Three Female and Eleven Male Figures.
This tableau is taken from Shakspeare's drama, "The Winter's Tale."
The scene is that wherein Paulina draws away the curtain and discloses
the marble statue. She is addressing Leontes, who is seen in the
foreground. At the left of the stage, a group of five gentlemen and
one lady is seen; on the opposite side of the stage is another group
of five gentlemen; all of which are in position, so that a profile
view is exhibited.
The scenery of this piece consists of a curtain passing across the
stage, three feet from the back end. The curtain described in the
tableau of the "Dancing Girl in Repose" will answer for this scene,
but should be allowed to hang straight from the top, in place of
being looped up at the sides. Arranged in this way, it will leave an
open space of five or six feet in the centre. The background is seen
through this opening, and is to be festooned with wreaths of
evergreens and flowers. Close up to the back wall is placed a
platform, made in two pieces, the first being four feet square and one
foot high. On this rests a second platform, three feet square and one
foot high. At the right side of the upper platform is placed a round
pedestal, three feet high and one foot in diameter; this has a cap and
base, and can be made of card-board, and covered with white marble
paper. The platform is to be covered with black marble paper.
By the side of the pedestal stands the statue. The lady who personates
this figure should be rather slim, of medium height, good features,
and dark hair. Costume consists of a loose, white robe, worn with but
few skirts, the sleeves very short, the waist cut low at the neck, the
skirt long enough to trail on the platform; the whole covered with
white tarleton muslin. Across the shoulders, and tied at the right
side, is worn a heavy muslin mantle, trimmed on each edge with white
satin ribbon. The hair is arranged in a neat coil, and a small wreath
of white leaves encircles the head. These are made of white paper, and
fastened to a wire frame. The statue stands perfectly straight at the
side of the pedestal, one arm resting on the top, the hand hanging
down over the front, while the left arm hangs gracefully at the side.
The eyes are directed to the figure of Leontes in the foreground.
Pauline, who draws the curtain aside, is costumed in a black silk
dress, with a velvet waist, trimmed with bugles, and interspersed with
silver spangles. The hair, arranged in a single coil, is decorated
with a velvet band, with white paste pin in the centre, from the back
of which is fastened a long black lace veil, falling gracefully over
the shoulders, and reaching nearly to the floor. She is standing at
the right of the curtain, one hand grasping its folds, while the other
is extended, and points to the statue. A profile view is had of the
figure: the head is slightly turned, the eyes directed to Leontes in
the foreground. Leontes' costume consists of a black coat, belted
around the waist, black knee breeches and hose, confined with a gold
band and showy paste pin. The collar and cuffs of the coat are
decorated with deep white lace. A short sword is suspended from the
belt; the feet are covered with low shoes, with showy buckles; the
head is encircled with a silver band, one inch wide, with a brilliant
pin in the centre. Fastened around the neck, and hanging over the
shoulders, is a black velvet cape--a small, lady's cape will answer.
Position is standing on the extreme front of the stage, with both
hands extended above the head, the body thrown back, the feet extended
from each other, the back turned to the audience, the head inclined to
one side, so that a side view is had of the face, while the eyes are
directed to the statue. Behind Leontes stands a tall figure, costumed
in a black coat and knee breeches, white hose, knee and shoe buckles,
low shoes, waist encircled with a belt, a short cloak thrown over the
right shoulder. The other figures are costumed in a similar manner,
and stand between Leontes and the side of the stage, and are looking
intently at the statue.
Three more gentlemen, costumed in a similar style, occupy positions on
the opposite side of the stage, close to the wings. A profile view is
had of their figures, while their faces are turned towards the statue.
In front of this group stands a young man, with his arm placed around
the waist of a young lady who stands at his side, and in such a
position that we have almost a back view of them. The lady is costumed
in a white dress, cut low at the top, sleeves very short, skirt long,
so as to trail ten inches, ornamented with buff ribbon, which should
be placed on the bottom of the skirt, around the waist, on the top of
the waist, and on the sleeves. Her hair should hang loosely over the
shoulders, the head encircled with a string of feldspar or pearl
beads. The hands are clasped in front of her bosom, the body inclined
forward slightly, the eyes directed towards the statue. The gentleman
at her side stands erect. His costume consists of a dark coat,
ornamented around the bottom with silver paper, covered with black
lace, the sleeves and collar trimmed in the same mode, with an
addition of wide white lace cuffs and collar; the breeches are of
black cloth, with a band of silver, and buckle at the knee; white
hose, low shoes, with buckles, a wide belt around the waist, from
which is suspended a long, slim sword. The lights on each side of the
background, where the statue is placed, should be quite brilliant.
The foreground should receive the rays of light, which should be of
medium quantity, from the side of the stage where Leontes stands.
Music soft and plaintive.