Evening star., 1896-09-26

hind Sherrinston as the stage manager
made this speech. He winked at Carpenter
Yes he said a moment later Il think
1t is a pretty good piece of the kind, and
hope it will fetch them. At any rate. 1
don't believe even our worst enemies will
praise 1t foe it's literary merit. -
Carpenter laughed a little bitterly. NO.
he assented. we've got it into shape now
and / doubt if anybody insults us by saying
that Touch and Co is well written"
DO you remember our joke while we
were working on it last winter, Will?' ask
ed Harry Bracket. Then. turning to Sher-
r:ngton, he explained: I'VE used to say
that the managers wouldn't touch it. so
the people couldn't go.
Its harder to touch the manager than
1t is to make the public CO., added car
renter. Il believe that any fool can write
a play-but that only a man of great genius
ever succeeds in getting his play produced.
A handsome young woman with swapping
black eyes walked on the stage briskly.
Here's the Stellar Attraction at last,
said Harry Brackett; now we can get
down to business"
Am 1 late?" the handsome young wo-
man asked, as she came forward. Every
body waiting for me?"
You are just twenty minutes late. my
dear" said the stage manager. looking at
his watch, land we are all waiting for
you"
"Thats all right, them" she replied,
laughing lightly; we've got all night be-
fore us, haven't we?"
The prompter clapped his hands and call
ed out First act!' Two clean-shaven men
of indefinite age. who had been sitting in
the wings. rose and came forward Mr..
Dresser Joined them, and his manager sug-
gested a certain increase of his ordinary
nervous tension. A well-preserved elderly
lady left her seat on one side of the aiSleS
under the proscenium box and came
through the door which led from the au-
ditorium to the stage. She was followed
by slight, graceful girl, a blonde with
clear gray eyes.
Mrs Castleman-Miss Marvin" said the
promptor. seeing them; now we all
ready"
And then the serious business of the re-
hearSal began. Mrs. Castleman came down
\ to the center of the stage and took up a
newspaper and read the date of 1t aloud
and remarked that 1t was just five years
since master and mistress had parted In
anger. adding that neither of them had put
| foot inside the old house in all the five
| years. and yet 1t was not an hour from
+, New York. Then one of the minor actors
| an awkward young fellow, one of the two
| tered with a telegram, which he gave tc
| Mrs. Castleman. She tore it open and read
| 1t aloud. TIE master would arrive early
| that evening. Then Miss Marvin, the gir
! with the clear blue eyes, came forward
| with an open letter in her hand and tol6
| Mrs. Castleman that the mistress of th>
house would be home again at last early
that morning. And thus the rehearsal
y,
| business in hand. The speeches of the
| actors were interrupted now and then b.
| the stage manager. Take the last seem
| over again. he might command, whereupor
the performers would resume their places
| as before and begin again. Don't eros
| till he takes the stage. my dear. And whel
| he says: What is the meaning Of this? -?
don't be in hurry. Wait. and then sa!
| your aside: Can he suspect" in a hOarS
| whisper. See?''
Finally there was jingle Of sleighbells
and the orchestra, beginning family an
slowly. soon worked up to swift forte
and then Miss Daisy Fostelle made he
first appearance through the broad door a
the back of the stage. Finding that sh
had taken everybody by surprise; sh
pect me. 1 see-but I hope you are all gla
| to see me once more.
A thin. cadaverous man with a heav
black mustache here stepped forward t
face the wife he had not seen for five years
I'VE are all glad to see you once more" h
had to say, very glad, indeed, and we ar
gladder still to see that you seem to be Il
such excellent health and such high spirits
The separation has not difnmed the bright
ness Of your eyes nor" Here the tai
gaunt actor stopped and hesitated -
don't know what's the matter with tha
speech" he said, imoatiently, but can
get 1t into my head. l never had sue
tricky lines!
The prompter gave him the word he need
ed. and no one else paid any attention t
this outbreak.
The two authors were seated at the tabl
in the center of the footlights, and Harr
Brackett whispered to Carpenter: stark
getting the big head, isn't he? The idea {
a mere cuff-shooter like that taking hin
self seriously"
Then there followed an important seem
In which the wife gave her husband a witt
and vivacious account of all her doing
during the five years of their separatio!
ending with the startling announcemer
that she had spent six weeks in South DE-
kota and had there procured a divort
from him! But there is no need to disclos
here in detail the plot of Touch and Co. &
the new American comedy unfoded itse
scene by scene. AS the end of the act al
preached. Sherrington pressed the actors
play more briskly, so as to bring the GU
tain down swiftly on unexpected b,
carefully prepared tableau.
When the act was over the stage man.
ger had the final passages repeated twice,
make sure of its going smoothly at the fir
| performance, and then the stage was clea