HOW A PLAY IS PRODUCED
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.
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