Evening star., 1927-05-15

Chicago Civic Opera Co?
The average opera lover, enthralled
only by the more esthetic phases of
the subject, would cite such things
as fine music. trained dancers, gifted
principals and so on.
These, however, are merely the
seasoning, the fiavoring which stamp
the finished product as a work of
art. They are, of course, absolutely
essential.
But how about the more prosaic
ingredients which go to make up the
very heart and body of this rare
pudding?
Here, for example. Is the recipe
which was followed in giving to
Washington the productions of
Verdi's Masked Bali and Alfano' :
'I asurrection" several weeks ago.
Thirteen hundred trunks, marked
and scrambled.
Thirty-two full size box cars.
Two hundred and fifty persons in
the company.
Three special trains of eight cars
each.
Thirty-f1ve technical attaches.
All of these ingredients, within a
short space of time. were unloaded
at local passenger and freight
terminals, unscrambled, arranged in
order and presented to the critical
public without a single mentionable
"hitch"
Transporting an opera company on
tour of II cities in two months,
without permitting the splendor and
pomp of the original production to
be lost in transit. is an industry, an
achievement, of some note.
Keeping matters straight, for In
o1,0ro 1 9n0 trtlnLc 10 nO
small Job for any man. Yet this was
accomplished in Washington, and is
being accomplished right along by the
experienced technical organization
which labors backstag age-unseen to
the vast crowds which applaud the
result of these labors out beyond the
footlights.
A ''foolproof'' system has been de
vised by the technical staff to avoid
any semblance of confusion.
The costumes are all packed In
strong blue trunks. The trunks con.
tanning the mems wardrobe have a
red stripe around them and the wom-
ems trunks are distinguished by
white stripes. Every trunk bears the
name of the opera and a number on
it. so that the keeper of the ward
robe knows from his lists just what
bears the name of the person who
wears it. Thus the costumes go to
the right persons without loss of time
The costumes for the "supers" go in
separate trunks.
All the properties are packed in
green trun' s, the electrical fixtures
i'll red trunks, armor in brown trunks,
etc. There is no possibility of un
packing the properties of THE Mask
ed Ball. for those of ''The Resur-
rection," or vice versa
Within a few moments of the time
the trunks arrived at the theater all
the costumes were distributed to the
dressing rooms. every light globe was
in place, every bit of scenery as
sembled and all placed in readiness
for the arrival later Of the special
train bearing the singers.
One thousand of the trunks were re-
quired to carry the costumes of the
singers and the ballet. These were
in addition to the 800 In which the
artists carried their own costumes.
The opera company found it's ex
cess baggage bill something to con
template. 1t pays $4,000 to the rail
roads for excess baggage carried be-
yond the amount allowed by the
fares.
The Chicago company travels In
separate units. The first special car
rled the baggage, the second contained
the chorus. ballet and technical staff.
and the third carried the orchestra
and the principals.
The advance crew had the duty of
preparing the theater, getting the
scenery in position where it could be
put up with the least possible delay,
preparing the electric lighting facil-
tiles and generally expediting the
prompt rise of the curtain for the
opening performance.
As soon as one scene was finished
there was scurrying of men back
stage, intent on immediately packing
the used scenery and properties and