How to become an actor

THE DUTY OF THE CALL-BOY.

The call-boy acquaints the characters of the drama of the approach of the time when they must appear upon the stage, and furnishes them with “side-props,” or properties used in the drama, and not found upon the stage. Such things as rings, vials, daggers, notes, and side props, as they are carried on. Half an hour before the time for ringing up the curtain, the call-boy descends to the dressing-rooms and shouts:

“Half-hour!”

At a quarter of eight he again descends and announces:

“Fifteen minutes!”

Ten minutes after he makes the first call, which for “Romeo and Juliet” would be:

“No. 1:

“Sampson, Gregory, Abram, Balthasar, Benvolio, Tybalt, Montague, Capulet, Supers, etc. First act; everybody up to begin!”

Thus is the call-boy’s plot made out, and opposite each name is placed the properties used by that person.

At the final rehearsal all these properties are used, and the calls made just as at night. In making out a call-boy’s plot make as follows: If there be but one call during each act, place the word “act” after call; if for one scene, the word “scene;” if the person called makes an exit and reappears, put “twice” after his name, thus: