The Winslow mail., 1899-05-20
A Theater Diplomat
By William Armstrong
THE first act was almost over v6er

lie HrSL act was almost over WheI
i the tenor, the soprano and In,
contralto got together in the wing:
and decided if the manager failed tc
arrive as he had telegraphed and set
tie up the payroll. now overdue, they
would not sing the opera out.
When the news spread, as it quickly
did. the chorus with slight dissen-
agreed in the plan. Many of them had
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. The
plan was in consequence tacitly agreed
upon.
The basso. not in the original pro-
nunciamento 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 go after
it in person no doubt was left in the
minds of those concerned as to what
course he would pursue.
Faces that few moments before had
appeared anxious now grew bright a t
1 lAe PIOSptCt VI 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
Il tell you you don't know what you
are about. As long as people think you
are engaged, whether you get your
money or not. there's a 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.
Not Disconnected the soubrette
spread out her costume for the third act
on the steam radiator and left the door
of her dressing-room wide open that
all might see as they passed by. Clear
ly she was not with the majority.
But Miss Casey had more at stake
than the majority. She was engaged
to Victor Laquine, a tenor in the chorus.
They were to be married in the spring
and would go into vaudeville in a hap
Ply domestic way.
disbanding of the company on
Christmas eve and their first engage
ment together booked for a summer
garden in May made scarcely 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.
II knew he wouldn't comet" every
one said as they faced each other on
| the stage when the curtain had rung
! down.
He'll come yet" said Miss Casey
with firmness. Maybe his trains late;
/ this heavy snow would stop anything,
/ and if he comes and finds the theater
/ dark when the third act ought to be
on, 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 isn't
IMP" she inquired with dignity and
look at the interfering soubrette that
would have silenced her, had she not
been Miss Casey with much depending
on her.
Send the stage manager to the box
Office telephone to see about it," put
in the contralto.
"How do you know what road be is
On? There are half dozen or more.
lie may be on his way here now in
cab! He may step on the stage any
minute and find everyone refusin' to
go on instead of dressin' as we should.
Any minute he may be rushin' in, [
say!" Miss Casey was excited into
the vernacular. Her words tumbled
over each other and even those famil
lar with the go she put into her songs
and dances would have been surprised
at the energy she put into her prog
ress to the dressing-room. 1t seemed
to sweep the whole flank Of chorus girls
with it.
Bring my beer" said the basso to
the call boy, as his eyes followed Miss
tasey's figure Clearly he meant to
sing the third act
The tenor, the soprano and the CON
tralto looked at each other and then
at their retreating colleagues.
Presently the stage-hands, who had
been interested auditors, began to set
the scene for the third act.
Miss Casey was back in an incred-
IDLY short time. A critical eye might
have found fault with her general an
pearance, but she was not thinking OF
critical eyes just then. The fate OF
that performance, and her own as
we'll. depended upon her and she knew
it. She knew furt hermore that the
task OF getting this act on was mere
play to what the Lext would be, unless
the manager arrived.
Never before had this third act
seemed so long. She bad great deal
to do. and it generally passed quickly,
for she enjoyed her work.
Tonight she could scarcely act for
casting her eyes toward the back OF