Fig. 2. Fig. 3. Fig. 4. Fig. 5.
The flies are strips of muslin painted to represent sky in out-door scenes and ceilings in interior sets. The flies are tacked on a stick, the ends of which project beyond the body part of the fly so that they may rest on the top-rails of the stage-frame, as shown in Fig. 7. The fly part drops down two or three inches below the upper framework, so as to be visible to the spectators. The wings are of card-board or stiffened muslin tacked on frames, the bottoms of which rest on the stage. The upper part is held between the runners, or cross-rails, fastened to the under side of the top-rails, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
The front and back of a wing is shown at Fig. 8. The front, A, is the smooth side on which the tree or other feature can be painted. The back, B, shows how the frame is made to support this piece of scenery. The frame should be constructed of pine sticks three-quarters of an inch wide and half an inch thick. Where they cross each other laps should be cut out of each piece, so that one will lie flat in the lap of the other. The surfaces of all the sticks being on one plane, the frame offers a flat surface for the material to back against.
An independent piece of scenery, such as the house, tree, fence, and bushes shown in Fig. 10, will have to be built upon a frame, and a foot must be provided so that it will stand on the stage independent of any top, bottom, or side braces. The manner of doing this is shown in Fig. 11, the two feet being “loaded” with pieces of lead at the ends of the feet so that the house cannot topple forward. Very pretty scenes can be made from card-board and of stiffened goods, such as crinoline, over which the painting can be done. Books, magazines, and photographs can be drawn on to offer suggestions for scenery and interiors, and the smart boy, who has some idea of perspective, can design and make some most attractive stage-settings for this miniature theatre.
The Puppets
The actors and actresses should be celluloid or papier-maché dolls, their feet being attached to thin strips of wood, which can lie flat on the stage and be operated from the sides. When the stage is on a line with the eyes of the audience, these thin strips will hardly be noticed. Jointed dolls may be used for the actors who have occasion to sit during the performance, but it is difficult to bring about the change of posture without destroying the illusion. Trap doors and other pieces of stage machinery may be added as found necessary, and there is no limit to the ingenuity that may be exercised in equipping our miniature stage.
SCENERY SETS