The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-04
Anything Liable to Hap.
pen There, Even to a
Corpse Among the
Cast of Characters on
the Stage
T was exactly s:4s when the cur
tains of the Bandbox Theatre

4 was exactly S:4S when the cur
tains of the Bandbox Theatre
of the new sand color--parted
and a Rossetti man in evening
dress stepped timidly up to the foot
lights.
He wore one Of those new. soft vet
corrugated shirts and a gun metal eve
ming suit slightly daring at the waist.
His hair was brushed low over the
ears and cluster of narcissuses
showed at his coat lapel.
I'VE wish to say" he began, in one
OF those soft clotted voices. looking
down 6nder his fine cyclashes at the
audience. that we are most stupidity
delayed"
Just then a stoutish man with gray
hair and a brutal manner rose and
called out:
'"Ah--h-h--h. cork II and begin the
play! I've been here since o'clock"
my dear man" began the Rossetti
man with tremolo effect. do not.
beg of you. think--"
Jaw, act natural" went on the
brute. What is this thing. anyhow?
A civil service commission investiga-
ton or krokay game?'
oii NiihPs dP'i'SlHth WV
man on the stage. lingering a stray
lcck into place over his left ear. IT
don't exactly follow you
WHO wants you to follow me? Get
at this game. won't you? Shake It
UP. I'm a tired business man. ! am,
and came here to see the show. Roll
ont the wax works"
a; this a ripple OF feminine laughter
ran through the little house. There
was applause and the evenings enter
tanment of four one act plays began.
The stage was set like this: r..
L. S.. corpse under a sheet. the feet
In large stubborn looking shoes sill
houctted against the back drop.
Crouched on the floor an awkward
looking girl bride-or bride to- be-who
was to have no wedding bells. but in
stead. funeral, as the man had
passed out back Of the beyond rather
than take the count. or the best man
had failed him al the last minute, or
some one of the things that prevent
nuptials at the altar had happened.
Centre OF the stage-mother. who
acted so well that you almost hated
he-. lamenting the fact that the cere-
mony had not been called before the
bridegroom stepped out.
Enter by doorway. right, the clergy
man. who refused to sign the certifi-
cate owing to religious scruples. al
though It would save the living and
the dead and the unborn.
The scene of this was-where do
you think?-Broolilyn, n. ", and the
name of the CHEEKY little skit was
10 lNs iaI Ia
This is the sort Of thing they are
doing at the Bandbox. little toy
house without balconies. that does not
advertise and that charges only 30
cents for loge. with plenty of room
to sit down and get up, and where
the evening Is started by the fore
going fight. which puts every one In
good humor. as there has been plenty
Of time for dinner.
Also there is a young woman in an
upper box who sits knitting socks FOR
the soldiers and who iisss and pro-
tests against the disturbance In the
lower part OF the house. But enough
of her.
Think OF the programmes. 4 -four
PACED sheet OF rough brownish slatS
paper printed in black that does no,
come off on the gloves. Not a line
about Robert Adamson, the fire king
hut just a little plaque lined in like
q notice on a headstone which says
simply that the theatre under norma
conditions can be emptied In less thar
three minutes.
"Under normal conditions" mark
you. SO IL anything strikes you as
abnormal all bets are off so far as tho
management is concerned. But enough
Of that too.
The main idea is that the Washing.
ton Square Players, an informal grouT
OF unstagy actors inspired by
Granville Barker do not consider thu
plays that are being done in New