How a play is produced/The Stage-Manager
The Stage-Manager
THE stage-manager runs to and fro in the wings with the book of words in his hands, pushes the players on to the stage at the right moment, and through the correct entrance, directs the crowds, or even produces noises “off,” and gives the signal for the curtain to rise: further, he rings the bells in all the dressing-rooms, goes along the corridors screaming “Ready to begin, please!”, plays minor rôles, stamps like a horse when a “horse off” is prescribed, is on intimate terms with all the actors, and is abused by all and sundry for everything that happens. Just as there are greater and lesser producers, so are there greater and lesser stage-managers.
The stage-manager must be simultaneously not only in the right and left wings, but also behind the scenes and under the trap-door; he must also see that everything is on the stage, must know all about the properties, and must often take the place of the producer. He is the poor creature upon whom everything and every one falls.
As far as the noises “off” are concerned, these are produced by various people: the mechanic unleashes the stage thunder in the flies, the scene-shifter sees to the noise of falling hail; while the rain, bells, sirens and shots are the business of the property man.
The stage-manager, however, imitates the singing of birds, hoots like a motor-horn, rattles the crockery, and makes all the other necessary noises, except those which are produced by the orchestra.