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876 ILLUSTRATED WORLD
BACK OF THE SCENES
Thi* photograph shows the temporary zone system wiring usrd in producing the 'Merry Whirl".
usage, the regular silvered-glass reflectors,
now used widely for window lighting,
are quite practicable for stage use,
a variation in result being obtained by
variations in the location of the filament
of the lamp in the reflector. That is, a
small sized lamp of the stereopticon type
placed in a deep reflector will give a
highly concentrated beam. On the other
hand one of the long-stemmed nitrogen
lamps in the same reflector will give
more spread to the illumination and light
a larger area, where the latter form of
illumination is desired.
The "Merry Whirl" was given in a
tent, with a large stage at one end. Instead
of scenery, growing trees and
shrubs in tubs were used along the sides
of the stage, while the back was left
open, giving a distant view of some beautiful
old trees bending over a hedge of
roses and other flowers. This distant
background was specially lighted, making
the vista from the audience like some
fairyland of light.
On the ground before the stage, at
either side, was a stand supporting a
silver-glass reflector containing a 250-
watt nitrogen lamp. These lights took
the place of the usual footlights, and
lighted the first zone of the stage. The
shadows cast by one lamp were taken
out by the light of the opposite lamp.
Just back of a low flower-box on either
side of the stage was a metal box containing
two reflectors, so mounted as to
be slightly movable. This mounting
made it possible to have both reflectors
cover a single area, or to separate their
rays so that each covered a different
area. Half way back, on either side,
was a stand six feet high, supporting a
reflector which lighted the rear portion
of the stage. These reflectors were adjustable,
so that the light could be
focused to a strong beam or spread into
a flood, as the occasion might demand.
They also could be pointed in any direction.
Most of the action in any performance
takes place at the front of the stage,
and these rear lights were merely to light
the performers as they made their entrances
and exits, also they gave an
ethereal transparency to many of the costumes
by lighting them slightly from
behind.