New Britain herald., 1923-01-23
its lowest depths.
Woman Appear On slal.e.


'sfhe people finally came 20 It's res
cue and again revived II, BETTER
styles Of drama appeared and the
theatef again was firmly established
In the cities. The theaters were part
ly open, The stage occupied a prom,
h.ent part, Painted scenes appeared,
Women began TO play on the stage.
where heretofore their parts were
played by men,
This was at the time Of Shake
sIearean thsaler, This was the new
era of shakespear. Most OF YOU fell
lows don't appreciate his works. hut
tn my mind ! don't believe We have
ever had better writer. He knew
the human mind and Psychology Of
the people.
This brings us TO the eighteenth
century, This century brought our
many famous writer's and plays. The
iheater was we'll established al this
time. Although the scenes and ens-
tunes were unchanged We bad a bet
ter type of acting. The players APP
peared IN their own clothes of the
time regardless OF the part played.
Heretofore. the theater was open In
the afternoon. but now, evening per-
formanees were given by the light OF
oil lamps. This was the time of
David Garrick. Peggy Wellington and
Richard Bensly Shendon.
From this time on the theater
gradually developed and broadened
out. In America so-ealled stock COM
panies began TO appear. They were
composed OF local people In a small
community. A travelling star usually
came into town. organized a COM
pany and after a few rehearsals left
for another village. Later stock COM
panics were better organized and be-
gan to travel. Costumes were adopt |
ed and the mask was dropped. The
actors began to smake up Gas
lamps and electricity appeared. The
theater was developing rapidly.
Hearing What Isn't There.
THE modern theater has every
ceivable device for Initiating rain.
snow. thunder, lightning, horse rae
Ing. battles In the air on land and
under water. In fact II can SO dis
sillusion the public and make II
think that one sees the actual reality.
We now have the permanent company
playing for one or two years in the
same theater. This takes us to the
back stage. Here one marvels at the
wonders of the theater. The actors
are almost inhuman in the daring
parts they play, sometimes endanger-
ing their lives for the amusement of
the public.
One of the most interesting things
to see is the makeup of an actor In
his dressing room. With dabs of
powder and paint a skilled artist can I
make up to represent most any per- !
son living or dead. Sometimes actors
have as many as ten trunks of {
clothes for seasons showing when
hey are playing in stock.
Another marvel Is the rapidity OF
he stage hands in striking scenes
hat is in removing dead scenes and
the next scene for the
coming act. Each man plays an i'm
'ortant part. knowing beforehand,
arefully rehearsed, just what he is to
10. The property man is by far the
most important. He must be ready
o create every conceivable thing one
AN imagine from battIeship to
axe diamond for the leading lady.
lis life is one of trouble.
Life of Stock Player Hard.
After a play is written and meets
nth the approval of the producers, it
in turn given to the director, who
ives it out in parts to the members
the cast. Most plays require from
our to six weeks of rehearsng. The
ctors are paid half salary while re-
earsing. The parts are called sides
he part of stock company player
the hardest and most severe One
as to study for the next weeks play
lille he is already playing. Then
gain he is called upon to carry an