The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-12
10 Be One of the Fea-
lures of the Season
at the Salt Lake
Theatre.
LARGE COMPANY AND
SUMPTUOUS PRODUCTION

80 many magazine articles and
technical stories have been written
around the building OF a huge stage
spectacle that it will be interest
ing to know that THE Land of Nod. p"
which comes to the Salt Lake theatre
next Friday and Saturday has fire.
quently been the subject matter for
some OF the best writer's in the cOun-
try. The Rork company, whose dIspO-
sitiOn has ever been friendly toward
The makers of publicity. has several
times supplied data to journalist
upon which the wonders of modern
stagecraft have been exDatiated.
The Land of Nod was rebuilt il
New York because il is there the world
of histrionic things centers. Scenic
posers. librettists, singers, acrobats
dancers. actors, comedians and, last
though by no means least, capable
chorus coTyphees, find their way. True
enough, there are other cities in which
theatrical matters are made import
ant, though Broadway. to the legions
of the stage. is like the MOnadnock of
the Goldfields to the miner. The best
materials and the most ambitious tai
ent is to be found there.
The first step in building great
DEOuuCIQn u the diAlSA = MOLh III pre-
pairing precise models Of each scene.
Just as toy shows the use of the
completed article. the artist forms in
miniature the intricate stage picture.
These models are built upon an aTchi-
tectural scale, from which the carpen-
tiers erect the exact structures. From
The models the scene painters receive
their inspiration for the color schemes
and subject matter.
Then follows the electrician with his
knowledge of illuminating what the
scenic artist has wrought. Here enters
one of the Witcheries of the modern
stage. This electrician knows how to
use every possible appliance which the
evolution of the electrical world has
produced. His sunlights outshine the
day, his twilights are even more mel
low and quieting than those of nature
while his night scenes are creations
which one would need to travel all
over the world 10 fairly see duplicated
Nothing could be more educational
than the light effects which the wiz
ards of the latent spark have evolved
for The Land OF Nod" These cleo
trical appliances must be taken en-
tour. Enormous switch boards. scores
Of arc lights and q crew of twenty-five
trained operators must be carried.
The cOstumer next begins his part
Upon him depends the final dressing
of the participants so that the harmO-
ny of tone and tint will everywhere be
manifested and. at the same time, due
distinction be accorded to each char
acter. The enormous cost is here null
tiplied. As much as $4,000 is eXpend-
ed upon the COstuming of one song
number. while a total of $4,000 is east
~ spent in fitting out an entire COM
pany.
Sham effects do not satisfy the cri-
teal theatre patrons Of today. Silk
must be used where its use is required.
and the datntiest and costIiest laces
must pass inspection of the magnify
ing eye Of the opera glass. As soon
as costume presents the slightest
wear IL must be Immediately replaced.
One disheveled suit might bring CEN
sure upon the seventy or more others
which were in perfect trim and give
some unfeeling critic an opportunity
TO write costumes old and in need of
refurnishing
The care Of the costumes is assigned
10 the wardrobe mistress, who keeps
several assistants busy packing and
unpacling the fnery. Very careful
scrutiny of every detail is VigilantIy
kept Small breaks are carefully re-
paired and missing articles replaced.
All OF the articles OF dress are made
especially for the production and can
not be ordered on short notice there
fore the wardrobe mistress must be a
competent dressmaker and tailor. She
must know how to produce eolors, for
the correct one is seldom available
She must also know the stage stvle
and the convenience of quick changes.
This department is Of particular inter
est TO women, whether they have
knowledge OF sartorial construction or
not, for stage dressmaking is acknowl-
edged TO be the acme of attainment in
such matters.
Then the stage director takes the great
work in hand and brings il into cohesive,
expressive form. He is the great drill
master who arranges everything for the
final word He is, of necessity, the az
solute master of the stage No captain
Of an ocean liner could be more su-
preme in authority.
There is one humble individual who
has not been mentioned and who is
last considered by the public. the man
who had nerve enough 10 stake 500 90
on his Judgment of what he saw on a
typewriter page and relied upon imagi-
Vestment profitable-the owner
The Land of Nod" has impressed it.
self strongly on all who have witnessed
IT, en- account of its decidedly uniqlle
in the Noon. The Welsh Rarebit'
The Sandman" April Fool" THE
King and Queen or Hearts, the Jack
of Hearts and similar unusual person
ages. The locale in which they move
is only encountered in tales of fairy
land and In the Arabian Nights. II is
all clever and interesting and its com
edy is wholesome and good. The must
cal score contains plenty Of the iing-
ling. catchy sort of composition which
enliVens and satisfies.
Practically the same excellent cast
which made .'rhe Land of Nod" so con
spicuous among New York successes
constitutes the company this season, in
Guiding Knox Wilson, Ursula March
William Friend. Grace Drew. Lawrence
Coeyer. Luells Drew. William E. Nor
gan and William STunz. One of the
features of the production is the IA
nous Madcap Ballet and the Beauty chO-
rus
The advance sale of seats opens We'd
nesday and it may be taken as a timely
suggestion 10 make your reservations as
early as possible.