The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-10

was short man, with grizzled hair and |
masterful manner; this was Sher- |
rington, the stage manager who had |
been engaged to produce the play The |
other was Harry Bracket, Carpenters
collaboration in it's authorship.
Just as the newcomer had made out
in the dark house the group he was
seeking and had bowed to the two
ladies comprising 1t, Harry Bracket
caught sight of him.
well, WILL" he cried, "the Stellar
Attraction is late, as usual-and we've
got lots of work before us tonight,
too. Sherringtor isn't at all satisfied
with the way they do either of the big
scenes in the second act; and we've got
to look out and keep them all up to
their work If we want this to be any
thing more than a mere artistic sue
cess"
"Artistic success!" said Sherring-
ton, emphatically; "why, there's money
in this thing of yours. big money, too,
If we can get all the laughs out of those
two scenes of Daisys in the second act
But it will take good work to get out
all the laughs that there ought to be,
legitimately-and we've got to do it!
Every laugh is worth a dollar and a
half; that's what say"
THE two scenes in the second act?"
inquired Carpenter. 'The one with
Stark and the one with Miss Marvin,
you mean?"
"The one with Marvin will be all
right, think" said the stage man.
ager.
I'm not so sure of that" Harry
Brackett interjected; you insisted on
her being engaged, viii, but she is
very inexperienced, and 1 don't know
how she'll get through that long
scene"
Miss Marvin is very clever" Carpen-
ter declared. eager to defend the girl
he was in love with. And she will look
the part to perfection!"
Looking is all very WELL" Bracket
responded, but 1t is acting she will
have to do in that scene in the second
| act"
And she will do it. too," asserted
the stage manager. you see she's got
her mother here tonight and there isn't
sharper old stager anywhere than
Kate Shannon Lorraine"
That's So" Harry Bracket admit
ted; II suppose Lorraine can show her
daughter how to get out of that scene
all there is IN it,
"Shannon'll see the whole play to
night" said Sherrington, land she'll be
able to give Marvin lots of pointers to-
morrow. The little girl will be all right;
It's Daisy I'm more afraid of in that
scene. 1t ought to be played high
comedy, Lady Teazle,' way up in G.
and high comedy isn't altogether in
Daisy's line"
/ THAT cans be helped now," Bracket
replied; "and if the Stellar Attraction
can't reach that scene, it's the Stellar
Attractions own fault, isn't it? You
remember, VIII, how she kept telling
us all the time we were writing the
| play that she wanted as high-toned
part as we could give her. We gave 1t
TO her and now she's just got to stretch
| up to it. if she can."
Il am not afraid of that scene" Car
penter declared, "for I've always doubt
ed whether she could really do high
comedy, and that scene is written so
that 1t will go almost as we'll If it's
| played broadly. You know there are
two ways of doing Lady Teazle."
There are no two ways about Daisy's
being a great favorite," said the stage
manager. "She's accepted, and that's s
|
matters much, how she takes that
scene; high or broad. the public will ac-
cept her. The part fits her like a glove:
and all we've got to do is to keep every
body up to concert pitch and get all
the laughs We can. You took my advice
and cut that talky scene in the third
act and now the whole act will go off
like hot cakes-see if it don't. I tell
you what it is, I'll teach you two boys
how to write a real farce before I've
done with you!"
Harry Bracket was standing almost
behind Sherrington as the stage man
ager made this speech. He winked at
Carpenter.
Yes" he said a moment later 81
think it is a pretty good piece of the
kind, and l hope it will fetch them.
At any rate. don't believe even our
worst enemies will praise it for its lit
erary merit"
Carpenter laughed little bitterly,
mo" he assented, we've got it into
shape now and 1 doubt If anybody in
suits us by saying that Touch and Co
is well written"
do you remember our joke while we
were working on it last winter, WHIP"
asked Harry Bracket. Then turning
to Sherrington he explained: 1--WE used
to say that the managers wouldn't
touch 1t, so the people couldn't go
ITS harder to touch the manager
, than 1t is to make the public CO." added
Carpenter II believe that any fool car
write play-but that only a man OF
great genius over succeeds in getting
his play produced"
: A handsome young woman will
swapping black eyes, walked on tn,
: stage briskly.
Here's the Stellar Attraction al
last" said Harry Bracket; now W.
can get down to business"
Am / late?" the handsome younl
woman asked, as she came forward
Everybody waiting for me?"
You are Just twenty minutes late
my dear" said the stage manager
looking at his watch, land we are al
waiting for you"
That's all right. then" she replied
laughing lightly; we've got all nigh
before us, haven't we?"
The prompter clapped his hands anC
called out First act!" Two clean
shaven men of indefinite age who ha,
been sitting in the wings rose an,
came forward. Mr.. Dresser todne,
them, and his manner suggested a Ger
tain increase Of his ordinary nervou
tension. A well-preserved elderly lad,
left her seat on one side of the aisle
under the proscenium box and cam
through the door which led from tn
auditorium to the stage She was fol
lowed by slight, graceful girl,a blond
with clear gray eyes.
Mrs. Castleman-Miss Marvin" sal
the promptor. seeing them; "noW w