Evening star., 1936-04-05
INSTALLMENT III.

YUM PAIhAftD o1ONC lOoh
out his watch and glanced at
it hastily.
~ Look here" he said, ."my
train leaves in a little over an hour
and I've got to go to my hotel. But
suppose you come along. While I'm
getting ready to leave you can read
over your lines to me. Then I'll give
YOU some tips that will build up your
part"
Walt agreed eagerly and a few
minutes later he was seated in Mr..
Stones hotel room, while the actor
divided his attention between his suit
cases and THE Trial of Trevor Grant y
Walt would read a few lines. recalling
| the scene and the action to Mr.. Stone.
Then the actor would pause, perhaps
with a pair of socks in one hand and
shirt in the other, and explain some
of the tricks of the experienced actor.
"One stunt that every ham knows" "
| he pointed out. sis maneuvering the
other actor so his back is toward the
audience while you are facing it. But
that's so crude that it's not worth
bothering about. There are other
| ways.
"Just remember that an audience
gets impressions much faster through
| their eyes than through their ears. If
somebody else on the stage is speak
ing, you can kill the speech by some
movement that draws the eyes of the
audience to you and away from the
other actor. And If you are clever
nobody will realize you are doing it."
Walt listened in amazement while
| the actor continued his lesson in scene
stealing. Finally, just before he left
| for his train, Mr.. Stone shook Walt S
hand.
Remember" he said with a smile,
I'm not telling you that you should
use these tricks I've explained. That's
up to you You know them now, and
| if Dave Hogarth gets all the applause
it won't be because you don't know
how to prevent it!'
THEN he left and Walt walked
thoughtfully home. The actor S
explanation had been revelation to
him and he realized that he now pos
sessed a powerful weapon to use
against Dave Hogarth-if he chose to
do it.
Somehow, thought, 1t doesn't seem
quite fair" Walt unused to himself.
Dave won the best part and l sup
pose he ought to get the glory that
goes with 1t. But If he lords 1t over
me again like he did the other day
we'll, we'll see."
During the next few rehearsals Walt
did little experimenting with his
newly acquired knowledge. Mr.. Stones
instructions had been definite and
detailed and Walt found 1t easy to
follow them. And even without an
audience he saw Immediately how
effectively some small bit of business"
on his part could ruin Dawes most
eloquent speeches.
There was, for example. the big
scene at the end of the second act,
the turning point in the play. The
playwright had written this scene so
that Trevor Grant, the hero, proved
his nobleness and his courage to the
heroine by shouldering the blame for
her weakling brothers misdeeds. The
action called for tears and gratitude
by Audrey Bayliss, a resounding
grafton by Dave and remorseful head
hanging by Walt.
One day, while Dave was in the
midst of his most impressive speech,
Walt added a new piece Of business, :"
entirely in keeping with his part at
the moment, simply by passing his
hand over his eyes. Some of the other
members of the cast were watching
the scene from out front and Walt
saw that the eyes of every one of
them shifted Immediately to him,