The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-14
ACADEMY OF MUSIC NOTES.
1se Ethics OF Performance Continu-
ing into Sunday Morning; AS to-
Sweeping OF Stage and Leaving BE-
fore the Curtain Goes Down.


The clay Saturday night gives one
who notices such things much chance
for morailzing as well as for criti-
cism.
FOR instance. one might ask why
the house was crowded so that only
standing room was left when the
night was the most inclement of the
season.
IL seems that the high priced
shows do not always make the great
est hits. While there is no doubt
that Madame Sherry Is a first class
show. and was portrayed by as good
company OF actors as ever comes to
Sumter with such shows. II was not.
ON the whole. as good as was the
Three Twins" a lower priced show.
travelling with larger company
which had a iivelier and better
chorus and made much more of a hit
representative Sumter audience.
Also the audience at the Academy of
Music wis not so large when the
Three Twins" was here as Ii was for
MADAME Sherry" 1t seems that the
reputation q show gets through its
various means OF advertising makes
OF unmskes II.
The question arose ia the minds OF
many of those present Saturday night
whether they should stay and
see the show to It's completion. So AS
TO get their moneys worth or leave
30 as to get home by midnight.
Which should the audience do? This
Ia question which. of course. each
person must answer for himself or
hevssn. as the case might be, but at
the same time II Is one which the
person hates to decide either way.
!. Saturday night the performance went
considerable over into Sunday morn
ms. but there were only a few. Per
haps half a dozen. who left fror, re-
hgious scruples The others IL they
had religious scruples did not go. re-
NAMED and got their moneys worth.
Another question comes up at this
point Should the police allow
show To continue its performance az.
ter midnight. when 1t laps over into
Sunday morning? There niay OF may
not be city ordinance against per-
tormances OF this kind continuing
over into Sunday morning. but there
Is certainly a statute of the State
forbidding II. Saturday night Chief
Bradford. and perhaps other police
men. were present during the per-
formaHce. though II cannot be stated
with accuracy whether they remain
ed urtil the performance WIS COM
pieted. but IL probable that they did.
Was 10 their duty TO stop the per-
formance as soon as Sunday morn
Ing arrived?
During the time the curtain was
down and stage scenery was being
shifted. the stage hands were put to-
work sweeping of the stage. much to
the annoyance OF the audience. as
clouds Of dust were swept into the
crowded orchestra. There was no
doubt that the floor needed such a
sweeping. and the actresses are not
blamed as they could not afford to-
come on the stage In their handsome
costumes and kneel and perform
their other acts when the floor was
so dirty and they knew that the cos
tunes would be almost ruined. The
question Ia. could net that stage floor
have been swept. cleaned and gar
nishcd before the audience arrived
and the performance was commence
ed? The stage floor badly needs "A
new carpet and whoever looks after
such things and whose duty II g. TO
get one SHOULD see that new carpet
s provided.
There is one more question which
arises In 'he mind OF the observer.
Why IL II that. when the curtain rises
at o'clock. everybody Is no pres
snt? Eight-thirty is late enough for
any show to commence and at the
same time give sufficient time for
everybody To he present II is GER
tainly kind Of Manager Ryttenberg to
allow the show TO commence later so
that clerks may have the opportunity
To attend. and he Is commended for
f.'r frf. - q" -