The Washington herald., 1920-07-12
ByEO.Henry

lost her grip on that scene. She's
all right In the rest Of the play,
but--but I tall you. sergeant, she
can do it-she has done II equal
to any Of 'em-and she can do it
again"
Miss Carroll ran forward, glow
ing and palpitating.
Thank you. Jimmy. for the first
good word I've lad in many a
day" she cried And then she
turned her eager face toward the
desk.
TN show you, sergeant, wheth-
er am b blame. I'll show them
whether ON do that same. Come.
Mr.. Delmars, let US begin. You
will let us, won't you, serKeant?-
How long will it take?" asked
the sergeant, dubiously.
Eight minutes" said the play-
wright The entire play con-
sumes but thirty"
You may go ahead" said the
sergeant Most of you seem TO
side against the little lady. Maybe
she had a right to crack up a
saucer or two in that restaurant.
Wen see how she does the turn
before we take that up"
The matron of the police sta
tion had been standing near, lis
tening to the singular argument.
She advanced and stood near the
sergeant's chair. Two or three of
the reserves strolled in, big and
yawning.
Before beginning the scene"
said the playwright, "and assum-
ing that you have not seen a pro-
duction of "A Gay Coquette,' I will
make a brief but necessary ex-
pianation- 1t is a musical farce
comedy = burlesoue-comedie
AS the title implies, Miss Carroll's
role is that of gay, rollickine,
mischievous, feartless coquette.
She sustains that character
throughout the entire comedy
part of the production. And /
have designed the extravaganza
features so that she may pre-
serve and present the same CO.
quettish idea
Now, the scene in which we
take exception to Miss Carrolrs
acting Is called the gorilla
dance. She is costumed to repre-
sent a wood'nymph, and there is
great song-and-dance scene
with a gorilla-played by Mr..
Delmars. the comedian A trop-
lcal-forest stage is set
That used to get four aad five
recalls. The main thing was the
acting and the dance-it was the
funniest thing in New York for
nve months Delmars' song, I'll
woo Thee to My Sylvan Home,
while he and Miss Carroll were
cutting hide and-seek capers
among the tropical plants, was a
winner"
What's the trouble with the
scene now?" asked the sergeant.
Miss Carroll spo!ls II right in
the middle of it" said the play-
wright wrathfully.
With a wide gesture Of her
ever-moving arms the actress
waved back the little group of
spectators. leaving space in
front OF the desk for the scene of
her vindication or fall. Then she
whipped off her long tan cloak
and tossed il across the arm of
the policeman who still stood OFF,
cially among them.
Miss Carroll had gone to supper
well cloaked. but in the costume
OF the tropic wood nymph. A
skirt of fern leaves touched her
knee, she was like q hummins
bird-green and golden and pur-
pie.
And then she danced a fiutter-
ing. fantastic dance. so agile and
light and may in her steps that
the other three members of the
Carroll Comedy Company broke
into applause at the art of il.
And at the proper time Delmars
leaped out at her side, mimicking
the uncouth. hideous bounds Of
the gorilla so funnily that the
grizzled sergeant himself gave a
short laugh like the closing of a
paddock. They danced together
the gorilla dance and won a hand
from all.
Then began the most fantastic
part of the scene-the wooing OF
the nymph by the gorilla. 1t was
a kind of dance itself-eccentrIc
and prankish with the nymph in
coquettish and seductive retreat.
followed by the gorilla as he sang
Home"
The song was a lyric Of merit. |
The words were nonsense, as be-
ntted the play, but the music was
worthy of something better. Del
mars struck into it in a rich ten
or that owned quality that
shamed the f1ippant words.
During one verse of the song
the wood nymph performed the
srotesque evolutions designed for
the scene. At the middle of the
second verse size stood still, with
a strange look on her face, SEEM
Ing to gaze dreamily into the
depths of the scenic forest. The
gorilla's last leap had brought
him to her feet, and there he
knelt, holding her hand. until he
had finished the haunting lyric
that was set in the absurd COM
edy like a diamond in a piece of
putty.
When Delmars ceased Miss Car
roll started, and covered a sudden
flow of tears with both hands.
'There!" cried the playwright,
gesticulating with violence; there
you have it. sergeant. For two
weeks she has spoiled that score
in just that manner at every per-
fornance. l have begged her to
consider that it is not Opheiia or
Juliet that she is playing. Do you
wonder now at our impatience?
Tears for the gorilla song! The
play is lost"
Out of her bewitchment, what
ever it was, the wood nymph
fiared suddenly. and pointed a
desperate finger at Delmars.
1T is you-you who have done
this" she cried wildly. You new
er sang that song that way until
lately. 1t is your doing"