APPENDIX

LIGHT PLOT OF "MIMA," ACT I

 In staging "Mima," David Belasco achieved results in production
methods that had not previously been attempted by any producer or
director.
 Productions of this kind can be made only by those who are
willing to set aside all thoughts of monetary compensation, the
reward being in gratification for having accomplished the
seemingly impossible. The initial expenses for production and
rehearsals are so great, with high running expenses superadded,
that even if the attraction is a success and plays to capacity in
a theatre as small as the Belasco, the end of the run will show a
deficit of many thousand dollars.
 Two years were spent in planning the production of "Mima." The
Belasco Theatre was closed nine and a half weeks, at the height
of the theatrical season. The major portion of the time was
consumed in getting scenery and lights in place and making the
various pieces of intricate mechanism function properly.
 The setting was carried out into the auditorium as far as the
balconies, a gigantic machine, most of which was constructed of
iron and sheet steel. Tons of iron were used for supports and
decorations. Forty-five thousand nickel upholstery nails were
used to give the effect of rivet heads.
 Motors and lights were so numerous that there was hardly a place
that the eye could travel without seeing them. Each light was
connected individually with a dimmer; and every are lens was
fitted with an iris diaphragm.
 Thus every phase of illumination was under perfect control.
 The last four weeks were taken up almost entirely with
rehearsals, each of which started at ten A.M. and usually lasted
until three A.M. the following morning. David Belasco spent at
least twenty hours out of every twenty four in the theatre. When
the rehearsal was over he would still remain, absorbed in
watching his staff make the changes he had ordered during it.
Five A.M. was the time the crew generally left the theatre, to
return at nine thirty to be ready for the next rehearsal at ten.
 The first scene was the Magister's Laboratory, the setting being
draped in black hangings made of a special cloth with a sheen
like patent leather. The effectiveness of this depended entirely
on the lighting--the different changes and their smooth
manipulation. The scenes of the visions were especially
effective. They were done in a new and novel manner. The
"visions" were set on an elevated platform, in front of which
there was a round gauze ten feet in diameter, framed in a black
velvet drop. When the lights were gradually brought up on the
"vision," the elevated platform was twelve feet above stage
level. As the lights came on, the scene started slowly to
descend, the lights being raised at the same speed as the
movement of the sinking platform. The resultant illusion was that
the scene was suspended in the air; and as it slowly went down it
seemed to float. The elevator was operated by a motor that was
equipped with automatic stops; and push-buttons were used to
start the platform either up or down.
 In an ordinary production the manipulation of switches and
dimmer controls is comparatively simple because in most cases
these changes are made on cues where exact timing is not of great
importance. In "Mima" the tempo was important as the
effectiveness of the lighting actually depended on exact timing.
In bringing the lights either up or down the dimmer handles had
to move at varying speeds, at times starting slowly up to a
certain point, then increasing, and slowing up at the end of the
dimming. At other times this order was reversed; and all its
intricacies had to be remembered by the men who worked the
controls. It would have been useless to write it into the
lighting plot as too much time would have been required to read
it. Besides, the work was more a matter of feeling which could
not be explained definitely in words. It was only by constant
rehearsing, which gave the men practice, that the desired results
were attained.
 To give the reader an idea of the method we adopted I have
inserted a full copy of the first act plot. It is in two main
sections, the one being a general plot for reference, the other a
working plot.
 The General plot is a condensed version; the one attached to the
manuscript is more explanatory and contains as many words as the
text.


