DIAGRAM VI.—­KITCHEN SET No. 1

This arrangement of a Kitchen Set makes use of three doors, emphasizing the double doors in the centre of rear wall, which open out on an interior backing or a wood or garden drop.  In this and the following setting a small window can be fitted into the upper half of either of the single doors.

DIAGRAM VII.—­KITCHEN SET No. 2

Two doors only are used in this setting; the double doors, in the same relative position as in the preceding arrangement, open out on a wood or landscape backing.  The fireplace is brought out on stage-right.  The single door on stage-left opens on an interior backing.

DIAGRAM VIII.—­WOOD OR GARDEN SET

Many theatres have two sets of Exterior wings—­one of Wood Wings and one of Garden Wings.  In some houses the Wood Wings are used with the Garden Drop, set vases and balustrades being used to produce the garden effect, as shown here.  Some theatres also have a Set House and Set Cottage, which may be placed on either side of the stage; each has a practical door and a practical window.  With the Set House and Set Tree slight variations of exterior settings may be contrived.

4.  Properties

In the argot of the stage the word “property” or “prop” means any article—­aside from scenery—­necessary for the proper mounting or presentation of a play.  A property may be a set of furniture, a rug, a pair of portieres, a picture for the wall, a telephone, a kitchen range or a stew-pan—­indeed, anything a tall that is not scenery, although serving to complete the effect and illusion of a scene.

Furniture is usually of only two kinds in a vaudeville playhouse.  There is a set of parlor furniture to go with the parlor set and a set of kitchen furniture to furnish the kitchen set.  But, while these are all that are at the immediate command of the property-man, he is usually permitted to exchange tickets for the theatre with any dealer willing to lend needed sets of furniture, such as a desk or other office equipment specially required for the use of an act.

In this way the sets of furniture in the property room may be expanded with temporary additions into combinations of infinite variety.  But, it is wise not to ask for anything out of the ordinary, for many theatre owners frown upon bills for hauling, even though the rent of the furniture may be only a pair of seats.

For the same reason, it is unwise to specify in the property-list—­ which is a printed list of the properties each act requires—­anything in the way of rugs that is unusual.  Though some theatres have more than two kinds of rugs, the white bear rug and the carpet rug are the most common.  It is also unwise to ask for pictures to hang on the walls.  If a picture is required, one is usually supplied set upon an easel.