The stand must be draped in dark colors, so as to obtrude as little as possible on the audience. While in preparation, all other lights near you should be turned off, and only switched on for a moment or two the instant you are ready. The attitude should be struck in the dark, and this must be sure and swiftly taken, and absolutely in keeping with the character assumed. Avoid grease paints as far as possible.
A pianoforte or small orchestra playing some melody suitable to the impersonation will prove a most valuable adjunct to the imagination of artist and audience.
Avoid such hackneyed characters as Napoleon, the late Sir Henry Irving, the German Emperor, and similar portrayals that may be witnessed any evening at almost any vaudeville hall. An audience is frequently more amused by the imitation of types than of individuals.
Fig. 2.—The costermonger.
Fig. 3.—The lady-killing curate.
The fat saloonkeeper, the costermonger ([Fig. 2]), the blasé gentleman of fashion, the racetrack bookmaker, the ruddy countryman, the lady-killing curate ([Fig. 3]), and the typical Soap King ([Fig. 4]), the country rustic ([Fig. 5]), and many other such types are excellent studies for representation.
Fig. 4.—The soap king.