GENERAL PLOT    ACT I
As music of overture starts house lights go down. Pull  house  
switches from top to bottom separately, leaving
 blue dome and boxes on.
Stereopticon effects are thrown on both sides of proscenium arch  
at definite music cue during overture. Whirligigs on either side  
of stage come up together slowly on second music cue.
Cave (Icebox--green) lights follow whirligigs. 
Whirligigs die down on music cue; also stereopticons. Pull house  
lights at roll of drums, so that auditorium will be totally dark  
before last note of overture is sounded.
Red lens is thrown on Malacoda after he has entered and stands in 
 place. The lens should be thrown simultaneously with the last  
note of overture.
When Magister enters: Throw red spot on him.
When Worker Devils run on and group about Magister:
 Spread red spot to include them.
"It is the Adjutant!" Red aisle light on Left is brought  on.  
Balcony red lights come on. Light drapery strip to one-half.  
Bring on switchboard lens.
When Worker Devils exit: Reduce red spot down to Magister's face. 
 Throw blue baby lens from Left on Rubicante's face.
When noise of Dancer Devils leaping through Pit is  heard; Bring  
drapery strip down to three-quarter mark, but bringing it up to  
full as Court marches down. When Members of Court sit: Bring  
drapery strip down to one-fourth mark.
"The Master wants the Manikins!" Green spot from front is thrown  
on Left steps. Take off red lens. Dim  down red spot on Magister  
to cover only his face. Dim  drapery strip very low. Bring up     
cave lights.
When last of Manikins reaches stage: Diminish out green front     
 spot. Green babies (Right, 1st entrance--left, 2nd entrance) to  
 be thrown on.
"Switch on that violet ray" Put on violet reflector from flies    
 and spread slowly over group of Manikins. 
"Hide behind the curtain!" Diminish out violet reflector. 
When Manikins exit: Take off green babies. Bring up drapery strip 
 to one-third mark.
"Now bring Mima!" Throw green front spot on cave.  Throw green    
 baby light from Right on steps so that Rubicante can descend.
As Magister comes toward center of stage: Increase red front spot 
 on him. Increase drapery strip, to one-half. 
When music commences: Dim drapery strip down and out. Decrease    
 red front spot on Magister.
As Mima comes up steps to stage: Green front spot on  cave        
 increases and follows her to top of steps, then goes out as      
 green babies, Right and Left, pick her up. 
"Behold Majesty-perfection!'' Drapery strip goes to mark four.
                            FRONT SPOT MIMA LIGHT 
"Now, she will awaken!"      Violet      -----
"...vocal records. Begin"    Violet       Red 
"Farfarello. Begin.!"        Green        Green
"... love and hate."
(Light changes accord-  Red, green, red, Red, green, red, 
 ing to emotions ex-    green, red,      green, red, 
 pressed, but preceding green, red.      green, red.
 them.)
"Now, indifference!"         Blue         Red 
". . . to lie now."          Pink         White 
"Reverse! The truth!"        Green        Amber
"The virtuous married
 woman."                     Pink         White
"Now !"                      Red          Red     
going to swear."             Green        White
" get herself out of it."    Red          Amber
". . . French, Mima. A
street-walker."              Red          White
" . according to their
 ranks."                     Violet       White 
"Hello, Freddie."            Pink         Amber

