Show r I IBy IC C By JO ii 1 4 BAUER DAUER 1 r General Manager Valley Music Hall I In Shakespeare's time J the form of the theatres was derived from those buildings which experience had proven to be well adapted to the purpose of the drama Like the yard court of 01 an inn three sides were occupied occupied pied by balconies Properly divided these were appropriated appropriated appropriated to the reception of different classes of com com- pany The fourth side formed formed formed form form- ed the stage The central area was known as as the pit To this very day in London theatres tickets are sold in inthe inthe inthe the pit And in our own country we refer to the area wh where re the orchestra plays as the pit An upper balcony over the stage was for the orchestra The Tha pit was entirely destitute destitute destitute des des- of benches There is where the common people stood to watch the show That is why they were called called call call- ed groundlings by Shake ShaLe seare searl A fellow playwright Ben Johnson refers to them themas as the understanding gentleman gen gen- of the ground Between this class of ot spectators and the rs of the tha upper balconies the gallery gods of arch ium-arch theatres there was no distinction of rank ranI or price Both were of the lowest description The lower balconies on all three sides were known as rooms the tha boxes of our our time where here the people of rank and fashion had their places The Lords' Lords rooms which wore often oCten particularly m men mentioned e n t I ion o n e d. d seem to have been immediately immediately immediately immedi immedi- next to the stage It is known that some ancient ancient an- an English theatres in addition to these regular rooms also boasted private private vate boxes Just exactly h. h where these were has never been precisely determined They had their own locks and keys Occasionally also I the public rooms were appropriated appropriated ap ap- to individuals I who were given the security of lock and key I The st stage ge was separated from the audience part of the theatre by a paling It was concealed by a curtain divided in the middle which could be drawn from the center to the sides According According Accord Accord- ing to the grandeur of the house the materials of the curtain varied from wool to silk Like the floors of private houses in the Elizabethan Age the stage was usually strewn with rushes Innumerable Innumerable erable references to this custom are met with in the theold theold theold I old English plays In Dutch homes across the Channel sand was strewn on on the floors at that same time tune At the back of the stage there was a balcony or upper stage on which those characters entered who were required to appear in elevated situations the most famous and memorable being being being be be- ing Juliet on her balcony When not in use for the purpose of the scene the stage balcony-stage was was as hidden by a curtain I. I when vv hen a play within a play was required I Ithe the balcony was made use uso I of either for the scenic audience audience audi audio ence or as a stage for the performance of the auxiliary auxiliary ary play Shakespeare furnishes furnishes fur fur- us with an instance of each of these practices Sly y sits sita in the balcony to watch the performance of the Taming of 01 the Shrew In Hamlet the play presented presented pre pre- b be before e f for o r e Hamlets Hamlet's I mother and uncle was undoubtedly undoubtedly undoubtedly un un- I acted on the upper upper up up- per stage I |