The face, arms, neck, and hands must be as white as it is possible to make them. Face powder applied in the ordinary way will not give the required whiteness, and it is easily rubbed off.
Here is a professional actor’s recipe which is perfectly harmless and will make the
Flesh Like Marble:
Take one ounce of white-zinc powder and three ounces of glycerine and rose-water—two-thirds glycerine, one-third rose-water. Shake the glycerine and rose-water together, mixing them well, then add the ounce of white-zinc powder and shake again until thoroughly mixed. Apply with a sponge and let it dry, then smooth it with your hand and powder with any pure face powder.
To Remove
First wash with warm water, then rub with cold-cream. Wipe the cream off with a soft linen cloth, after which powder the skin to prevent chapping. Always allow plenty of time for making the flesh absolutely white, as this can not be done in a hurry.
Subjects for Tableaux
It is a wise plan to choose a subject already presented by some sculptor and copy his work as closely as possible, for the artist has given much thought and study to the posing of his figures and the lines of his drapery, and one can be sure the artistic effect will be good; or a subject may be found in some painting which will be suitable for statuary, and this also will have the advantage of having been designed by an artist. Most of the tableaux should be selected in this way, but a few variations, where a surprise for the audience is prepared, or seemingly impossible effects are produced, gives piquancy and charm to the entertainment.
The Armless Bust
The effect of armless or mutilated statues which, to the audience, appear almost miraculous, may be produced by simply covering the parts of the body, supposed to be missing, with dull black cloth. Everyone knows that by covering one of the front teeth with a piece of black sticking-plaster the perfect effect of a lost tooth is given, and it is on the same principle that limbs are cut off or figures decapitated in statuary tableaux.