The Wilmington morning star., 1940-07-24
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
-, ~ for StN1oiI f6 MaaS

First curtain tor MAID 10 MEAS
dre'' went up at exactly 8 pm.
Surprisingly, less than a dozer
couples came in late. Ordinarily
number of persons will trek down
the aisles of a theater while the
play is under way, but not tonight;
Bill Bailey observed that this audi
ence had wanted to come a blt
early, if anything, in order to get a
peek inside the mansion, to have a
chance to look at it and discuss 1t
before paying tribute to dramatic
art.
At Z pm. the cast had been ner-
vous, and by 7:30 the actors were
in a veritable tension. All, that is
except Bill and Gayle. Bill was
experienced at such things; h S
nerves were hoped up a little, but
under control. He backed pretty
Gayle into a corner about 7 o'clock
and said:
Listen, kid, you and 1 are the
bosses here. We've got dizzy darn
sells on our"
Billy, hush! They aren't dizzy.
'.All damsels are dizzy, but skip
that for the moment. What l mean,
they'll be shrieking maniacs If you
and | don't act calm"
But I'm scared myself.'
"Okay. But if you show it I'll
smack you me-. See?" He grinned
his infectious grin at Gayle, and
she laughed back. You're the
heroine, I'm the big handsome he
man hero. We carry the load. We
can't afford the luxury of nerves.
We're old troupers, for tonight at
least"
Gayle sighed. Il envy the 9TH
ers."
And they envy you, SO that
makes it even. Now 60 back there
with 'em and act like a cucumber.
And if Jeremy gets to pulling at
his collar, discuss archaeology with
him. Or something."
Bill left her then. He had many
details to see to. Makeup. Cos
tunes. Stage sets. Lights-the
gardeners had been commander
ed for this. Tickets. Bill had a
friend at the door taking tickets
and greeting people heartily, on
the premise that hospitality is val
liable in building good will.
He was standing with the friend,
chatting. when he noted that the
hour was five minutes to eight. He
fastened backstage. He had about
10 minutes to put his own makeup
on, but was that was enough. At
6 o'clock, the play was suddenly
going.
Maid to Measure" had nothing
spectacular in it, but was based on
a three-way love mixup and sprin-
killed. plentifully with clever dia-
logue and comic situations. 1t was
as spring-timely as violets, as gay
and chattery as sparroWs under
the caves.
AS a matter of fact, everybody
in the cast did creditably. Much
better than Gayle had dared hope.
Its not surprising" Bill whis-
pered, excitedly, to Gayle between
the second and third acts. You
can do just so much in rehearsals,
acting to empty chairs. When you
get before an audience, you rise
above yourself. I've seen it be-
fore. I mean, if you r smart at
all. The hams just get hammer
Il don't believe any of us are
ham actors, then. Unless it's me-
He squeezed her arm You're
swell, Gayle! Honest"
Next act brought the love scene
in which he had to kiss Gayf and
make tender love to her u Ter a
drapery of vines and flower tak-
en- from the Merrlield gard ps not
many feet away. Bill ar
ranged especially adroit lighting
for this. And there was a full min
ute's pause during which distant
music intensified the mood. They
rel standing in shadows beside
a tree trunk while the m u c
played, off stage.
We've got 'em, hid!" Bill whis.
pered to Gayle, then.
who? Got who?"
THE audience. See? They're
entranced. Utterly silent. Let's
pour it on .'em now, Ell? Make il