Walking Gentleman, Walking Lady

Walking Gentleman, Walking Lady
   These 19th-century lines of business were considered a step above supernumerary in that the characters that fell to these actors might occasionally speak lines. In his 1880 memoir The Stage, James E. Murdoch notes that a walking gentleman would play a character who is "essential to the progress and development of the plot," but who has "a merely mechanical part in the dialogue" (204-5). These parts, like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Hamlet, were useful for giving young actors the opportunity to observe the techniques of their betters at close range.

The Historical Dictionary of the American Theater. .

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  • Walking lady — Walking Walk ing, a. & n. from {Walk}, v. [1913 Webster] {Walking beam}. See {Beam}, 10. {Walking crane}, a kind of traveling crane. See under {Crane}. {Walking fern}. (Bot.) See {Walking leaf}, below. {Walking fish} (Zo[ o]l.), any one of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • walking lady — noun : the female counterpart of a walking gentleman * * * walking gentleman or walking lady noun An actor or actress playing very small non speaking parts for which a good appearance is required • • • Main Entry: ↑walk …   Useful english dictionary

  • Walking gentleman — Walking Walk ing, a. & n. from {Walk}, v. [1913 Webster] {Walking beam}. See {Beam}, 10. {Walking crane}, a kind of traveling crane. See under {Crane}. {Walking fern}. (Bot.) See {Walking leaf}, below. {Walking fish} (Zo[ o]l.), any one of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Walking — Walk ing, a. & n. from {Walk}, v. [1913 Webster] {Walking beam}. See {Beam}, 10. {Walking crane}, a kind of traveling crane. See under {Crane}. {Walking fern}. (Bot.) See {Walking leaf}, below. {Walking fish} (Zo[ o]l.), any one of numerous… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Walking beam — Walking Walk ing, a. & n. from {Walk}, v. [1913 Webster] {Walking beam}. See {Beam}, 10. {Walking crane}, a kind of traveling crane. See under {Crane}. {Walking fern}. (Bot.) See {Walking leaf}, below. {Walking fish} (Zo[ o]l.), any one of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Walking crane — Walking Walk ing, a. & n. from {Walk}, v. [1913 Webster] {Walking beam}. See {Beam}, 10. {Walking crane}, a kind of traveling crane. See under {Crane}. {Walking fern}. (Bot.) See {Walking leaf}, below. {Walking fish} (Zo[ o]l.), any one of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Walking fern — Walking Walk ing, a. & n. from {Walk}, v. [1913 Webster] {Walking beam}. See {Beam}, 10. {Walking crane}, a kind of traveling crane. See under {Crane}. {Walking fern}. (Bot.) See {Walking leaf}, below. {Walking fish} (Zo[ o]l.), any one of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Walking fish — Walking Walk ing, a. & n. from {Walk}, v. [1913 Webster] {Walking beam}. See {Beam}, 10. {Walking crane}, a kind of traveling crane. See under {Crane}. {Walking fern}. (Bot.) See {Walking leaf}, below. {Walking fish} (Zo[ o]l.), any one of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Walking leaf — Walking Walk ing, a. & n. from {Walk}, v. [1913 Webster] {Walking beam}. See {Beam}, 10. {Walking crane}, a kind of traveling crane. See under {Crane}. {Walking fern}. (Bot.) See {Walking leaf}, below. {Walking fish} (Zo[ o]l.), any one of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Walking papers — Walking Walk ing, a. & n. from {Walk}, v. [1913 Webster] {Walking beam}. See {Beam}, 10. {Walking crane}, a kind of traveling crane. See under {Crane}. {Walking fern}. (Bot.) See {Walking leaf}, below. {Walking fish} (Zo[ o]l.), any one of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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