be made inconspicuous, and can usually be left permanently in position, so that to put up the proscenium it is necessary only to slip the ends of the wires over the hooks, tighten them by the turnbuckles, and shake out the curtains.

The Curtain

Whichever form of temporary proscenium is used, the making and hanging of the opening curtain will be an identical process. In fact, the operation will be the same for a permanent proscenium, in most cases. A double curtain opening in the center is probably most satisfactory; for a drop, or guillotine, curtain is difficult to arrange unless the overhead space is sufficient so that it may be hauled straight up. If there is sufficient overhead room, a drop curtain may be arranged to run by pulleys and ropes, just as any other drop is (see page 145). Sliding curtains may be run on a track-and-pulley system, which will be supplied by any dealer in theatrical materials. For any but a very heavy curtain, however, it is possible to rig up a satisfactory arrangement in the following manner:

Run a heavy wire from wall to wall, or from support to support, in the manner described above, for the proscenium curtains. It may be tightened with turnbuckles; and if it has a tendency to sag, it may be supported by a wire hanging from the ceiling in the exact center. The curtain may be run on this wire on sliding rings or small pulleys. On one small stage, the deed was done with little wooden spools. The rings or pulleys should be placed on the curtains so that they

come about six or eight inches apart; therefore the number required depends entirely on the width of the opening. The rings had better be put in place on the wire, and then the curtain fastened to the rings by sewing or with curtain pins, so that it falls into the desired folds or plaits. Now it is necessary to tie the rings together at the proper distance, with a light, but strong, cord. This cord (M) goes from ring to ring, or from pulley to pulley. It prevents the rings from

Side Wall

Ceiling

Supporting
Wire

Side Wall

FIG. 9.-METHOD OF HANGING THE CURTAIN.

moving apart when the curtain is pulled by one corner, which would otherwise straighten out the folds. When the rings in the corners of the curtain (A and B) are pulled forward or back, the curtains will follow, and they will remain in folds, as arranged.

It is necessary to devise a rope for opening and closing the curtains. To do this, a single pulley is necessary at one side, say the left, and a double pulley at the right. The curtains will be worked from the side where the double pulley is placed. The curtains must be tightly closed, just as they should be when in position, and a light, strong rope tied to the corner of one

(A), run through the single pulley, and brought back and fastened to the corner of the other (B). It is very important that this rope be tight, and that it be just twice as long as the distance from where the curtains meet to the pulley. Then a rope must be run through one sheaf of the double pulley and fastened at the corner of a curtain (A); and the other end of the rope run through the other sheaf and fastened at the

other corner (B). When the rope fastened to the near curtain (B) is pulled, the curtains will open evenly and equally; and when the rope fastened to the other corner (A) is pulled they will both close. The principle of this operation is exactly the same as that used when two portières are made to open and close by the pulling of a single cord, and probably any upholsterer or decorator will explain it to any one who finds it difficult to follow the printed directions. Nevertheless, whether

or not the principle is understood, the curtains will work if the directions are carefully followed.

The one difficulty with curtains so rigged is that they sometimes leave a small gap where they meet in the center. To overcome this difficulty, two devices are possible. Two parallel wires may be run, one for each curtain, so that they can slide by one another. Simpler yet, the first ring on one curtain may be set

FIG. 11.-DETAIL TO SHOW OVERLAPPING OF CURTAINS.

back six or eight inches, so that this curtain overlaps the other by that amount. In that case, the ropes for working the curtains must be tied to the corner (A), and not to the first ring. The other ends should be tied to the first ring on the other curtain (B), just as usual.

Under whichever of these conditions amateurs are obliged to work, whether they have a real theater, or make one for themselves, they should not be satisfied. until they have secured the best producing equipment possible under the circumstances. Sometimes amateur groups seem quite proud of their insignificant equip

ments, and glory in telling what they have done by ingenuity with their meager means. Much more worthy of admiration would be their attempt to build up a better equipment. There is little danger of true ingenuity being stifled by adequate equipment. Quite the reverse is true: adequate equipment frees ingenuity to study the plays presented, so that they may be given in the best possible way and with the utmost beauty and effectiveness-and this is the only true end of dramatic art.