Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-07-24
SHE HAD REHEARSED HERSELF.

SHE HAD REHEAkSED HEkSELE.
A Plucky Little woman who Saved .
Theatrical Company from Embarrass.
ment and Got Her Name on the Bill.
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 q
theatrical manager who was telling OF
the rough paths company has often
to tread when on the road. Tt was in q
town out West where the company was
to play only three nights that three OF
the actresses fell ill. One of them
played the leading part, and while the
troupe was on the road there was only
one understudy the one for the lead
ing 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 q 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 principal parts without those who
regularly played them and there was
only one understudy.
But theatrical manager is accus-
toned to facing hard tasks at short mo-
tice, and he at once set to work to re-
construct for one night the company.
A woman who took minor part was
hastily rehearsed for the second role in
point of importance. She did not make
q success of it, but the manager
breathed sigh of relief when he had
satisfied himself that she could stumble
through her lines in a fairly decent
fashion.
"Now," he said, having disposed of
this knotty problem, 81 must make
some arrangements for the third part. "
A little woman who was standing on
the stage, came forward and said firmly:
Il 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
a garden party in another-one who
walks u great deal, changes her gowns
many times, but never says anything.
When she volunteered to try the part
the manager was vexed.
"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, know them very we'll. Won't
you rehearse me?"
well, said the manager, doubtfully,
II suppose I must. We have got to do
something. Come, let's try it."
AS the quiet little woman with the Sc
rious eyes went over the lines, pleased
smile went over the managers face. He
nodded his head approvingly as she
continued, and she, encouraged by his
friendliness, lost her shyness and ended
with fire and spirit which called forth
from the worried manager hearty cry
of applause.
"Good," he cried. "You do better
than Miss M, who is going to take the
second part. Ah," he added, q shade
of disappointment darkening his face,
"if you only knew those lines"
"But I do, she said delightedly.
You do? Then rattle them off just
as fast as your tongue can wag."
So they went through these lines, the
manager becoming more and more
cheerful. Miss M, glad to be relieved
of her responsibility, was rehearsed in
the lines of the third part. The cur
tain was few minutes late in rising
that night, but it was smiling and
grateful manager who watched
little woman, whose name he had not
thought to ask, save the company in SO
graceful fashion. When the curtain
came down on the last scene he asked
her how she happened to know the
lines.
Il learned them," was the reply. 1T
know all the lines in the play"
But you rehearse so well?"
"Oh, used to rehearse myself in my
room after the play. thoug ht I could
do it" she said with 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 new name on the pro-
gramme-a name which had never be-
fore been on any programme, and the
little woman whose pluck and intelli-
gence had saved the company played
that part the rest of the season, ~ Y,
Tribune.