PUBLIC v. PRIVATE THEATRICALS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 167, 24 November 1868, Page 3

PUBLIC v. PRIVATE THEATRICALS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAB. Sir, — Man, in his relation to the boards of a minor theatre, is a very wonderful animal. Curious, indeed, are the creatures that breathe the dramatic air, and inhabit the set pieces of scenic life, ranging the canvas woods, and sauntering in the practicable groves, listening to the warbling woodlark in the band, or being summoned to the field of glory by a trumpeter standing at the side scenes ; but, Sir, this is all past I We are to have no more dramatic companies in this city ! , The manager of the Theatre Royal has expressed his intention of never inducing any other to visit us. I therefore beg to offer you the benefit of my experience as a substitute against this cruel decision. As we shall have to fall back on local talent, I offer my assistance to those parties who are desirous of domesticating the drama, by bringing it literally home, not only to their hearts, but to their dining-rooms. The difficulty of converting a front-parlour into a theatre is not quite so insurmountable as it may at first sight appear. Drawingrooms with folding-doors are generally to be preferred, because a natural division is thus formed between the stage and the portion assigned to the audience. If the play is to be acted in the dining-room, it will not always be advisable to remove the sideboard, for it makes a capital tribune in Roman tragedies, and in "Othello" it marks the elevated position of the Duke in the Senate scene, besides furnishing an excellent bedstead for the final smothering. It also assists materially in the formation of anything like a j udicial tribunal, such as that in which Brutus passes judgment on his son ; for, by drawing out the cellaret and covering it over with a cloth, the accused is at once provided with a locus standi. Again, if the back of the sideboard rises to a point in the centre, it may easily be converted into the Alps by a cloth fixed to the highest portion, and thus in a piece like " William Tell," there is a very passable mountain for the hero to apostrophise. In cases where the audience and actors are limited to one room, I need hardly point out the obvious expedient of an ironing-hoard on tressels being'erected for the stage, with & couple of clothes-horses, covered with green baize, or anything in the way of drapery that happens to be at hand. These have long been recognised aa the best possible proscenium for private performances. When practicable, it is, however, advisable to have the stage so situated, that there is a window with curtains at the back, as they will be useful for the the tent of Richard when let down and hung over the back of a chair ; or they will serve admirably as the drapery of the throne when looped up ; and having exactly the same materials in both scenes will be no objection, for, as the tyrant may be supposed to have chosen the pattern himself, it is possible that the crook-backed monarch would in both instances select his favourite curtains. With reference to costume, Roman pieces are always the easiest, for the household linen will always afford togas, and " Virginius " is especially adapted for private representation, because the illusion is much aided by an urn, and as most families take tea, few are without the article alluded to. Where, however, the urn is not to be had, a soup-tureen, or even a salad-bowl, will furnish an excellent substitute. Scotch pieces may also be dressed without much difficulty where there are many female* in the family; for the Thane and his followers can readily be supplied from the large stock of horse-cloth shawls that do or ought to form a portion of the wardrobe of every well-regulated family. I trust that these few hints will be found useful to those who are fond of playing at plays. If followed out, I venture to say they will cause us to stand alone ; though, hy-the-by, the power of standing alone is shared by the skittle, the noun substantive, and a variety of other articles that the imagination soon gets crowded with. Your obedient servant, AN OLD AMATEUR.