When Mima exits: Put green babies out. Bring drapery
 strip up to full. Increase red spot on Magister. 
When telescope curtains are ready to open: Put on red
 strip behind ground row Right.
"Open!" Bring all lights down. Dim drapery strip down  to mark.  
Amber pockets on dimmer up to high mark on prompt side only.
"...sky above the earth!" Bring Right reflector, blue, to full.  
White pockets on full and dim up to high mark on prompt side  
only.
"Then let us begin our search." Bring blue reflectors on  Right  
to one half. Dim white and amber pockets to
 low mark.
"... of his home life." Bring drapery strip to four  mark. The  
curtains on the Schoolmaster's Scene have  been opened and blue  
lights in Schoolmaster's vision  begin to develop. Pink and  
amber lenses come up, the  amber lights working up as the vision  
descends.  
"... plate of appetiz..." Pull lights to flash out
 Schoolmaster's Scene. Drapery strip goes out. 
When curtain close: Bring drapery strip to mark.
"... fair lady's boudoir." Develop descending Poet's Scene--Amber 
 lens on Left and pink lens on Right, above. Drapery strip goes  
out, and then up to two mark.
"Snap it out!" Pull switch and flash out Poet's Scene. 
 When Court Devils jump up: Red spot is spread on them from  
front, remaining until they are seated and quiet again. Red face  
spot only on Magister as he spreads his coat-tails. The light on  
Magister should increase whenever he attempts to address Court.  
Drapery strip goes out.
When curtains close on Poet's Scene: Bring drapery strip to mark.
"... the idol of his people . ú ." Flash in Politician's  Rostrum 
 Scene, with blue strip and amber lens. Bring
 drapery strip to same mark.
"Snap it off" Pull switches to flash out Politician's Rostrum  
Scene. Bring drapery strip up. Throw front red spot on Court  
Devils.
As Court Devils finish railing at Politician: Drapery strip
 slowly dims. Red front spot is taken off Court. 
"Master! Master!" Drapery strip dims out.
"... look him over then." Forester's Scene develops by bringing   
on blue strip, amber strip, and pink and amber  lenses. Drapery  
strip goes up to point between marks  two and three.  
When Honka stands up: Throw on baby lenses Right and Left, with  
amber baby lens from Left on her face.
"~ . . damned in one hour." Bring drapery strip down to   
one-fourth mark. Moonlight comes into scene by taking off amber
strip and pink and amber lenses, and  bringing up blue strip to
one-fourth mark.
"Alichino! Calcabrina !" As they enter from Right, throw red   
front spot on the two devils, and follow them with it until they  
run off Right. Hold red spot on point  where they exeunt, and  
when they reenter from Right,  an instant later, follow them  
with spot across stage. As  they run off Left, the red spot is  
flashed up to top of  Left proscenium arch, and then out.
At start of chimes: Pink and amber in vision are entirely off,  
and blue for moonlight is fully developed.
When arms of Alichino and Calcabrina appear in vision: Throw red  
babies Right and Left on arms.
"Help" (3rd time). Blue strip in vision goes out. After count of  
six, put out babies on Devils' arms.
When telescope curtains close: Take off telescope light,  blue  
sky, stars, and flames by dimming out amber and  white pockets  
and pulling socket. Bring drapery strip  to full. Put on red  
lens.
"... have you any creamed cabbage?" Take off red lens.
When Satan exits: Red front spot comes on Satan when he mounts  
Right steps to stage. Red light from reflector, first entrance  
Left strikes across stage and goes off as last of procession  
exits. Red spot on Satan goes  off as he exits Left. Drapery  
strip dims slowly to out  as last of Court leave. Red front spot  
on Magister decreases to size of face spot.
"quick, Mima!" White entrance light on Right comes on. Throw on  
green babies, Right and Left.
"Mima! Wake up!" Throw violet ray from front on Mima.
As Mima is carried off: "I can't fail!" Take violet ray off Mima.
When Rubicante exits with Mima: White entrance light on Right and 
 green babies Right and Left come off. 
When Magister exits: Take red front spot off. Bring up house  
lights switch quick, at signal light from stage Left.


