The Washington herald., 1912-06-09
THE MAN WHO RUNS
COLUMBIA STAGE
Deserves Great Praise for Success
of Productions of Popular
Players.

No production ever attempted by a
local stock company has so taxed the
resources OF the organization and the
i capability of the stage director as did
that Of The Sign Of the Cross" which
proved a yeritable triumph for every one
I connected with the Columbia Players
during the past week.
| Strange as il may seem, the lions share
of praise should be accorded a man
who has not been seen by an audience
at the Columbia Theater this season
| That man is Edwin H. Curtis, whose
| genius is reflected in every offering seen
1 upon that stage during the summer sea
son. His experience with the drama in
question is indicative OF what he has to
contend with, to a greater or less ex-
tent every week Of the season.
Assisting Mr.. Curtis in the running OF
the Columbia stage are two dependable
men whose prime duty, however, is to
run a show after II has been put on and
who have little to do with the prelImi-
nary work. These are Arthur Ritchie,
the stage manager, ana JOhn Ellis, his
assistant, who also holds the prompt
book on Monday night, but rarely is
called upon to throw a line.
Mr.. Curtis, in the course of regular
routine, begins his work upon a prodUc-
ton about four weeks ahead when the
plain manuscript and parts are delivered
to him. He first reads the play over to
acquaint himself with its salient fea-
lures, and then again to plot his settings
and furnish a separate list of what is
required from each Of the heads OF the
scenic and mechanical departments.
Scene plots, supplemented in many in
stances by photographs Of the original
productions, are furnished the scenic art
ist, who directs the carpenters what
frames and platforms are to be Con-
structed. Plots OF the articles required
for each are furnished the property man
and the electrician. and then there fol-
lows a third reading Of the play for the
purpose Of casting II or Indicating who
shall play each separate part
By the time rehearsals begin on Tues
day morning. Mr.. Curtis has studied out
every bit Of business. every situation,
and every cross-over. and is prepared to
tell the company just what to do. These
instructions each member involved care
fully writes down in his part, and when
the second rehearsal is begun It moves
with remarkable smoothness BY the
time Of the third rehearsal every one is
supposed to be letter perfect in his part.
and no reading thereof is countenanced.
Monday morning the scenes are set and
complete performance is given, with
nothing omitted except in most instances
the costumes and makeup.
It must be borne in mind also that
while Mr.. Curtis begins work on a play
four weeks in advance, a complete pro-
duction has to be made every week orl
so. AS matter Of fact, he is always
working on at least three plays at the |
same time. Whatever the inclination.
however, he never confounds one piece
with another and never dismIsses a pro-
duction from his mind until after the
Monday night performance, when he !
turns the running Of the stage over to
Ritchie.
Despite his exceptional capacity as a |
stage director, il would be impossible
for Mr.. Curtis to obtain the results he
does attain at the Columbia but for the
unusual facilities placed at his disposal
by Managers Metzerott and Berger.
Whatever is required is always pro-
vided.