Sentence:  In the first the supernumeraries consist, on the one hand, of old actors and actresses, some of them of great ability, whom reverse of fortune has brought to this <WSD>hard pass</WSD> ; on the other, of ambitious young aspirants of the better class, who are, fortunately for them, undergoing a course of artistic training under Mr. Barrett's able tuition. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A difficult time in one's life, especially one characterized by financial difficulties.