The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-22
An Amateur Performer Who Insisted
Upon Following the Lines.

An Amateur Performer Who Insisted,
Upon Following the Lines.
1t is not often that professional actors
get mixed up in amateur theatricals,
but when they do, as a rule, their lives
are made miserable until the affair Is
over. A few years ago young WON,
an, who was one Of the reigning bellies
of the Four Hundred in this city, wrote
a romantic play, plentifully sprinkled
with singing and dancing. She read the
| play to her intimate friends, and they
one and all unanimously declared that
| it should Oe produced at one of the the
! alters where amateur performances are
| held, and that the author should play
| the part of the heroine. After much
coaxing the lady consented. The play
was called ''Kismet" The cast was Sc
| lected from among the best amateurs.
the leading man being the head and
/ front of them. The scene of the play
was laid in Turkey, in the garden and
palace of the sultan. The plot was
! hinged on the abduction of two beauti-
full girls and their final rescue.
A clever professional stage manager
was engaged at a big salary and re-
hearsals began. Everything went along
as smoothly as could be expected until
the last rehearsal, which took place on
the morning of the day appointed for the
production. when a note was hastily de-
hvered TO the stage manager saying that
the leading lady and author had lost her
voice completely, and that her physician
had ordered her not to leave the house
She was very sorry. but advised that a
professional actress be engaged to take
her place. Here was "a pretty kettle of
fsh'-how to get an actress at so short
notice. The costumes must be fitted
and the part learned before p. NJ. The
manager thought of friend of his, Mrs.
Addie Plunkett, Charles Plunkett's wife,
who had just closed her season with
Lawrence Barrett and who was then at
liberty. He sent for her and requested
her to return with the messenger. She
did so, and after long talk with the
stage manager consented to rchearse the
part. She was nervous, of course.
In the garden scene her sisters lover
has discovered her hiding place and
they are having a loving interview, the
heroine remaining on the lookout for
interruptions, which may occur in the
form of the sultau's servants, which
would mean death to the intruder. At
a certain enc the heroine rushes mp to
her sisters fiance and tells him to Fly,
fly for your hfe-some one approached
and the lover is pushed through wick
ct and escapes. Mrs. Plunkett rehearsed
the scene carefully and told the leading
man that in case she should forget 10
say all the lines she would make him
understand when it was time for him TO
make sis exit. Thus it was settled be
tween them. Evening came, and the
time for the curtain 10 be rung mp ar
rived. Most OF the performers had stage
fright, one fair amateur declaring that
she had entirely forgotten her lines and
was sure that she would faint from
sheer fright.
The performances began and Mrs.
PluHkett struggled brayely through her
part, dropping an occasional speech now
and then, bot with professional tact she
covered up her mistakes so that the all
dience was none the wiser. When the
garden scene was reached the LOVER ap-
peared in good time and she stood guard
until the proper cue was given. IL came
all right, bur alas for Mrs. Plunkett, she
had forgotten her lines. When she heard
the sultan'5 guard approach she rushed
to the lover aud said. Away begoneF
but she received no response from that !
gentleman. She pashed him and tired |
TO get him 70 go through the wicket, a.
agreed upon, but he refused 70 bulge an |
inch. and said 10 her in a stage whisper, |
SAY Fly. fy"" but Nrs. Plunkett was
beyond speecn by this time. SO she con
tinued TO push hin toward the wicket.
Her efforts were useless. however, fcp |
be resisted and declared No would not /
go until she said. &c. Fly, Ayl for your
life, some one spprosches.' 80 the audit
ence can hear YOU sail she could not
peak, but with enc herculean effort
the gave hin tremendous push that
sent him fTIug through the wicket and
INTO some stage bushes which had been
arranged ~ the back % the
stage When the performance was over
sirs. PluHkett hesved 4 sign Of relief
md said, TINS = Ihe first and lass anna
eur performance for use-7-SssT York
Tribune.