Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-23
SHE HAD REHEARSED HERSELF.
A Plucky Littlei Woman Who Got Her
Name on the Bill.

There is little actress now PLAYING
modern parts, who is not we'll known
and who may never be known to the
public, says the n. 7. Tribune. But
she is the 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 a company has often
| to tread when on the road. 1t was in
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 troup was on the road there
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 a 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 understudy.
But theatrical manager is accuS-
toned 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 importance. She did not make
Of h,,t bo
breathed a sigh of relief when he had
satisfied himself that she could STUN
bic through her lines in a fairly decent
fashion.
Now" he said, having disposed of
this knotty problem, Il must make
some arrangement for this third part"
A little woman who was standing on
the stage came forward and said firm
ly: 81 would like to play that part"
She was one of those women who are
to be found in every play, one who is
lady in waiting in one scene, part of
the mob in another, and perhaps one
of a garden party in another-one who
walks a 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"
"Oh, I know them very well. Won't
YOU rehearse me?"
Well" said the manager, doubt
fully, Il suppose l 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 d
pleased smile spread over the managers
face. He nodded his head approvingly as
she continued, and she, encouraged by
his fricndliness, lost her first shvness
and ended with fire and spirit which
called forth from the worried manager
a hearty cry Of applause.
''Good!' he cried. you do better
than Miss Nj, who is going to take
the second part. All" he added, a
shade Of disappointment darlzening his
face, If you only knew those lines"
But | do" she said delightedly.
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 M, glad to be re-
lieved of her responsibility, was re-
hearsed in the lines Of the third part.
The curtain was few minutes late in
rising that night, but it was a smiling
and grateful manager who watched
little woman, whose name he had not
thought to ask. save the company in
so graceful a fashion. When the cur
tain came down on the last scene he
asked her how she happened to know
the lines.
Il learned them was the happy
reply, Il know all the lines in the
play"
'But you rehearsed so Well?"
ooh, | used to rchearse myself in
my room after the play. | thought l
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 was sent home seriously i'll. When
the play opened in the next town there
was a new name on the program-a
name which had never before been
seen on any program, and the little
woman whose pluck and intelligence
had saved the company played that
part for the rest of the season.