DRESSING ROOMS OF ACTRESSES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 348, 26 March 1910, Page 9

DRESSING ROOMS OF ACTRESSES.

LUXURIOUS APARTMENTS. .Seldom docs the outside world gain a peep into the stage sanctums 01 favorite actresses, but the appearance of Lady Constance Stewart-Richardson at the London Palace, and the elaborate arrangements made for the comfort of this society lady, render the present time favorable to raise the veil so that .the public may know amid what surroundings prominent players prepare to face the footlights. Lady Constance, who at the Palace is using the apartment formerly devoted to Miss Maud Allan, has a full-sized bath at her disposal, but this, with, its tiled walls and floor, is shut off from the remainder of the room. When the titled performer has donned her classical costume for the dance, she puts on some warm wraps, steps into the waking lift, reaches the stage by a special door reserved for her, and makes her final preparations in a portable room twelve feet square. Though this box, standing in the centre of the stage just behind the scene, is erected in two or three minutes, it contains a carpet, chair, .table, and mirrors, and is lighted by electricity.

ELLEN TERRY'S FAVORITE ROOM.

Naturally, for the most comfortable dressing-rooms one calls upon the "stars," who remain at the theatre for long spells. When Mme. Sarah Bernhardt visits London for a oriei season she is content with quite ordinary arrangements, but at her own theatre in jParis she is treated in regal style. The great tragedienne is attended by a suite of twelve people, and a whole set of apartments are devoted to her use. They are mainly decorated in the style of Napoleon, and the initial "N" is freseen, especially in the large reception hall. In the dressing-room is • bath of pure silver, and the place is always a bower of flowers. Tpfflte old days when Miss Ellen Terry j was (he reigning queen at thj Lyceum she had a charming old-world nook, its ■ walls adorned with original drawings of Shakespearian subjects, and its furniture composed of splendid Specimens oi carving which had been used in Sir Henry various productions. This place, wherein art was blended with solid comfort, was quite a second green-room for the theatre, and was visited, by many celebrities. Which* lady' to-day has the cosiest dressing-room in London? Probably Miss Lily Elsie, at Daly's Theatre. Nothing could be more tasteful cr dainty than the boudoir of "The Dollar Princess." Wall-paper, curtains, furniture, and all fittings harmonise in a scheme of white and pale mauve, while refined luxury is hinted at everywhere, from the many-cushioned couch by the fire to

the thick fur rug, from the baskets or costly flowers to the silken photograph dames could not wish for a more elegant room. At the same house Miss Gabriel Ray has a pretty apartment where the walls are embellished with water-color paintings. LUXURY AT THE GAIETY. Another delightfully snug comer is that set apart for the exclusive use of Miss Gertie Millar at the Gaiety Theatre. This room, designed for her when the new theatre was built, is decorated in a light French style, but the furniture is rather on the massive side; there are large gjlt-iramed minors, wellpadded chairs, a library surround for the fireplace, and heavy brass holders lor twelve electric lights. The effective arrangements are not hampered by a wardrobe, for an ante-chamber holds all Miss Millar's costumes. At the Gaiety, too, Miss Jean Aylcvin shows great taste, her drapery in pale slateblue brocade with silk-cord edging being highly effective, while the old color prints in dulled gold frames display real feeling for the artistic.

"STARS" WHO LOVE FLOWERS. When Miss Edna May was at the Aidwych Theatre she spent £2OO upon the adornflient of her dressing-room, and she made a feature of decking her looking glass with a violet-huej material surmounted by a cluster of large white ostrich feathers. The scheme, which was of her own creation, was heightened by masses of flowers.

Another American actress, Miss Rose Stahl, who recently crowded the Vaude. ville Theatre with "The Chorus Girl," went to the other extreme, for her room was severe in its plainness, and contained nothing beyond what she needed for stage purposes. Miss Eva Moore and Mise Dorothea Baird also care little for luxurious dressing-rooms. Miss Marie Tempest, when at the Comedy Theatre, uses a pleasant apartment with pretty French paper on the walls and with furniture encased in cheerful-looking chintzes, while she has a fondness for growing plants rather than for cut flowerß. At the New Theatre Miss Julia Neilson is fortunate in having, a large, lofty room just off the stage. This heroine of many an historical drama tas a passion for the antique, and whenever she is on tour Mrs. Fred Terry inspects the stocks of all the chief dealers in the towns visited. This hobby of hers ie to be noted in her sanctum, for here are two noble old Italian chairs and two excellent examples of Chippendale inlaid work. In keeping 'wdtn these antinques is a peat screen of thiok white cloiik edged with old gold embroidery. Mas Winifred Emery votes for the useful rather than for the ornamental, but her room always has a bright appearance. She is very fond of photographs, and has before her pictures of the scenes and people of the play in which she is engaged u; the time. ' As Miss Violet Vanbrugh (Mrs. Bourchier) cannot well see across a dressingtable to make-up her face for the stage, her room is out of the ordinary, in that it has a tall glass in the centre. Before this glass Miss Vanbrugh sits upon a discrepit three-leggeed stool —always the same stool—and on eithar side of her are tables holding her toilet requisites. "The theatre is my home while the pantomime is on," says Miss Marie George, the "principal boy" at Drury Lane, and, acting on this motto, she iai fitted her room up with furniture, pictures and ornaments taken from her town house.

On entering Miss Phyllis Dare's quarters at the Shaftesbury Theatre one is immeiflateiy struck by the po.ver of the lights, which is obi'i'vd from seven large electric lamp.; i i jd in a number of big mirrors on wads. Miss Dare also displays a fancy for all manner of quaint toys, such as golliwogs, Teddy bears, and dangling spiders. Wherever she goes Miss Vesla Tiller carries her own mirrors :md electric light fittings to aid her in the quick changes of costume which she makes, while for years she has beer, I he hajre possessor of a horse-shoe, from which by iva-on of much haiidliii"', the gill' been worn.