Arizona republican., 1911-02-12
WHAT HAPPENED At
THE CAST REHEARSAL
AN IDEA OF WHAT GEORGE
BEST GOES THROUGH
"Toodies in Holland" Company
Wounded Into Shape and Will -
Give Fine Show


George Best jnmped over the piano
and took his stand about six rows
back OF the orchestra pit He worked
his arms up and down in time to the
music
Scarcely had he turned around be-
fore he saw some little flaw that
escaped the eyes OF the few onlook-
ers permitted TO see the first full
cast rehearsal of '.TOodles in Hol-.
land"
Back" yelled Best Get down
TO business, there, and cut out that
talking. You're not supposed To be
magpies or suffragettes."
But ! am suffragette," said one
of the girls. breaking out of the
bunch and tearing. for the wings
Come back here" roared Best
Get in line there, Now, Miss Mar
II ne. Tara a-ra- ia -ra- ia. ia
tump. That's better Straight, now"
In the dim light Bests face look
! ed like that OF an animated gargoyle.
Horrible contortions crossed his
countenance; he. pounded on the back
OF the seat in. front and kept his
eyes on the aggregation of blooming,
graceful fenininity that was tripping
and skipping about the stage.
AT last the girls were stretched
across the stage in a line that was
PRONOUNCED straight about the time
the first stanza of We are the Elder
Sisters had been warbIed One girl
would fancy herself out of line a
trifle and would slip back. almost
imperceptibly but would throw her
self just as far out of position the
other way. Finally however. they
all seemed satisfied and the song
continued with greater force. also
more harmony.
Bests face relaxed He was al
most smiling when the "Zona bellies
finished their song and retired in
perfect order
"Thatll do fine" he shouted "a
"A little more order at the start and
trifle more ginger: then you'll
have everything all right"
Their voices sound a trifle weak
To me- said some critic who had
found an unlocked door and strolled
into the theatre. Best turned and
looked at him Inadvertently
Say. how did you break into the
actors union?" he demanded with
whitening sarcasm.
why. / never acted"
Il knew it, and what you don't
know about theatres is enough to fill
a library. Those voices will fill this
house all right. when there are some
people here. No wonder their voices
sound weak when there's nothing
but empty benches to throw back the
sound
And Best hurried to the stage as
though he was ashamed of having
taken so much time to educate the
ignorant public in one Of the funda-
mentals Of acoustics.
Mr. Best"
1t came from every side; il came
from every throat.
Look here. do I do this step
right?"
Didn't we come off too soon?"
I've thought of new joke ! want
to work in"
rs it true they're going to post
pone the shown"
How am L to wear my hair?"
How would l sing if I should
catch cold2"
There's so much draft here I'm
sure I'm going to catch cold
Goodness, Aren't we going to get
any fresh air in this theatre?"
For a moment Best looked like
he was going to dive down stairs.
then he got a grip on himself and
pushed his way through the girls to
Archibald Reginald Cater
Now, Cater. remember what
said about infection. Don't know
what mean by infection? Well.
here"
Hurriedly Best turned the leaves
of a manuscript he carried until he
came TO a certain place. Then he
proces ded to show Cater just how
certain Jokes should be sprung.
You had il better, last night. Mr..
Conne,ley," he said, turning To a
certain person who plays the part OF
Il policeman.
Little Joe Soto ceased telling
about his tongue and the ammonia
ripe lnHg CROUCH &c olectrify ne.
gi'ls. both ponies AMI Znna hcl..s +.
~l,p were clusterei in o;Ie' bis grow
listening to Helen Mcneil toll how
she sang Indians IN Broadway in
"A Night n I;7h ,m'a. 4
Girls" yelled joe. there's an
artist out in fcGnt and he's going
to draw your pictures"
Where
"who?"
"why?"
Dear me, I'm looking awful to-
night, -->--
"You do look pretty rocky" agreed
Joe. What did you do after the
rehearsal last night?'
Went straight home.' was The
good natured reply. "Aren's you the
tease. Joe?"
Il hope he draws a nice picture"
ventured someone else.
The rehearsal proceeded. George
Best tore his hair. shouted direcIi ms
and broke a chair pounding on the
floor But there were some numbers
when he did not shout or pound at
all. He stood back and smiled, for
those were the numbers which were
down pat Now and then he made
some such comment as Great" or
"Fine," a
You're the original Jew. HeinZie."
he said once IN bet your name
was Einstein or Kinkelheimer back
east You can't tell me you're any.
relation to the fifty-seven varieties.
You're all right tonight. Connel-
ley. If you keep this up you'll make
one big hit / notice. Archibald
IL ~