HOW TO MAKE A SCENE PLOT._How to become an actor

In explanation of the terms hereinafter used, it will be necessary to

inform the student of their uses.

“Cleets” are little niches put on walls, etc., to facilitate climbing.

A “brace” is a long wooden implement having a hook on one end and a

circular hole at the other. These are used to sustain the vases in my

lady’s garden, or to steady the rocks in the mountain haunt of the

bloodthirsty robber who dares to defy the law.

The “Traveler” is a truck of wood and iron, elevated some distance

above the borders, and works in a grooved receiver. By this means,

and the aid of stout wires, fairies and demons are enabled to flit

hurriedly through the air from side to side, and the stout tree the

wood-man fells, to fall gracefully and naturally to the earth.

“The grooves” receive the flats and wings, and are all numbered, so

that when your plot calls for a scene in 1, the stage carpenter at

once knows that you mean one down by the footlights, which will enable

them to set the one behind ready to draw off at the proper cue. The

entrances between these grooves are all numbered as _R._ 1 _E._, _R._

2 _E._, _R. U. E._, etc., which means Right first entrance, Right

second entrance, and Right upper entrance; if left remove the “_R_”

and place “_L_” in its place. _D. F._ means door in flat. Prac. means

practicable--that which is used like a door or window. If we wish a

house on the right side we simply put, set house _R._; if a bridge

for characters to cross from _R_ to _L_ and come down on stage _L._,

you should write: “Steps and platform _R. U. E._ xing (crossing) to

_L. U. E._ and masked in by bridge with return _L._ masked in.” “The

Tormentors” are the first wings near the proscenium, and are usually

painted to represent pillars of marble draped with heavy curtains. They

are furnished with a swinging piece, which may shut off all view of the

stage from the actors in the wings, and thus derive their name.

After this explanation, I think I may venture to give a diagram of a

scene plot.

And so on each act is marked. Where there are no sets, place a mark as

in diagram on page following, thus ----.

+-------------------------------------------------------+

| “BLACK SLAYER.” |

| _Scene Plot._ |

| ACT FIRST. |

+-----+--+--------------+--------------------+----------+

+-----+--+--------------+--------------------+----+-----+

| 1. | | Landscape. | Flats in | 4. | |

| | | | | | |

| | | | | | |

| 2. | | Kitchen | ---- | 1. | |

| | | | | | |

| 3. | | Wood | Set tree _C._ | 3. | |

| | | | _L._ 2. _E._ | | |

| | | | | | |

| 4. | | Chamber | ---- | 1. | |

| | | | | | |

| 5. | | Wood | Set tree _C._ to | 4. | |

+-----+--+--------------+--------------------+----+-----+