Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-06-04
3 &C. e
CHAPTER IWENTY-SX

Measure went up at exactly pm.
surprisingly, less than a dozen
couples came ir late. Ordinarily a
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 bit
early. if anything, in order to get a
peek inside the mansion, to have
chance to look at it and discuss it
before paying tribute to dramatic
art.
At p. m. the cast had been ner-
vous, and by $50 the actors were
i'll a veritable tension. All, that is,
except Bill and Gayle. Bill was ex-
perienced at such things; his nerves
We're hoped up a little, but under
control. He backed pretty Gayle
into corner about 7 O'clock and
said:
Listen, kid, you and I are the
bosses here. We've got dizzy dam
sells on our"
Bill, hush! They aren't dizzy"
"All damSels are dizzy, but skip
that for the moment. What 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 one. See?" He grinned
his infectious grin at Gayle, and
she laughed back. You're the hero
inc, I'm the big handsome herman
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 go 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 gar
deners had been Communicated fol
this. Tickets. Bill had a friend al
the door taking tickets and greet
ing people heartily, on the premise
that hospitality is valuable in build
ing 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 that was enough. Al
s o'clock the play was suddenly
going.
Maid to Measure" had nothing
spectacular in it, but was based OF
a three-way love miXup and sprin
kled plentifully with clever dia
logue and comic situations. 1t wa!
as spring-timely as violets, as ga
and chattery as sparrowS unde'
the caves.
AS a matter of fact, everyDod.
in the cast did creditably. Mucl
better than Gayle had dared hope
Its not surprising" Bill whis
pered, eXcitedly, to Gayle between
the second and third acts. "Yo1
can do just so much in rehearsals
acting TO empty chairs. When 20,
get before an audience, you ris
above yourself. I've seen it before
mean, if you are smart at all. TIL
hams just get hammer"
81 don't believe any Of us ar
ham actors, then. Unless it's me.
He squeezed her arm. your
swell, Gaylei Honestn'
Next act brought the love seen
in which he had to kiss Gayle an
make tender love to her under
drapery Of vines and flowers (take
from the Merrifield gardens no
many feet away.) Bill had arrange
especially adroit lighting for thi:
And there was full minutes paus
during which distant music intens
fed the mood. They were standin
in shadows beside tree trun
while the music played, off stage
We've got 'em, kid" Bill wills
pered to Gayle, then.
who? Got who?"
1.-THE audience. See? They're er
tranced. Utterly silent. Let's pou
it on 'em now, Ell? Make it real!
Something in Gayle responded t
that. For a few seconds shr di
gaze across the footlights at til
400 people there. They were, as Ri
said, enraptured, in the illusion
the love story before them, thrill
ing vicariously to the sweetness
romance. Gayle wanted them to er
Joy it still more, if possible. ST
closed her eyes, held her breath
moment. and literally TRANSFORMS