New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07
A NED WAYbURN SEANCE
Reporter OF Harmless Propensl.
ties Reviews Chorus.
FORTY DAMSELS DISP0RTING
Array of Stars and Hopefuls
Singing New Songs Super
induces Speculation.


Ned Wayburn was in his shirt sleeves and
an accented perspiratlon, the chorus girls
were less adorned In the matter Of shirts
ana sleeves, but permitted no stage man.
ager TO excel them in per capita product OF
their pores. The ragtime genius sat at the
piano off stage, wearing bored expression
and a cigarette, and before any one knew
whether there would be a breathing spell
or a gingery rehearsal of the latest melody
Mr.. Wayburn clapped his ample palms to-
gether and dreams of rest died without
making single outcry. There may have
been a few signs, but not many, because ths
entire company was engrossed in the de-
yelopment Of its art.
There was a lot OF art on the stage.
There were Claras and Mays that had SO
much Of ii in their systems that they just
couldn't help playfully kicking II around.
There were large men and little men who
conserved what they possessed. There were
stars who could afford to hide it at re-
hearsal having proved to the satisfaction OF
the box Office throughout many seasons thai
at the right moment, when the critics were
bracing themselves not TO become the slaves
Of their wiles they could unload talent in
the presence OF an audience until 1t fairly
shrieked its acknowledgment.
It's an awful interesting sight putting on
a new musical piece at the Winter Garden
But funny songs sung in an undertone by
sticky comedians, without paint, green
whskers or humorous pants, leave much tc
the imagination.
| man hurdles a few musical bars, trips
I'D and down the stage near the footlights
passing within a few inches OF New way
burn, whose chair is where the spotlight
will be on the opening night.
whats on his mind" asks one who Is
innocent Of the peculiar aspect Of the stage
from the viewpoint Of the wings two weeks
before the opening performance.
He's Andy Carnegie is the reply
Cant you catch the BURR
When ne reached the southern end OF
the stage there was some fine burr Ever
without It the "Hoot, mon," though
scarcely more than Whispered, would have
been a valuable clew.
Hes one of the best comedians or
Broadway" comments man who Rows
all OF them by their first names, VINO Know
how much they make, how much they
can borrow on their notes, under whose
ousp,ces and In what production they mrs
shot into fame.
Mr. Wevburn has such widespread
reputation for inventng odd musical feat
ure effects that the Shuberts have touh'
&, oxpadient to protect themselves iron
nossible loss by conducting the rehearsai'
behind tall screens.
No one sitting in the orchestra chaH'
can see anything that Mr. Wayburn Il
| oriotratInR on the stage. No one can gar
/ odr,I,t,nce TO the laboratory where th'
row nroduct Is transformed into what tht
eynar,s hope will later produce the long
,ord laugh OF amusement-seeking Ne"
yort.rs unless Mr.. Wayburn is confident
,ho ,,,s,,or 4. not a producer OF Broadway
musical effects, as an angel owner OIL
agent -,
II was suggested i'm tentative way oS
\ representative OF the Shuberts ina, per
hans {, could he arranged for The tribune
man 10 40 behind the scenes during re-
hearsal
The Tribune man blushed.
This wos accepted as proof OF the tac'
that he was not sufficiently injured &c
such close proximity TO chorus girls IN theii
h,, weather fatigue costumes to make
hin, n dangerous man. either as PROBES
s,onaI novelty hunter or critic.
The word was brought that Mr. Wayburr
would receive the reporter II the reporter
would promise not TO interfere with the
hout that still had six hours to go.
The reporter promised quickly.
| chair was provided at the place OF
the stage where bones would rivet the at
tention OF the multitude II the show were
20 he cork face production instead OF
musical revue designed to lullaby tn'
worries Of The Broker Whose Wife Is II
| The Country. -
Forty girls sat in seml-circle' iheS
assumed various attitudes, similar IN many
respects 10 pictures frequently seen on the
atricsl posters, but that almost never are
seen on the stage when the ticket tdNei
has first taken your ticket
| II was Impossible TO look at the race
NJ the W forty because for one thihs
they wer-, go fair, and also because 10 W
oprraised by forty nonchalant chorus girls
| simultaneously is too much for an mex
| perienCed man
II was even more OF a strain 10 LOOK d
their feet because they were not ""o'
he
one would naturally expect to ma t"."'
They were In no particular place ou
.vsryvhere except on the carpet
Inst when the prominence or the enc
mans position had reached point 'h'
made IL seem uncomfortable Mr. Nayouri
clapped those splendid hands OF his
No one looked at the reporter any more
Mr. Wayburn they looked at, but he d'uh
care Looking at Mr.. Wayburn when ne
clans his hands is the first requisite
There are other things TO he done, suct
os dancing i'm an unfamiliar way. singing
the new songs in such fashion as soon u
set tho hurdy-gurdies grinding them into
the nervous systems OF upper West slders
Undressing on the mind whether one eAl
from a scene is by window, left. or UP th'
nue OF the log fireplace, and other I'M
portant instructions.
But absolutely the first thing for one u
do who is an aspirant for place on th'
MAY actors payroll and do wei! II he !:
honInc 10 wear tlnsel under the Wayouri