a second reading re-
hearsal of the last two acts, and another
going over of some of the difficult eli
makes and ends of scenes.
Wednesday the rehearsal lasted about
three and half hours, and we departed
with the injunction to be letter perfect
on Thursday.
Ordinarily we don't have rehearsal
on Thursday explained the director to
me as we were leaving the theater to-
gether, "but this awful thing simply won't
whip into shape, so veil have to take
an extra day at 1t"
AS a whole, the piece went much better
next morning, and the rehearsal only
lasted three hours.
And the Audience Like 1t
Full scenic and prop" rehearsal Chat
is a complete performance save for the
fact that the company is not made up"
or costumed as at the play proper was
called for Friday morning and lasted all
day, from II In the morning until 4:15 IN
the afternoon, with an interval Of half
an hour for lunch. Some of the scenes
went a bit slowly and lacked life upon
first rehearsal We went over them.
Climaxes were lifeless! De Grasse changed
them bit. Situations and final tableaux
were awkward; he made new disposals
of the characters and worked the scenes
through again. All day long this talented
theater watching the performance from
the critical standpoint, correcting, chang
ing, making the perfected performance
(heaven save the mark)! Anyhow he did
as well as anyone could.
Then came a day of rest from rehears-
ing on Saturday, followed by the opening
Sunday afternoon.
AS is usual at the Grand during the
melodramatic stock season the house was
full from pit to dome, and when the cur
tain went up on the first act of the play
the jury which was to try out the excel
lence or failure of the production was
more than ready.
And heavens, how they did like 1t! II
was wonderful. Not member Of the
company but looked az best for a chilly
reception, and possibly a little laugh
where least it was wanted
Play Moves Well
Nothing like that!
The play was "go' from the frs
scene, and applause was not only fre
quent but generous.
Back of the curtain line the company
and the large corps of extra people" pu
ION to fill up scenes and give the play
Atmosphere were all on the qui vive
Nerves were tense, and the work mor'
real than any of the audience ever sus
pected. But gol Well, you would hav'
appreciated just how well it went If yol
| could have seen the relieved look on Mr.
| De Grasses face when the curtain de
scended on the first scene of the piece. 4
smile spread over his genial features
which even in his Jew makeup ha'
| looked anxious before the performance
and he remarked cheerily; "Well, the.
| like it,"
The play went on to the end, and eacf
successive scene was well received. II
me 1t seemed as If the end would never
come, so slowly were the scenes passed
and the scenery changes made, but reall,
| really It was fairly fast-the last curtail
falling at twenty minutes to 5, just tw
hours and a quarter for the entire per
| forInance.
Plot of the Drama
Just here, possibly little resume of thu
play and an account of how Impossible
l know was as an actor in 1t, may b
aprspos.
j For plot the play hinges around the at