Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-06-11
HAD REHEARSED HERSELF.
A Plucky Little Woman Who Saved
Theatrical Company.
From the New York

From the New York Tribune.
There is little actress now playing
modest parts who is not we'll known,
and who may never be known to the
public. But she is an example of the
plucky American girl who has to make
her living, and perseveres in her work.
The writer was told of her case by a
theatrical manager who was telling of
the rough paths company has often to
tread when on the road. 1t was in q
town out West where the company was
to play only three nights that three of
the actresses fell i'll. One of them
played the leading part, and while
the troupe was on the road
there was only one understudy-
the one for the leading lady. The
leading lady had been i'll for several
days, but she hoped to appear that night
as usual. Toward evening, however,
she sent a message that her physician
had insisted on her going to bed. This
threw her part to her understudy. The
manager was thrown into panic few
minutes later by getting word that two
more of his actresses were severely i'll,
as this left the three principal parts
without those who regularly played
them, and there was only one under
study.
But a theatrical manager is accustomed
to facing hard tasks at short notice, and
he at once set to work to reconstruct for
one night his company. A woman who
took a minor part was hastily rehearsed
for the second role in point of import
ance. She did not make success of it,
but the manager breathed sigh of re-
lief when he had satisfied himself that
she could stumble through her lines in
a fairly decent fashion.
10 Il &c
this knotty problem, II must make some
arrangement for the third part"
A little woman who was standing on
the stage came forward and said firmly:
9 would like to play that part"
She was one of those women who are
to be found in every play, one who is a
lady In waiting In one scene, part of
the mob in another, and perhaps one of
garden party in another-one who
walks great deal, changes her gowns
many times, but never says anything.
When she volunteered to try the part
the manager was yeXed.
why" said he CURLY, ''you have
never had line have you?"
Not many" she answered simply.
You haven't two hours to learn the
lines"
ooh, I know them very we'll. Won't
you rehearse me?''
"Well, said the manager, doubtfully,
81 suppose must. We have got to do
something. Come, let's try it."
As the quiet little woman with the
serious eyes went over the lines,
pleased smile spread over the managers
face. He nodded his head approvingly
as she continued, and she, encouraged
by his friendliness, lost her first shyness
and ended with a fire and spirit which
called forth from the worried manager
hearty cry of applause.
"Good," he cried You do better
than Miss NJ, who is going to take the
second part. Ah,' he added, a shade Of
disappointment darkening his face, eli
you only knew those lines
"But do" she said, delightedlv.
"You do? Then rattle them off just
as fast as your tongue can wag."
So they went through those lines the
manager becoming more and more
cheerful. Miss NJ, glad to be relieved
of her responsibility, was rehearsed in
the lines of the third part. The curtain
was a few minutes late in rising that
night but it was smiling and grateful
manager who watched a little woman,
whose name he had not thought to ask,
save the company III so graceful fash
ion. When the curtain came down on
the last scene he asked her how she
happened to know the lines.
81 learned Them was the happy re-
ply. II know all the lines in the play"
But you rehearsed so well?''
ooh, | used to rehearse myself in my
room after the play. [ thought 1 could
do it," she said, with a proud smile on
her face.
The actress whose place she had as
sumed did not appear on the next night.
She had been sent home seriously ILL.,
When the play opened in the next town
there was a new name on the pro-
gramme-a name which had never be-
fore been on any programme, and the
little woman whose pluck and inteli-
gence had saved the company played
that part for the rest of the season.