END OF ACT I


WORKING PLOT

Music Cue: No. I up slow.
Music Cue: No. I down and out. No. g Cave up to first
 mark.
Last note of music: NO. 14 flashed in (Dimmer set one-
 third) Lens. No. 13 flashed in (Dimmer full) Ref. 
"Thank you, Sir." Noú 14 up full. No. 13 down and out. 
"See what it is-it is the Adjutant." NO. 12 Aisle up full. 
"... to your electric bridge." No. 6 Switchboard up one-
 third mark.
At Devil's Hymn: No. 12 down and out.
"Rubicante, the Manikins!" No. 14 down and out. No. 9 up half.
As Manikins come on: No. 7 nitch green up one-third.
 No. 5 midgets up half.
". . . with your violet ray. Begin!" No. 4 slowly up. 
"Hide behind the curtain." No. 4 slowly out.
As Manikins leave: No. 7 down and out. No. 5 up to full .
When Manikins are off: NO. 5 down and out. Plug lens in No. 10.   
Hanger No. 5. C-1-2-3-4 No. 14. B-3-4 No. 13. B-1-2 No. 12.
". . . with your vocal records. Begin!" No. 2 slowly up.
"Kiss me--kiss me." No. 2 down.
"... register hate." No. 2 slowly up.
". . . I'll kill you--I'll kill you!" No. 2 down on dimmer. 
Turn on the alternating current, love and hate: No. 2 up on  
dimmer.
After Mima weeps: No. 2 down and out. No. 6 down and out.
"Take her to the engine room, touch her." No. 4 first entrance  
floor up one-third.
As Mima leaves stage: No. 4 down and out. No. 10 up. 
When man, says "Open."' No. 9 cave light down to glow. No. 10  
down.

SCHOOLMASTER'S SCENE

Set up: No. 11-12-13-14 dimmer down. No. 12 switch in.
"I shall throw the Schoolmaster's home on the screen." No. 12  
blue strip up slowly to one-fourth.
As elevator starts: No. 12 up to one-third mark. Throw in No. 13. 
 Switch in together: amber reflector threefourths mark--No. 11;  
No. 13 amber strip and window one-third mark; No. 14 pink  
reflector up to one-half.
"I will go where I can get a plate of appetiz..." Pull switches  
Nos. 11-12-13-14. Bring Nos. 11-12-13 dimmers back down. Throw  
No. 12 switch in. Note: Change window plug from No. 13 to 14 on  
top of board.


BOUDOIR SCENE

Curtain: No. 12 (blue X-ray to mark).
When trap is down: No. 11 reflector amber up full. No. 14  
reflector pink and floor lamp up to mark when up full. No.13   
throw switch and ride up full. 
"Snap it off." Pull switches Nos. 1-12-14-13.

POLITICIAN'S SCENE

Nos. 11-12 on mark half-one-third. 
"idol of his people." Flash in Nos. 11-12. 
"Snap it off." Pull switches Nos. 11-12.

FORESTER'S SCENE

"We'll take a look at him then." No. 12 up to mark (on dimmer  
slowly).
When trap is down: Nos. 11-14 up to full (on dimmer slowly).
"We will see him damned in one hour." No. 12 slowly up to half  
mark.
 Together( No. 11 slowly down. )Very slowly
           No. 14 slowly down.
"Help Help! Help" Pull Nos. 11-12-14.
When curtains are closed: No. 10 lens up full. Nos. 6-9 up half.
"... creamed cabbage" (buffet): No. 10 down (lens on
 bridge). No. 5 (first entrance hanger) up full. 
When last man is off: No. 5 down and out. No. 10 up full. 
After: "quick! Bring Mima!"
"Draghignazzo, your ray!" No. 8 up slowly to one-third  mark (No. 
 8 first entrance up). No. 10 down and out--quick.
When man picks up Mima and turns: Nos. 6-8-9 down and out on  
dimmer.

END OF ACT I


FRONT SPOTLIGHT NUMBER ONE

Magister's entrance, first Entrance Right: Throw red pin spot on  
him.
"...schedule": Increase spot at Center of stage. 
When Workers enter: Cover all. Follow Magister throughout act.

