The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-20
Being q Chorus Girl No joke.


Being q Chorus Girl No Joke.
81 tell you, being chorus girl
isn't what the ticket-buying public
thinks" said a member OF the when
Dreams Come Tr6e'' company, whioh
will be seen here at the Academy
Saturday, matinee and night.
II guess / know something about
being chorus girl after six years
In stuffy dressing rooms with all
kinds OF girls, dissatisfaction and
queer languages. But we never mix
with the girls unless we want to
and like them especially well. One
can take dreadful chances Cumming
with chorus neighbors.
Like most girls, l was stage struck,
and my one desire was to become an
actress My father declared he would
never hear of my going on the stage
in any capacity. After his death
coaxed mother into letting me join
Sam Demands company. One of the
girls was taken sick or was discharged
and applied for the position and
got II. had just two days to re.
hearse before I went on, and oh.
what q couple OF days
You know when a new girl goes in
to chorus, all the other girls de-
clare they will show her thing or
two, and hate her before she ever
shows her scared face IN the un-'
welcome atmosphere at least; that 10
what happened to me.
THE steps that seem trivial from
the front and that look so easy, are so
full OF aches and pains that the audi
ence can't half appreciate the per-
sistency and endurance they call for.
Every time ! learn a new step, or
start dancing and rehearsing I get go
stiff have to swallow tears. Keep
Ing eterna1ly at 1t is the only thing
that drives the aches away. They pay
chorus girls better than they used to.
but no matter what they get. they
spend Il all. Some of them complain
of being spoken to, and stared at.
and all that sort of thing. but as q
matter of fact it's their clothes. that
cause II. II a girl dresses quietly she
can pass practically unnoticed. no
matter where she Is.
The reason chorus girls live up
to the last cent is usually because
their lives make them like the bright
things, and the happy places In life,
ami they would rather spend all they
have for q good room in good
hotel than live in a dingy boarding
house, and have more to eat"
Edith Thayer In Peasant Girl.
Manager Wise. of the Academy,
has a treat In store for the theater-
goers OF Richmond. Edith Tnayer
(who made such a great hit in THE
E1reny'') 10 to be reintroduced In the
musical comedy success, The Peas
ant Girl" book by Leo Stein. with
lyrics by Oskar Nedbal. The business
'sThe Peasant Girl did at the West
Forty-fourth Street Theater, New
York, where It ran for thirty-six con-
phenomenal. ana Is at present draw
Ing capacity audiences In every city
en- tour.
The cast that has been especially
selected for this tour la considered
one Of the best in the musical comedy
field today. Edith Thayer, the sweet.
delightful prima donna. is an actress
of recognized ability, and her beauti-
full soprano voice and personality are
suitably stted to the role Of Helena
the little peasant girl A happier Sc
Included In the cast are Frank Desh-
on, last seen through this section in
Miss Bob White" and THE Office
Boy; George Rogers. Grace Hoey,
Elaine Doree, Stella Thomas. Con-
stance Grant, Hugh Scott. Gus
Vaughn, George Gould. J. Eagan,
large beauty chorus Of exceptional
singing ability and an orchestra I'M
der the direction Of Paul Yartin.
Some of the numbers which will be
heard include Listen Dear" the waltz
theme, considered the successor of
The Merry Willow" waltz: Child
hood Days" Two Ia Company" The
Peasant Girl" Native Women"
wanda" and 1.-THE Diplomat"
The Peasant Girl will be seen at
the Academy Monday and Tuesday
and Tuesday matinee. Seats on sale