The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-05-31
Dorothy Darrell

The play had been running to
crowded houses for more than two
months, but In spite of all her efforts
Annie had not yet succeeded in advanc-
ing herself 10 the favorable attention OF
the manager She was still a back
liner and her salary was still So a
week. But she was not discourag ed
On the contrary, setting to work harder
than ever TO make her way to the front
she had evolved a scheme which, TO one
of a less determined and buoyant dis
position, would have appeared hopeless
ly impossible.
In the Land of Nonsense" company
each leading character had an under
study. These substitutes were chosen
on account of an ability which had al
ready been proved by the acceptable
performance of some minor part An
ME was well aware that she had very
little chance of being selected as the
understudy of any particular chaTac-
ter, yet it occurred to her, in one of
eXubeTant moods. that if she learned
the parts of all of the women princi-
pals. and thus, as il were, became a
second understudy for every female role
in the cast. fortune would have a con-
siderably larger opportunity of smiling
upon her. II seemed at first a formi-
dable undertaking. but in reality was
not Constant presence at all the per-
fOrmanceS and close attention to the
lines" dances, music and business"
soon enabled her to become fairly ia
miliar with each of the four roles con-
templated in her enterprise. In the
spare time at home she supplemented
her work at the theatre and made her
self letter-perfect by copying out the
lines and TecitiHg them to her mother,
a critical and not altogether inspiring
audience.
At first il did not seem that this
method. arduOus and somewhat des-
perate though it was would accomplish
the desired result, though never for a
however, that one night, when the pro-
ductiOn was in the midst of a very sue
cessful run, Miss Flossie Dupree, The
company sOubrette. had been suddenly
indispOsed-a privilege peculiar TO &C
tresses and prima dOnnas when ordi-
nary mortals are either sick or i'll. II
was therefore up to- Miss Flossie' s
understudy, a young woman who re-
joiced in the name of Venus Lemonde,
to take the part. This particular young
lady unfortunately for the peace of
mind of Abe Meyer. the stage mana
ger. had been subjected the week be-
indecorous and humiliatins calling
down." right in the presence of all the
ladies and gentlemen of the chorus. She
had, in fact. been chidden for lateness
at rehearsais. and had further been
summarily fined two dollars. There
fore. being already disaffected with her
position and prospects. as she declared
through her tears, and having a much
better lob" I'm view "a circumstance
almost invariable under the conditions),
she had abruptly terminated her en-
gagement and taken herself off in a
huff Thus, whereas the manager was
in possession of a principal and an un-
derstudy fof every part in the cast ex-
oept one. for that particular part he
had no one at all.
II was already 1880 O'Clock, the doors
had been opened. the lights were up.
Mr.. Meyer, a small. bald-headed gem
tleman. was fretting and swearing on
the stage behind the huge asbestos cur
tain. walking nervously about in a
maze of ropes drops. properties and