BEHIND THE SCENES WITH MR IRVING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7229, 1 May 1884, Page 6

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH MR IRVING.

——• The transatlantic interviewer is privileged, liko grim death, to knock at all doors alike. Not oven Mr Irving's stage door is sacred to him. In this case he not only passed tho stago-door, but interviewed overybody behind tho scenes with admirable sangfroid. For instance, he found in ono corner a " fresh looking and pretty little Englishwoman." "Don't you play to-night ?" he asked. " Oh! yea, sir; but hime not hon huntil tho last hact." This he i 3 good enough to term tho "rich, broad, British dialect." He then explored tho " properties," and came upon a hundred largo hampers containing tho wardrobes. Hanging from a scantling was the chinio of bells used in the famous play, lying on tho floor were the lanterns and torches carried by the maskers in "The Merchant of Venice," and leaning against a trunk was a bunch of highly-polished spears. In a row of huge baskets ranged along the wall were tho papier macho pumpkins, cabbages, and other vegetables used in ono of the market scenes. The explorer emerged from the surrounding " properties," and found himself face to face with Mr Irving's head stage carpenter, who was " real busy." He was, it appears, once an actor, but the only part he plays now is that of the postilion of " The Lyons Mail." " I 'ave to ploy that in hev'ry ploice," he is reputed to have said, " 'cause I 'as to manage the 'osses. These 'osses we 'ave 'ere are good uns, but we 'as no run for 'em. Now, hin the Lyceum at 'ome, we 'as a great run, an' they comes hon the stoige loike mad." The interesting conversation was interrupted by Mr Irving himself, who had come to look at the scene which was being set, as he always does before the curtain goes up. Then Miss Terry rushed by, and is said to have "bounded" up to her dressing-room in a most undignified manner, saying, in her flight, " This is a fine part for me," referring, with a " sweeping gesture," to the thread-bare black dress she wore (" The Lyons Mail"). " Miss Terry," cried the stage manager. " Yes, I'm ready," cried the actress, when Mr Irving frantically cried out, " I want a scene shifted here right away." The observing eye of the actor had seen a flat out of place. " Wot a beastly bad ploy this his," commented one of the English stage hands as he gazed out upon the stage. Mr Irving's fine face was presently illuminated by " the strong flow of light from a calcium"; and the adventurous reporter departed, well satisfied with his investigations.