The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1909-09-30
STAGE DISCIPLINE.
A Discourse by Horace Wyndhan, st.
James Theater. London,

James Theater. London.
from the Sketch: 1t may possibly
come as news to those who only wit
ness a theatrical performance from the
auditorium to learn that discipline Is
enforced almost as strictly on the stage
as 1t is In a government deparement.
Every big London theater has a code
of rules inc regulations" under which
1t is conducted, and rigid adherence to
this Is insisted upon from every one
concerned-principal to call boy alike.
Speaking generally, the regulations are
about twenty In number Some man
ayers, however, draw up so lengthy a
list that they find it necessary to en-
body 1t In a small handbook.
Among the rules common to all thea
ters may be mentioned the following:
~ The hair OF the face must be
shaven Il required by the e~xigencies of
the play represented" (2) "All engage
ments to be regarded as exclusive. and
no artist shall ppear at any other
theater or hall without the consent in
writing or the manager or his repre-
setnative;" (S) A artists engaged are
to play any part or parts for which
they may De cast, and to understudy
Il required" and a. I'm the event OF
the theater being closed through riot,
fire, public calamity. royal demise.
epidemic or illness Of principal. no sal
airy shall be claimed during such clos
Ing" At the foot Of the contract is an
lntimation that any breach OF the
above rules and regulations subjects
the person who infringes to immediate
dismissal at the option of the
ment."
AS a matter Of fact, however, such
option is only exercised inextreme cases.
The usual method adopted for enforcing
compliance with the theater rules is a
much mi1Hnr nna II NNrcfotc tp 1a,,r
ing a graduated scale Of mes for every
infringement brought to light. Such
fines are deducted from the offenders
weekly salary, and may be anything
from %stxpence to a guinea. A very or
binary one to impose Is half a crown,
for the breach of discipline it meets
wtth-that of talking behind the scenes
more often encountered than is any
other. Late attendance at rehearsal Uf
exceeding the limit allowed for "varia-
ton of w~atches'') means mourning a
penalty.
One of the gravest offenses Of which
an actor or actress may be guilty is
of addressing the audience from
the stage during the course of a per-
In some theaters the only
recognized punishment for this is in
dismissal, a note to his effect
being inserted in the contract. Inter-
into the dialogue words or
business not previously sanctioned
by the management is also held to be
heinous.
An exception. however, is usually
where musical comedy is con-
cerned, for in entertainments Of this
nature the practice of 'gagging" is
or less freely adopted. Libret-
lists, indeed, have much reason to be
thankful that this Is the case, since
the success of their work is often
due to the manner in which the
build up" their parts for
The individual in whom is vested the
responsibility for maintaining due or
der behind the scenes is the stage man
ager. Consequently everybody makes
It his business to cultivate. pleasant re-
[ations with him from the outset. Az
may be imagined, his position is a deli
one, calling for the display of a
good deal of tact, since in the execu-
ton OF his Office he Is sometimes re-
luired to drop on" a personal friend.
Should he show favoritism discipline is
bound to suffer, with the result that he
is called to account. No one
seems to know exactly how
is brought about, for imagination
pales before the idea Of a stage man
reporting himself for neglect. 81
1uty.