The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-03-18

company with Reid Henderson, hus~
band Of the plays director.
It was recalled that Mr.. Curtis
was an old friend Of the Hender-
sons, and the directors mysterious
statement concerning an import
ant event on the night Of the show
seemed 70 give greater promise.
Just what his attendance could
mean to the Guild and the town,
both Of which, MRS. Henderson had
said, would benefit through the
forthcoming surprise, In cast could
not fathorn, but II spurred them TO
q finer performance, nevertheless.
Accustomed 70 playing before audi
ences Of families, friends. and
neighbors, they felt that the pres
ence of q professional producer de.
manded greater efforts than usual,
and they responded TO their utmost.
The first act was concluded with
out q hitch, and Is sets and cos
tunes were changed and the high
school orchestra performed TO the
satisfaction Of admiring parents,
Mrs. Henderson, behind the cur
tain, was deluged with inquiries
concerning Burtis and the promised
surprise.
But she refused any explanation,
and the second act began with the
cast very much on edge.
drimly McDougali watched Mar
cha Canfield on the stage, wishing
he had not come to see her. Every
word and gesture made her more
desirable to him, nearer to him,
even while he considered her more
and more remote.
Yet In his gloomy peroccupation
he had time to notice, with q bit
Of amusement, one curious fact:
Marcia's injured arm was appar-
entity u1noticed by the audience.
Or. at least, overlooked. No one
had mentioned 1t In his hearing.
When the second act curtain fell
there was q tide Of excited talk
i through the auditorium. McDougall,
As newcomer. was rnystified, and
Joan explained that Lloyd Burtis,
the producer. had left his seat and.
according to a report brought from
backstage and thoroughly circu-
lated. was now closeted with several
people, and that a surprising and
important announcement would
soon be forthcoming.
1t was q long intermission. The
orchestra played four numbers
and the audience was becoming
decidedly restless when Mrs. Hem
derson stepped before the curtain
and waited for silence.
She had just emerged, she said,
from a conference with Mr.. Bur-
It's, from whom she had previously
exacted secret promise In con-
nection with tonight's show. The
conference had been attended also
by Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Osborn, OF
Bobbs Neck, and Miss Dorothy Os-
born, their daughter and o member
Of the cast.
Mr.. Burtis's promise, she could
now announce, had been to offer
a Broadway opportunity to the
player who gave the finest per-
Torrance in tonight's show. He
had required only two acts to make
his choice: the offer had been made
to the young lady selected, In the
presence Of her parents, and
accepted.
Miss Dorothy Osborn would have
her chance on Broadway Not, OF
course, as q star, but still 1t would
be q chance.
Mrs. Henderson thought the
Stagecraft Guild and Bobbs Neck
could both be proud Of this result
Of amateur effort.
There was an actual ovation.
Frank Osborn and his wife, having
waited backstage during the an
nouncement, attempted to return
to their seats during the uproar,
and called forth an even greater
demonstration, much to their EN-
barrassment. And when the third
act curtain went UP. Dorothy, who
was on the stage alone for q few
moments, got such o reception that
she was almost In tears, and her
recovery, under the circumstances,
was evidence Of an inherent capa-
bility to observe that hallowed In
junction Of the professional actress,
1.-THE show must 60 on"
Her part In the play was finished
after half q dozen minutes in the
third act, and she left the stage to
another burst Of applause. Through
the whispered, but nonetheless
hearty, congratulations Of those
clustered In the wings, she made
her way to the dressing room she
shared with several others. There.
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