Times-Advocate, 1988-11-23, Page 13Helps create costumes for Stratford
STRATFORD - The Stratford
Festival's reputation for excellence
is well deserved. It is also well
earned. The quest for perfection is a
continual process on both sides of
• the footlights. .
Rosemary Schaefer, Kirkton, got
a close-up view of this while work-
ing behind the scenes this past sea-
son as a decorator in the labyrinth
wardrobe department of the famous
• theatre.
Rosemary made all the ascots and
bow ties for the cast of My Fair
Lady. She added a darned patch to
the sweater worn by Eliza Doolittle
in her first scene, and spend hours
beading some of the beautiful
gowns that bedazzled the audience in
- the ballroom scene.
"I've always had a knack for sew-
ing. Even when 1 was a kid and
taking ballet, I made my own cos-
tumes. I was making tutus when 1
• was 10 or so", Rosemary recalled:
"It comes easy to me; 1 remember
in high school buying fabric for a
dress for the next night's dance.
. Later, she directed her skills to the
art of quilt -making, turning out
prize-winning heirlooms as a very
active member of the Huron -Perth
Quiltcrs Guild.
Rosemary has also been teaching
a night school quilting class. The
suggestion from one of her students
that she should apply for a job at
the Stratford Theatre put into words
something Rosemary ..had always
thought about. On impulse, she
called the wardrobe mistress.. For
the interview the following day, she
took along as samples of her work a
wall hanging and a crewel -
embroidered pillow. The next
week, she got a call asking if she
wouldreport' to work in two days.
That was last March.
Rosemary was hired as a decora-
tor, one of a handful of artisans who
put the embellishments and finish-
ing touches on costumes. The first
day on the job, she was handed one
of the dresses for Murder In The Ca-
thedral and told to add a darned
patch.
The outfits for certain scenes in
that production weighed 50 to 60
pounds each - the voluminous
woolen dresses were lined in addi-
tional yards of flannelette. To make
new look like old, patches were add-
ed and currycombed to shrcdsriThe
entire creation was -then spray
painted to give a dull finish.
First priority is given to cos-
tumes chosen by the designer for
"photo call". They must be corn-.
pleted Ion In advance of opening
day, ready be photographed for
promotionaibrochures and posters.
Every costume for every produc-
tion is madc by the 150 -member
wardrobe department. Each is made
to measure for the actor who will
wear it; At the end of a run, each is
stored away., and never worn again
on the Stratford stage, although
costumes from Stratford may be
rented by other theatres. - •
Polyester is a dirty word. Cos-
tumes are constructed of either 100 -
percent silk, wool or cotton. And
their creators proudly boast that
each is expertly crafted to look .as
good on the inside as right side out.
Detailed measurements of the reg-
ular actors at Stratford arc kept in a
•book. After a costume is designed
on paper, a muslim mock lip is
sewn together to. fit the intended
wearer. After the final fitting, the
entire outfit is taken apart, and the
pieces become the models for.a pa-
per pattern. • -
Ttie designer chcxt'scs fabric from_
"the cage, a room filled with bolts
and bolts of every kind and colour
of fabric. interfacing and lining -im-
aginable. If exactly the right shade
can not be .round,. the material is
died the desired hue in "the dyc
room. Most of the lace trimmings
Before you
send it,seal it.
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are ordered in white, to be trans-
formed later.
One room contains nothing but
buttons, beading, braids, and other
trimming material. Most of the
leather boots and shoes, and all the
leather belts, arc also made right at
the theatre. • '
Wardrobe employees work in
teams consisting of cutters, seam-
stresses and decorators. They strive
to outdo each other in turning out
the most perfect garments they pos-
• sibly can.
There is stress attached to the job.
"You've got to be good. If some-
thing has to.bc redone, you tell
yourself you arc being paid as much
- to tear out as to put together, but
some can't take it", Roserriary con-
fided.
One of the perks of being a war-
drobe 'employee is being allowed to
peck through the door while an ac-
tor tries on the costume you worked
on, Rosemary revealed. Another is'
complimentarytickets to most of
This may Ire all you need ro wear.
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Times -Advocate, November 23, 1988
Page 13
Festival Theatre
the productions on off nights.
An added benefit is running into
some of the famous people who
star at Stratford.'
"We often scc them in the coffee
shop. Most actors and actresses are
nice people", Rosemary said.
"And thcn there is the sastisfac-
tion of just being associated with
the Festival Theatre. It looks good
on your resume", .Rosemary added
with a gleeful smile.
Rosemary enjoyed her experience
so much this year, she plans to of-
fer her services again for the 1989
season.
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q4"e zvilt be closed
Monday, November 28
to get ready forour
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(YVe wiff resume regular
store hours on 'Tuesday
SEND YOUR
HRISTMAS
GREETINGS
THE
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Credentials - Rosemary Schaefer displays the embroidered pillow and
wall hanging that showed she was skilled enough to be hired by the ward-
robe department of the Stratford Festival Theatre.
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