FRONT SPOTLIGHT NUMBER TWO

"Bring on the Manikins!" Green spot as cave door opens.  Stay   
till last Manikin is up to top of steps and out slowly. 
"Bring on Mima!" Green spot on cave door as it opens, and follows 
 Mima to Left of stage. Blind off slowly as she starts to Center  
of stage.
"She will awaken!" Violet spot large on Mima as Mima light comes  
on. Violet spot small.
"My darling My darling!" Blind off.
". . . will register hate." Green spot on Mima.
"... knife and I'll kill ..." Spot out.
"... love and hate!" Red spot on Mima.
"Kiss Me!" (I love you!): Green spot on Mima. 
"don't touch me!" (I hate you I): Red spot on Mima. 
"Ah, Kiss me!" (Don't touch me!): Green spot on Mima. 
"Stop! Don't I hate you!" (I hate you): Red spot on Mima.
"I love you!" Green spot on Mima.
"I hate you!" Red spot on Mima.
"I love you!" Blind off.
"Now, indifference!" Blue spot on Mima.
"...to lie now!" Pink spot on Mima"s dress. 
"... Reverse!" Green spot on Mima's dress.
". . . virtuous married woman!" Pink spot covers Mima. 
"Now!" Red spot covers Mima.
". . . going to swear!" Green spot on Mima's dress. 
". . . herself out of it" Red spot on Mima's dress.
"...do away with myself!" Out.
"... street-walker!" Red spot covers Mima.
"Ow, Kiss me foot!" Out.
". .. to their ranks!'' Violet spot covers Mima. 
"Hello, Freddie!" Pink spot covers Mima.
"She weeps!" Blind slowly.
During Boudoir Scene: Red spot on Satan.
Devils go up to apron of stage: Red spot comes to a flood. Devils 
 turn and sit down: Red flood comes to spot on Satan.
Politician's Scene: Devils go up to apron of stage: Red  spot on  
Satan comes to flood.
"Master, Master!" Blind off slowly.
Forester's Scene: Two Devils enter: Red spot on them, and follow  
to exit.
Two Devils return, Right: Follow them across stage and shoot  
straight up in air, Left, and blind off.
After two Devils exit: Red spot on Satan, follow him up
 across stage, and off slowly when he exits.
Mima comes to center of stage-"Mima" Small violet spot on Mima.
"Wake up, Mima!" Larger violet spot, on Mima.
"I can't fail!" Blind off.

END OF ACT I


HOUSE SWITCHBOARD

No front lights, this act.
Music Cue: Pull house switches from top to bottom separately  
leaving blue dome and boxes on.
Music Cue: Front switch. Fire effect. Dim up full. 
Music Cue: Dim fire. Dim to out. Pull switch. 
Music Cue: Dim balance of house lights quickly and pull switch.
Workers repeat: "Turning, bobbing, throbbing": Front switch and   
dim two reflectors up about one-half. Drapery strip to four  
mark.
Court enters pit: Drapery strip to high mark and dim out  
reflectors. Fronts while Court stands. After song put front  
dimmer to full for spotlight.
"Master wants the Manikins" Dim drapery strip all down.
Exit Manikins: Drapery strip up to mark 3. 
"Ready--Mima" Drapery strip dim all down and out. 
"Behold. Your Majesty!" Drapery strip to mark 4. 
Exit Mima: Drapery strip to full.
"Open!" Amber pockets on dimmer up to high mark,  prompt side  
only. Drapery strip dim down to mark,  
"Give me the sky above the earth, Malacoda." White pockets on  
and dim up to high mark, prompt side only. 
"Let us begin our search." Dim white and amber pockets to low  
mark.
"We well view a close-up." Drapery strip to 4 mark. 
First Vision--The end, curtain-"get a plate of apetiz...."  
Drapery strip out.
Curtain closed~ Drapery strip to mark.
Second Vision--"... peck into lady's boudoir." Drapery strip out.
Scene develops: Drapery strip to 2 mark.
Court rises: Drapery strip out.
Curtain closed: Drapery strip to mark, and remains through third  
vision.
"Master! Master!" Dim out drapery strip.
Scene develops: Drapery strip dims up to between 2 and 3 mark.
Devils enter: Dim drapery strip to mark 4.
Cyclorama for telescope closes: Amber and white pockets dimout.   
Pull switches. Drapery strip to full.
Music and exit of Court: Dim drapery strip slowly to out as last  
of Court exits.
Exit of Mima: Signal lights. House switch quick.