St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1899-04-22
A Iheater Diplomat
BY William Armstrong
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1T HE first act was almost over wf1e,
| Il the tenor, the soprano and th
contralto got together in the wing
and decided if the manager failed t.
arrive as he had telegraphed and set
tie up the payroll, now overdue, the,
would not sing the opera out.
When the news spread, as it ouickl,
| did, the chorus with slight dissen,
agreed in the plan. Many of them haf
been stranded before and the prospect
was far from exhilarating but the
chance of getting even in some small
way had the pleasure of novelty. TIE
plan was in consequence tacitly agreed
upon.
The basso, not in the original pro-
nuneiamento list, told the call boy that
he need not bring the customary beer
from around the corner after the sec
ond act.
As this meant that he would 90 after
it in person no doubt was left in the
minds OF those concerned as to what
couEse ne WouId pursue.
Faces that few moments before had
appeared anxious now grew bright at
the prospect of excitement.
The audience in front, not bad one
as the audiences of the new opera went.
was in ignorance of the projected sur
prise.
The soubrette, usually the most in
consequent member of the company.
alone was depressed.
i tell you you don't know what Won
are about AS long as people think Yo,,
are engaged, whether you get your
money or not, there's chance that
they'll trust you, but if they know the
company's disbanded there's no more
chance about it." AS in the world AT
large the voice of the philosopher went
unheeded.
on the steam rauratur
of her dressing-room wide open that
all might see as they passed by. Clear
1y she was not with the majority.
But Miss Casey had more at stake
than the majority. She was engaged
to Victor Laquine, tenor in the chorus.
They were to be married in the spring
and would go into vaudeville in hap
py domestic way.
A disbanding of the company on
Christmas eve and their first engage
ment together booked for a summer
garden in May made scarcely a pleas
ing prospect.
Engagements that year had been
hard enough to get at any time and
in mid-season would be scarcest of all.
At the very best it meant different
companies and separation, and that in
turn meant good-by to matrimony and
vaudeville. Miss Casey had been en-
gagged before, she knew the sex.
On the stage the company guyed each
other and the audience as only an un-
paid company can.
+ Miss Casey alone was too preoccu-
pied to pay any attention to it. Now
and then she cast her eyes toward
the rear of the theater hoping to see
the managers fur-decked oyercoat NOV
ing about behind the last row OF seats
s.T knew be wouldn't come!" every
one said as they faced each other or
the stage when the curtain had rung
down.
Hell come yet" said Miss Casey
with frmness. Maybe his trains late;
this heavy snow would stop anything
and if he comes and finds the theatel
dark when the third act ought to b.
on, I wouldn't give much for the tick
cts he'd give you to get home on
There was logic in this, but the so
prano pierced it.
.'How do you know his train ism
in?'' she inquired with dignity and !
| look at the interfering soubrette tha
would have si1enced her, had she no
/ been Miss Casey with much depending
on her
Send the stage manager to the box
office telephone to see about it, pu
in the contralto.
How do you know what road he j
/ on? There are half a dozen or more
He may be on his way here now IN
cab! He may step on the stage an,
minute and find everyone refusin' t
gozon instead of dressin' as we shoule
/ Any minute he may be rushin' in,
say.'' Miss Casey was excited int
the vernacular. Her words tumble
over each other and even those fami
lar with the go she put into her song
and dances would have been surprise
at the energy she put into her prog
/ ress to the dressing-roon- II SCENE
1 to sweep the whole flank Of chorus girl
with it.
Bring my beer said the basso ]
the call boy, as his eyes followed Mis-
/ Casey's figure Clearly he meant t
sing the third act.
The tenor. the soprano and the COZ
4 tralto looked at each other and the
at their retreating colleagues.
Presently the stage-hands, who ha
been interested auditors began to se
the ssene for the third act.
Miss Casey vas back IN an incret