BUILDING A PLAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 678, 1 December 1909, Page 8

BUILDING A PLAY.

WHAT THE PUBLIC DOES NOT SEE.

A' TALK WITH MR. JULIUS KNIGHT.

The pressman who: called on Mr. Knight at the Grand Hotel, found him in his private sitting-room hard at work '. carving a very beautiful design on an oak panel, -with- the tools of his art scattered all about him.' "STqpdcarving is one of Mr. Knighfs pastimes, but it was not of wood-carving the reporter" wished him to talk—it was of something much nearer his heart, that .of producing the plays in whichyhe appears witi such success. The interviewer wished him to talk;on play-building as a business apart from the writing or actinir and knowing Sir. Kiight to be a producer of sound judgment and artistic habit, broached the subject. '■• ■ ■ : :- ' ■ . ■ • ■ ' ' .: v" -te'P eo pla who sit in.front have," said Mr. &v? eh 7, » ondll ?g. an old brown copy of , ihe Corsican Brothers," "little idea , of the thought, worry, and real hard work that is done to produce a 'first night' They sit and applaud, or they don't; applaud; as the.case may be and thov say 'very good,' 'not so bad' 21, r °tten,' as, if strikes them, and disinisFit Vh?'^ elr T ds ' ? f «>««e.'there are some who, take a.deeper interest in. the stago, and htu'ff" mto and effects, but I don't ?il ■ ,W e bnlk Just lSce play because it. is a good play-they reporter them ■ SCiS,ethißß abont ■«*"'' "M-'&i fc l 3 ftey So on steadily. I study ou Ihi (W' pl ° '• ?' ,t! i Ta.luable assistance from !*» v M T rs - Gordon and Cokman. , ita m not done, however, without dipping into the architecture of the period hint'wKl ■ -* of - la ?4wape.-..seen. through: a back window-fttmospherically correct. Hav.mg decided on a genera idea, the artist a modeL la cardboard, and paints it in the cojours mtended to .be.W in the Actual S S} v °™ t clear i idea °f: what it,wil . look like. For instance, you know that second in 'The Breed of the Treshams". mat, is an upstairs rooms, and-it must bo is tl«" ■°°" : t, to . DU Si ,the oriel -. window you tec the mountains a long- way off, as if viewed from an once 61 ™*" a : °° nVeys :the - at

i 'U. e idling -is a -serio.us matter: -I-have out .the colours to bo used in each costume, making proper-harmonies and contrasts, without getting colours that scream at you Not but> materials, for an effect can_be ,got with a material. Authorities have to be looked up' to ensure; getting the correct style ,in all- the dresses, 'even t! the boots, neckwear, anditlie-.particular style ol or coiffure. I also'suggest the 'makes-ii'p' : not onlj; to the. actors, but, .to the ' suuornumeranes,; so as tu; weld the. whole into one completo picture... ..;.:..- ■.;- •. ■■■-.•■.-. -.;.„. :■■ - "Then there is the iighting-quite. : a distinct department nowadays. Some beautiful effects can be got witka judicious .use of the lights— a eoft moonlight eifect.tirough a window in a room ablaze with light, or a,darkened interior ■with sunhgbt beyond.... .Sunsets, . moon-rises, storm clouds can all be arranged and regulated to a nicety in a wll-appointcd theatre. There are rehearsals for the'; scenery and" lighting, to provide that .the scenic :artist'iust' gets, the light he requires on the. scene. The, music, too, has to be considered- and .discussed with the conductor,-.who'-is often'' called.'iipqn to.write the entire score, as with the case of Mr -Hal Cainpbell -in 'The Corsica Mothers. , ' :,. Quite an important person is t the 'property-' man, who sees to the furniture and aeoessoriea' of each scene. The 'firm' has a wonderful man •in Ui. : Eock, Phillips, who, can .produce simply anything, you want. Give him a design with your idea, and it is as. good-as. done. It maybe an Elizabethan chamber, an early Victorian tourt-roora, or a French salon—everything- in keeping .with the spirit of'.the Jplay arid the times. ' - - -. ■■' ■';-.' :'■'■'.-;. :■■.-.'V-.-". , .-■ '■'

all the departments grip what is wanted. They all have to-..work hard—there arei often'..rehearsals' morning- and Sternoon' Then a \veek beforehand I get the 'supers'into' ■their clothes, give them an of' the parta they.are each 'extra' is-a part'of the scene—and hint 3 as to deportnientand'how to wear their. costumes. ■. I. watch '. them ■ from the-front very critically, and' take ;'them over and over again little. bits. --'Finally comes the dress, rehearsal—a , very.tariiig time' for-all ■ concerned, rlt is played, in full' cos-' tnme. and:-make-up,' and often occupies the whole day. ~. .- ■ .v. •„■• ' : ..- '• ,•.'■■ the first night.;:.:.... The critics, ',/i. ■The manager's. :smile or frown. : . .and ■wA start rehearsing another play : : A lazy'life, isn't