THE STAGE MANAGER. 123 scrubbers, cleaners and upholsterers, is devoting his time and attention to what is called the "front of the house" (i. e. the auditorium), the stage manager, surrounded by his actors, actresses, scene-painters, stage carpenters, wardrobe-makers, property men, gas men, scene-shifters and the rest, is preparing the pageant which those who sit before the footlights are to see. The stage manager may or may not be an actor; he generally is; but he is never an outsider, as the manager so often is. He is a man who has been reared to the theatrical life through long years of training; he knows how everybody's part should be played, even if he be not able to play it himself—even as many a musician is thoroughly qualified to teach others by dint of scientific knowledge, though his own execution may be poor. The duties of the stage manager are several. First, the casting of parts. This involves very careful study of the different qualifications of the actors. Next, the "mounting" of plays. This requires study of the date in which the piece is written; for instance, a play the scene of which was laid in France, in the time of Louis XIV. must not have furniture, scenery or costumes which were worn subsequent to that epoch For, Thirdly, the direction of plays at rehearsal. though the prompter generally holds the MS., or book of the play, to see that the players do not stray from the text, it is the duty of the stage manager to watch the movements of the players, and direct them if they are guilty of any ungraceful or ill-timed movement; to instruct them when to sit and when to rise; when to stand; in short to act the part of drill master to an awkward squad. I recently saw copies of some curious letters which passed between two ancient stage-managers, in the old times, when the functions of the prompter were discharged also by the manager. These letters follow: DRURY LANE, Nov. 9. DEAR WILD-For pity's sake lend me a couple of conspirators for to-night. Recollect you have borrowed one of ours for a singing Druid, and another of our best is Doge of Venice, on Packer's resignation. Entirely and devotedly yours, HOPKINS. COVENT GARDEN, Nov. 9. I have ordered to look out two of our genteelest assassins, and I'll take care they shall go shaved and sober. Pray tell Farren he must play our Archbishop to-morrow; will cut the part, that he may dress time enough afterwards for your General in the Camp. Yours, perpetually, WILD. P. S.-If you have a full moon to spare, I wish you'd lend it to us for Thursday. I send you some lightning I can recommend. COVENT GARDEN, Nov. 11. DEAR HOPKINS-Pray, how shall we manage without Smith tomorrow? I depended on your lending him us for Harry the Fifth; but I now see you have put him up for Charles Surface. Couldn't you let him come to us, and play two acts of Harry, as you don't want him in Charles till your third, and then Hull shall read the rest, with an apology for Smith's being suddenly hoarse, sprained his ankle, etc. Cordially, yours, WILD. P. S.-My vestal virgin gets so very stout, I wish you'd lend us Mrs. Robinson for a night. DRURY LANE, Nov. 11. Dear Wild-By particular desire, our vestal is not transferable; but we have a spare Venus, and duplicate Junos; so send your hackney coach for whichever suits you. The scheme for Smith won't do; but change your play to anything; for we'll tack The Lamp to the School for Scandal, to secure you an overflow. Thoroughly, yours, HOPKINS. COVENT GARDEN, Nov. 12. MY DEAR FELLOW-Here's the devil to pay about our Tuesday's pantomime—the blacksmith can't repair our great serpent till Friday, and the old camel that we thought quite sound, has broken down at rehearsal; so pray send us your elephant by the bearer, and a small tiger CUPID GOT THE MEASLES. 125 with the longest tail you can pick out. I must trouble you, too, for a dozen of your best dancing shepherds for that night, for, though I see you'll want them for highwaymen, in the Beggar's Opera, they'll be quite in time for us afterwards. Forever completely yours, WILD. DRURY LANE, Nov. 12. DEAR WILD-I just write a line while the beasts are packing up, to beg you'll not be out of spirits, as you may depend on the shepherds, and any other animal you have occasion for. I have orders to acquaint you, too, that as we don't use Henderson, for Falstaff, on Friday, you may have him for Richard, with a dozen and a half of our soldiers, for Bosworth Field, only begging you'll return 'em us in time for Cox-heath. Truly, yours, P. S.-Send me a Cupid-mine has got the measles. HOPKINS. COVENT GARDEN, Nov. 12. DEAR HOPKINS-Thank you for Henderson and the soldiers—so let them bring their helmets, for ours are tinning. The bearer is our Cupid, at a shilling a night, finding his own wings. Generously, yours, WILD. The prompter is another attaché of a theatre who may or may not be an actor. He is poorly paid, and pretty hardly worked. His chief duty is to never for one moment, either at rehearsal or during a performance, lay down the MS. or printed book of the play in course of progress; but to keep his eyes fixed on it as constantly as is possible with his other duties, in the event that any one of the players should forget his words, when, of course, he would have to be prompted. The prompter also rings the curtain up and down, turns the gas jets up or down, rings for the music to play, and whistles for change of scene. Added to this, he is frequently called upon to play a part in case any one is taken sick, and if he is able to speak on the stage at all, he will be considered very disobliging if he refuses. The prompter's seat or as it is technically termed― the "prompt-place," is a little flap of a table with a chair behind it, placed at the right hand wing, i. e. the first scene directly behind the footlights, and situated at the right hand of the actors. In all foreign theatres-and in operatic performances in this country-the prompter is placed in a little circular box which rises out of the stage just back of the footlights. By this arrangement the prompter is confined exclusively to the book, and some one else attends to the curtain, etc. |