| Show T Ill E r RES RESIN S SIN I IN OLD I MEX CO EDWIN MORDANT RELATES SOME ODD INCIDENTS Many M Customs Changed Ch by Visit of American Dramatists Dr Time Honored Institutions Eliminated Edwin Mordant tho popular star stam of o oThe The Time Great Divide company which closed a successful engagement at the Grand Opera House louse Saturday evening has hns traveled widely both in Mexico and Canada In recalling today lo ay numer numerous numerous ous omi Incidents in connection with his most recent sojourn In Mexico the subject of o Mexican theaters was as touch touched ed cd upon which brought forth a host of or To a n theatrical man he said there is much that lint is interesting along tho time lines linos of my profession to be bc found bund in Old Mexico Visiting the City CHy of or Mexico with tho the first English speaking dramatic com corn compan pan to play pIa there thore I 1 had an excel e excellent cel ont lent opportunity to view yle the time theater from every standpoint We were corn com lolled to change ninny many man customs and Introduced some sonic that were new now to the Iho Mexican For they had never nover used Incidental music through ugh tIme the ac acthen then lon of plays or oi during intermission During that period tho the men In the an au Hence wll wil 11 arise light cigarettes and with hats on turn around and anti gaze gazo over mer tho the house through glasses With us all that was changed also the cus custom custom tom torn for the tho men to visit behind the tho scenes They Ther The use no stage director to pro produce produce produce duce plays but the time prompter who sits alts a raised hood hoed near the footlights reads roads the lines and they ther aro are repeated by jy the actors acton on tho time stage after him This is very Yet annoying to the auditor for or the prompter does docs not modulate his ils voice olce There Thero Is no action and plays sound more like monologues Consequently our method of or production I was a n revelation The signal for tom the raising nad llad lowering of the curtain came caine from a large largo bell be which could be e heard above everything destroying ho tho atmosphere of a climax We elim oUm eliminated mated that institution and Installed the buzzer Our quiet methods and system s stem pauses In ac action thou lion made many man of them think we did not know our lines The TIme properties and furniture are the tho finest I have havo seen In Ia theaters but the tho scenery well it was paper Still It is surprising what could be bo bedone bedone done with It Material for a dozen productions could bt ba put In two trunks When they wanted to build up a set they thoy the spread out omit the painted paper scene and amid with strips of wood WoOi two Inches wide while and six feet long a frame framework framework work worl Is built by b overlapping each piece The paper scenery is then fast fastened fastened ened to It using small discs of leather through which nails are arc ar driven It is frail but ut effective It takes very el little time lime to o disman dismantle tle tie scenery and mid the framework is tak taken taken taken en apart to be used usel for the tho next pro production production Tho stages are aro small like likewise likewise c wise dressing rooms Tho Time auditoriums aro arc long and narrow narro and have hac from three to five galleries Series of box boxes boxes es Cs are arc built along aHing the he and ho theaters have hae a good seating s capacity They have bae no knowledge knowle ge of or tho uso use of o lighting ng for effects in productions The Tho theaters theater use UBO electricity but crudely Installed One OUo peculiar institution to us was the time mourners boxes They The are built hullt on the stage back of oC tho the proscenium arch and Just jURt out of sight of tho ito audi auditorium so that when Iho tho main drop Is IR down tho th occupants are on tho time stage A latticework screens them from those hose on tho time stage or not as they desire I I A bereaved family Is not supposed J ry r to attend places pl of amusement for a acar year car but these boxes give glo them an nn op 01 opportunity to go and not be seen This cases the tho conscience They Tile have stock s l dramatic perform performances performances performances ances by b native nathe artists and a vaude vaudeville yule ville theater Opera and nod spectacular I productions are very popular and many man of oC tho the artists are arc brought from At tho the vaudeville theater then tor they ther produce three plays with vaudeville between t acts Instead of I paying for an entire evenings enter cater entertaInment you pay pa a stipulated sum per act This is a good plan pian particularly If If you vou ou are arc aI e not satisfied Oed with tho the qua al ll 1 What t t i iJ r b ji here t to have faun The Th are very