The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-08
~uApTER

'"The trouble with your idea,
Eayle." Bill Bailey was saying,
lis that we haven't enough room.
Not even this big mansion can &C
commodate a theater that will seat
more than 400. And there wouldn't
be time to take out all the seats
and then have a dance"
The other girls and Jeremy
Tucker sat with them in this con-
ference.
1.-THE Orpheum theater man
wants us to present the play on his
stage" Bill went on. "But that's
out"
What we need Is something
outdoors" Gayle suggested. Its
spring. Summer, really. We could
have a garden party, couldn't we?
And then move the pople inside
to see the play?"
"Grand!" Tempe Hyde put in.
Tempe was given to sudden in
thusiasms. Under the oaks"
Jeremy chimed in.
"Oh, I say-see here, a lot of
times, in the ancient days, people
did have plays outdoors. In ancient
Rome and Greece, and l think in
Egypt. And eve in the prehistoric
civilizations of Mexico. Archaeology
reveals much that"
THAT ISIS soo!" Lola Montesa
said, brightly. "In New Mexico,
too, those ancients have beeg times
out doors always. Everytheeng ISIS
outdoors where I wass born, even
now"
Il had no idea you were born
outdoors, Lola" Gale couldn't re-
sist that, but as the others laughed
with her she turned to Bill. Sorry,
author, you'll have to write us an
outdoor drama"
Look, I'll do that" Bill was
suddenly earnest. IT mean, 1 can
make The Wit to Woo an outdoor
play as well as indoors. Do you
suppose we could arrange a
stage out here?"
"Al ~fresco?" Gayle encouraged.
Right! We could make it go,
Gayle. Look! Act one might j u s t
as well take place in a bower of
trees and shrubbery instead of in
a campus cloister as 1 planned it.
Yonder in a nook just off the east
path - remember the clearing
there? 1t slopes just right for the
seats, and there's a flat spot for
the acting. We could string lights,
and-say, I can whip up a swell
setting around the swimming pool,
too, I'll bet!"
The conference was on the shady
front porch this morning, and Bill
leaned to a small table there and
spread his script. Gayle sat near
his left, Jeremy to his right. In a
moment the six other girls were
standing behind and beside them,
croWding close, leaning to read the
script again and talk about it.
AT the pool is where the Sec
ondary climax can be Wa~ked in,"
Bill was saying. "See, the heroine's
sister goes there to be alone and
sit on a bench and think, because
she thinks her heart is broken. In
that quiet mood, she begins hum
ming, and finally singing. Sort of
like in an opera, see? She sings of
her heartbreak-that'u have to be
you, Lola; you took the singing
honors last time and"
One of the other girls interrupt
ed. But Lola doesn't have anee
h~eartbreak, Beel. She is yer hap
pee"
I'll have ference make thee
how you say?-Love-and break
her heart before hand. Then she
can act convincingly, no es YER
dad?''
Poor Jeremy turned crimson at
the suggestion, and at the mass
attention suddenly turned on him.
Lola's smile had faded; she look
ed slightly alarmed at the others,
until the conference was resumed.
Anyhow, the sister sings" Bill
went on, land pours out her heart.
Maybe we could have a concealed
orchestra to back her up there.
Anyway, her guitar. But after she
sings she is still restless. The night
is warm, the water inviting, see?
So she decides to go for a lonely
swim.
Because it is midnight and she
is alone, she doesn't bother to GO
back to her room for her swim