Behind the Scenes.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 7, 3 October 1907, Page 4

Behind the Scenes.

—: A CALL ON MOTHER GOOSE." THE LAND OF MAKE-BELIEVE. (By "Sylvius.") I opened the littlo stage door, and an unruly dust-laden gust of wind slrmmed it behind me. Through another door—a fire-proof one —and a burst of music, a merry fandango, told in which direction the audience lay, and where "all the fun of the fair" was taking place was revealed by a couple of glaring shafts of light from the " wings." I stood in stage twilight, all the light being monopolised 011 the other side of grey walls of scenery that reached up to tho gloom of the " !!ies" overhead. What struck me with surprise was the quiet. The big flower ballet of " Mother Goose" was working up excitingly down near the footlights, but at the back of the stage all was grey and very quiet. When my eyes became used to the sceno I made out a figure or two in the sepia light. A girl in splendid undress sat resting 011 a "property" throne, two or threo men lounged in the "property " recess, where I recognised the imitation duck and goose-heads that are so quaint in the final scene of the panto. Britannia's shield and glittering helmet hurled defiance at the bodyless King and Queen of Gooseland, and-feeling called upon' to toast tho King, I reached for a goblet from a gilded table —false liopo I Tho goblets were of solid .wood, and, essenco of tawdriness, gilt wood. Then, bogging somebody's pardon, I believe it was a property treo (tired with two performances in one day) leaning up against something or other, made for tho " wings" of light, where thero was borno upon tho warm air the sound of music, gay lauhgter and the quick-moving dance. Ti\e Ballet. Peering between the " flats" on to tho limelit stage I took in a section of tho gaily-hued ballet in action, but while' looking became aware that my cars ivero in embarrassing proximity to a pair of brownstockinged legs and a neat pair of brown shoes. It was a pantomime field-mouse — a nicely-granimarod little maid resting before she went 011 again. " 'Sense me," and the next instant she and others who had been resting in. mysterious cornors were hopping. 011 eccentrically among the green, and red, and pink legs of tho ballet proper (or the reverse, according to narrow ideas). Off thoy go; this way, now that, forming a stur, then a circlo; in couples; in fours; Ireland in - Shamrock Green advances alluringly; "lassies 0' th 1 thussel " in pink and green • with a big thistle as a headpiece follow;then a, bold red liile—tho red rose of England; after that a whirl of feminine spring (lowers, dainty littlo girls as. yet. unacquainted with thoir teens; and oh, funny, tho fiold-mico (somebody said "Rats!") jumping about in ordored disorder. "Look 'out; give them a show to get off I" said a at my .elbow, and just as I .'scrambled out of the o.p. (oppo-" site prompt) entrance, tho beautiful girls eaino sidling off . panting. -1 waited long enough to hear Harry Phydora sing a verso of "My wifo won't let mo," and then' groped my way up-stago again.- Where was the ballet? .... They, whom I,had so longed to see at close, quarters minus any limelight, had vanished into thin air. No, there was 0110 left; , she was, I think, an English rose. She had one shoo off, and-was examining its heel critically. ■ . Nice Girls. - At. this stago tho manager approached (knowing I was a married man). " Hero, Mr.' Sylvius arc two of tho Three.Musketeers; always together ; names all start with G—, nico girls 1" There was' 110 Miladi about them, I noticed, for thoir, shapely arms, bare to the shoulder,' were innocent of the fleur do. lis. Thoy were tired. ■ Said they . dote'd on matinees—it was always so jolly giving two performances "a. day instead of 0110. 1 fancy I detected a traco' of irony. They passed on,and a spruce figure in doV ( e grey came quickly up stage. It was boy Colin, advancing to her dressingroom. "How dy'do!" "Oil, yes, matinees were all right, the ; kiddies, do enjoy it so, but I. would' sooner seo a show at a matinco than be in it." . Then she wrapped a. diaphanous scarf round her shapely legs as she retired to seek tho powder puff—it was southerly', outside. " This is Mr. Phydora, Mr. Sylvius I " " How d'y do I " "Do i " " Can't ask you to take a seat, because thero isn't ,one," said tho man of humour. Hp was making up an eyebrow, and as 110 turned to greet mo ho poked the brush in his eyo, begged his own pardon, and said, "Have a drink?" This genial offer was firmly but nolit.oly refused. " Well, must toddle," said tho comedian, and he toddled down to the light, disappeared int otho'stage-glow, and a moment later ''had '0 niin -fits" in front.

My last impression was a march past of rolling clouds, across ail angry sky, managed by a man who slowly turned the handlo of a magic-lantern sort of arrangement high np on a platform. What to me was distinctly interesting was to note that the cloud effect and the eccontvic moons were even more effective visually behind than in front—a long way. I only saw the goose onco; it was sitting on a chair reading The Dominion newspaper: Wiso bird. Some Pantomime Figures. When I say pantomime figures I have done with all female frivolity, and become an interesting statistician. How many people know that " Mother Goose" requires 50 tons of Scenery to get her off, and that in the hanging of the cloths 2$ miles of rope and 100 pairs of blocks (and tacklo) are needed. There are six big border rows, for electric lighting the "borders"—tho sky, ceiling, trees, or whatever it might be —each of which havo -10 red. white, and. blue bulbs. Do tho ladies know that precisely 456 costumes aro worn nightly in the pantomimo; that in tho making of them there were used 2000 yards of lining, 1000 yards of ribbon, 500 yards of head trimming, 300 yards of ■. tinsel trimming, 105 yards gold cord, 5000 yards of lafce; and that if nil the material used in the dresses wero stretched out in one yard inside lino it would extend for 13,203 yards or froi» Wellington to tho Lower Hult. Tho dresses also consumed 50 lbs. of swindles and 16 gross sequins, is shod with 500 nairs of sluies (that aro constantly being renewed), and uses 60 pairs of gloves (renewed weekly). Mother Goose's IVashing Day. When' " Mother Goose" gets an opportunity to wash everything washablo tho laundry-bill amounts approximately to £50. Tho aver-, age washing bill paid by the management amounts to £10, so that that which is next _to Godliness is not neglected oven in a whirl of a tour lik« the present one. It takes five railway trucks to carry all the scenery, properties, dresses, etc.,- of the pantomime, and at least three railway carriages havo to be. arranged for to uccoimvodnte the 130 people engaged in this excellent flioduction.