The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-13
Heart ThrObs, Smiles and Sniff
fles Behind FOOtlights.
Impressions Gained From Stage
Visits in Topeka Theaters.
REAL LOVE MAKING THERE, TOO
Fat Comedian Solicits Cupid
FavOrS From Chorus Girls.
Topeka Audiences Considered
Most Critical by Actors.


and musical comedy is serious bust
ness. Just behind the scenes in that
part of the theater, with which the
public is seldom permitted to become
acquainted, impressions of an actors
ministry, entirely different from those
obtained by the average audience, are
gathered When viewed from the
wings, much of the glitter and frivol-
ity disappears from the average act
and the prime factors of a comedians
profession hard work and quick wit
come to the surface.
The privilege of reviewing the eff
forts of thespians on the bills at the
Novelty and Orpheum, Topeka's two
vaudeville houses, from the sidelines
was this week extended to a reporter
by the managers of the two houses
and the visitor found the workings of
the inner shrine of the popular play
houses novel and interesting.
Contrary to the public sentiment
regarding the life of those who trod
the boards, the social side of an
actors life is little different from that
of the average human. Too long has
the average Topekan regarded the
show folk as factor foreign to So
ciety.
love, sobs, smiles and sniffles in the
heart of the average follower of the
stage as in the hearts of those who
pay the price of admission at the
ticket window.
True, when the lights in the dress
ing rooms flicker, and the orchestra
gives the performer his cue to appear,
the average actor leaves everything
but his professional personality out
side the wings. Whether life is sun
shine or tragedy, evidence of such is
through the dusty wings and drops
and in the glare of the footlights the
one thought of the performer is to
bring out his lines and make the
I'VE forget there is such thing as
our own feelings when we get out
there" said one of the six girls that
lead the bill with a roller skating act
at the Novelty this week, who, al
though she was suffering with re-
Gently sprained ankles, set the pace of
the act. The girl was assisted to the
stage from the dressing room by two
companions
And in his review, the dramatic
critic who witnessed the act from the
baldheaded row, said: ITO the cas-
ual onlooker, the young woman who
dancer of the roller skating maidenS
appearing at the Novelty
The technical workings of a stage
are interesting. And, apropos of this
the stage manager, who is in charge
of them, possesses about the most ur-
popular job around theater- A stage
manager is supposed to possess work
ing knowledge of a wide variety of
advance notices he is subject to a call
from the manager or players
A stage during a vaudeville or must I
cal comedy is a busy place While
one act is in progress the stage is being
set for the next At the same time the
players mingle with the stage hands
and carpenters and rush through the
masks and wings directing settings, or
between the stage and the dressing |
room for quick changes in costumes
Fortunate is the musical comedy /
player who possesses the knack of
changing makeup and costume in rec I
ord time for he or she shall win the 4
approval of the manager Changes in I
costumes are generally made coming 1
and going. In making such changes I
the average player disrobes on the way /
to the dressing room and dresses on 1
the way back
Down in the dressing room below |
the stage that part of an actors life 1
with which the audience is unfamiliar. I
is seen
Here the players gather between acts /
At certain time during every per- .
Torrance there is a scene that is uni I
versal the country over Behind the 4
curtains in the dressing room at the /