The Washington times., 1916-12-23
WOMAN INVADES
!. LAST SANCTUARY
- 81 W
Caroline Dudley Directs Me-
chanicaI Staging Of Sue
cessfuI Play.
SHE DESIGNS ALL SETTINGS
Every Detail OF costuming With
Historic Exaotitude
&c.. .r. Her Work.


Picture to yourself the Great God
Theater, ,perched on his olympic
twentieth century eminence,' Tending
or the advance OF women into the by
ways OF his domain. His acting do
partment had gone over TO them long
since. Next his authorship, finally
even his department OF stage direc-
ton. He had put up a good fight for
one and all Of these departments,
and one after another they had been
lost TO him. But there was one spe-
cia1 stronghold--one he cherished
once spread into every crook and cor
ner. He had II that no woman should
enter upon his mechanics department
And now the poor theater has lost
even that--there Ia a woman who,
for the first time In theatrical annals,
has put on a play, scenery, properties,
costumes, and all.
Her namo IL Caroline Dudley, OF the
firm OF Newell & Dudley, and the play
IL Major Pendennis," the comedy
from Thackeray's novel. in which
John Drew Ia starring. The poor
theater has but ono consolation left
never been n woman stagehand. Any
minute. however, lily white hands
may lay hold OF trat Job, too.
Miss Dudley's pioneering came
about, apparently. without any such
desperate struggle rs usually goes
with these conduests or new heights.
She had been decorator In Chi.
cago-not for very long. for she isn't
moro than girl-and she had put
on q few amateur plays. In Chicago
she had met Gertrude Newell. who
was also dabbling in amateur play
productions scr fun in the interims
OF doing Lake Shore Drive houses.
They decided that II tho timo should
ever ripen they would Join forces and
be professional decorators for the
stage, having, rightly enough, the
idea that the stage needed some such
outside assistance.
Called to New York.
Meanwhile they continued with
their houses. Then. this meanwhile
was somewhat violently disrupted
ono afternoon by q telegram from
John d. williams, who had heard OF
her from Edward Sheldon, the play.
wright, which asked that she catch
the next days Twentieth Century and
come TO New York for a conference
on Major Pendennis," -
"of course I believe In women"
says Mr.. wiliiams.' $50 mucn 80 that
1 don't even notice that they're
women-I had no idea, TIL long after
wards, that Miss Dudley and I were
about TO assail the most cherished
tradition OF the stage"
At any rata. Miss Dudley caught the
Twentieth Century. rushed to her con.
ference, and left Il hired TO project
Major Pendennis." Moro than that,
she was given complete authority
over the seeno builders. the taiiors,
the dressmakers, and the property
scouts. so that whatever she designed
sho would have the money power"
TO get.
How she Went 20 Work.
So. having been armed by Mr.. VIII.
Jams with formal and financial au.
thority Miss Dudley, with her enthusi.
astlc partner. Miss Newell. began the
embodiment OF Major Pendennis."
First, OF course, came the scenes:
which. says Miss Dudley. were the
easiest OF all. because IL was houses
they were used TO. A hundred de-
scriptions OF the Temple went into the
devising OF the second scene, because |
tradition demanded that the Temple |
look like the Temple.
The majors, quarters In Jermyn |
street made no traditional restrictions, |
however, so that the three sets were |
soon in order. Miss Dudley made |
them In pasteboard. took them To the |
delighted Mr.. Williams and then tole-
phoned for the scene builders. While
the scenes were being built she went |
about the costuming.
Then, having consulted with II, Iden |
Payne. who directed the staging OF
Major Pendennis," and having dis
covered from him that her groupings |
were accurate, her figures correct, |
and so on, Miss Dudley began the
costuming.
THE mon were easy. but oh. the |
women!" says Miss Dudley, Because
the costumes not only had to be of a
color 10 at drama and grouping and
scene. but they must surely be repre- |
sentative of the time OF Thackeray, |
and a good nine-tenths OF the clothes |
of that period were monstrously un- |
becoming. That OF course, would
never do. --.'
Women Give Trouble.
All the other tailors and all the
followed Miss Dudley TO |
the tiniest basting thread. She her
self cut some OF the more traitorous
or the shoulder lines and pinned the !
more unruly OF the frilly skirts.
Finally "Major Pendennis" stood |
forth a presentment so accurate ana |
so pleasing that the place of women |
in the mechanics of the theater Is as
sured beyond fear OF referendum or
recall