vor appreciative at nt till all I times and If the slightest sound la Is lamade I made to disturb there thre Is a storm of hisses It Is annoying anno at first but one I It as aM it itis ItIs soon becomes accustomed to I is not nol necessarily in disapproval of the time performance Their custom of honoring favorites behind the footlights Is novel Num Numbers Numbers bers of small bouquets are arc carried into time the boxes In baskets When a call callIs callis Is taken the flowers arc are thrown against the curtain las as It Is descending e and forms a perfect shower of flowers They Thoy Tho will also throw them thorn on tIme thu stage stage and the floral pieces passed passe oer over the footlights are arc many man and aud elaborate On the occasion of a benefit twelve doves with legs lied tied and wings clip clipped clipped ped pod wore were thrown on the stage Con Confetti fotti streamers were wore attached to them and amid formed a festooning from fromn the time boxes to time the stage I Indorse all but tho the throwing of birds for many ot ol them were severely injured and died as a result Tho Time confetti Is of Mexican can colors and wd made In rolls It Is strange to see sel gendarmes lined up UI outside the theater and amid in the time lob lobby lobby by br prior to and during performances Instead of a fireman there is a n gend gond gendarme arme amme detailed to watch match what occurs back of o the scenes No smoking Is al allowed allowed allowed lowed of course courso When It is used In Ina Inn ina a n play pIny the Ute name luno of the smoker Is tak Iak taken en cn and reported at al the In Inthe Inthe the ilie event of oC a fire Ure the one guilty of smoking would be held beld responsible All the theaters are arc badly constructed and fearful would be the tho result In case of fire or panic They The know nothing of our custom of selling seats In advance and It is difficult to find anyone In box offices except at times of performances ces Their tickets are long hong strips of paper with location designated many times Coupon tickets are ure unknown The risk attached to a season Beason of or American theatricals in iii the City of Mexico is grent and nd I would not ad advise advise vise 1513 such a n venture venturo except upon a cash guarantee In an nn American bank and all points should be carefully COy cov covered ered In an au Ironclad contract stamped with the tho government seal covering a specific number of weeks The ex cx expense expense pense is enormous and there Is IB no cor certainty certainty of returns except upon the aboe aoe a oc plan Then there thero are aro numerous saints days that will detract from English En performances and must be he considered Plays or operas must bo ho changed frequently and an It Is only pos possible possible sible to give a limited number of oC per performances performances per week As yet It is im irn impossible possible to make moIre even eyen a weeks run I on one production To make mako any aimy money popular prices s must prevail i If scenery Is not carried with a n com corn company company pany dissatisfaction will wili result Tho The entire method of conducting theaters is far inferior to ours The Tho exterior of some omo of tho the theaters of tho the Republic are arc Imposing somer than any In the tho states stales but they thoy are devoid of knowledge of practical stagecraft Concessions aro are hard to obtain on railroads and ox cess baggage Is closely watched only HiO pounds being allowed on each ticket Scenery cannot bo be carried in baggage cars for lack Inck of space No duty is charged upon theatrical paper lithographs etc otc but every scene ad advertised advertised must be presented or tho the pre presenter senter sentor Is liable to a fine fino This is a tip that should bo be noted by managers ot of melodramas musical comedies and comic operas who contemplate a visit to Mexico Performances begin nightly at nt 9 0 and andIn an anIn andIn In the afternoon at 4 I 1 These hours are arc occasioned by the tho siesta and late lale din dinners dinners dinners ners The costumer of Mexico Is a Joke but there are excellent ht wig makers Requiring a wig for Trilby I loaned the tho barbero barber barbor a photo of Wilton Lackaye e In that character The Tho order was placed p aced at 11 a m and andI I wore tho the wig lg the tho same night and It Itis Itis itis is an excellent one When I asked the tho price ho wrote down 13 12 10 and andS S 3 Naturally I picked the ed cd figure After protesting for a time he accepted and went away happy happ This makes the tho cost In gold 4 and compares favorably with others for which I 1 have hao paid many times four It is noticeable that thal thoy tha are not superstitious about the tho number thir thirteen thirteen teen leon You will find it everywhere and used constantly |
