The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-11-14
Chapter Three
Curiainl

I'm Curfainl
WE elattered np the iron stems
w at Tommy's heels. With one
hand on the. doorknob of our
dressing room he turned to US.
Can you make the curtain in ten
mlnutesg" / nodded and hoisted
myself up the last step. He threw
open the door and l saw his eye
brows jerk up. He said furiously.
Where the hell have you been?h
Alice raised her head and
smiled. She was wearing Carols
first act clothes, ksr face made
up. her hands lifted to the sleek
hair, smoothing it closer over her
ears. = just Then she saw
Carol. The smile faded from her
lips, her whole body went dead
and stiff. She turned slowly to
Tommy. Is she all right2D Her
mouth scarcely moved when she
spoke.
Tommy nodded. She's going TO
play. What happened to your"
Alice made no answer. Putting
her hands to the lapeIsl Of the
sharkskin jacket she slipped Il
from her shoulders. We stood
watching her not knowing what
TO say of DO. Tommy grunted
something 5mintesligibie as be
stamped out Of the room. Carol
said tlnlldly, I'm sorry, Alice.g
Aliee's eyes, fuIi Of bitterness.
grazed Carol and she turned her
back. The clothes came off me-
chanically and were hung over
the chair. She threw a dressing
gown on her shoulders and, with
out a word. was gone.
Almost before we had found
time 20 move. Tommy was back.
banging at our door and yelling,
'Five minuteslp
/ managed to dress, / don't re-
member quite how. ! know that
Phoebe Thompson, a tiny pert
faced girl who was Tommy's as
sistant, stood behind me button
ing up my back and ctrling the
ends Of my hair. Beside me, Carol,
whose first entrance didn't come
until the middle Of the act, tried
to help me and dress herself at
the same time. stood up and was
surprised TO find that was all
together and that my makeup
job presented a fairly human face.
Tommy opened the door.
places. he said. Ready.
Haila.s
/ nodded, snatched one last
glimpse in the mirror and fol-
lowed him 10 the wings. Against
the avail tire third act scenery was
stacked and ! stood back near il,
looking out over the stage.
Even with a ladder sfrsddling
one Of the satinwo0d chairs and
an oVeraIled electrician straddling
the ladder. it was still lovely
English morning room.
A warm, sunny light filtered
through the French windows at
stage right and landed on the
squat bowls Of flowers and the
white shaded lamps and made
them glitter.
In stage center stood a lemon
coiore5 divan. on either side a
charfKcuse chair and IN one cor
ner under a window was great
desk Of blond mahogany. A few
other pieces, priceless things that
had come from Clint Bowers
home, completed the ROOM There
was hint Of red in the draperies
and the thick plushy rug, and the
whole effect was gay and charm
ing.
Whatever the critics did to US.
I though, they must give our set
a rave.
Suddenly Tommy's hand was at
the back of my neck showing me
forward and not very gently.
~Eiailai Look obftHf f44fE2 IA
What's the Natter
He pointed at the fats behind
ne. dull green slabs Of canvps
that would be lashed together to
make the third act dining room
set. 4 told Phoebe TO warn every
one" he groBled. The damn
painters didn't get enough glue
in their paint. tn come OF on
you"
4 jumped away wiki alacrity.
craning my neck over my shoul-
der TO spot any damage I'm all
right. aren't /. Tommy"
yeah, so far. But be careful
He looked out over the stage, then
up at the light board and back at
me. -Okay. Haila. let's 60. Good
luckl"
Il was right then. without any
warning pangs at all, that stage
fright hit me I knew it from the
wet. clammy feeling Of my hands
and the BOOKINGS IN the pit Of my
stomach. Franticaliy ] searched
for one Of my lines. not neces-
sarily the first line. Just any line,
and there were none. The set
blurred before my eyes and took
hold Of Tommy.
Remind me- I said weakly,
never to do this again.
Play Begins
a SOFT buzz that was the sig
n nal from the front OF the
house sounded and the set was