Smith College Stories Part 21

_Second Father._ Pleased to meet you. 'Lida often speaks of her. She said to her mother and me to-night just as she went down to "be made up," as they call it, that Mollie was a brick and no mistake. It seems she's doing two girls' work to-night.

_First Father._ Yes, one of the committee is sick. After all, it's a pretty hard strain, it seems to me. Mary's pretty strong, but she said to me yesterday that if there had been another performance--

_Curtain rises on Second Act._

-- _Lobby. College physician and junior usher._

_Physician._ Will you just step over to the drug store across the street and get me some brandy--quickly, please?

_Usher._ Oh, certainly, Dr. Leach!

_Physician._ Here, child, stop! Put on a cloak--are you crazy?

_Usher._ But I'm quite warm, Dr. Leach!

_Physician._ Put on a cloak! With your neck and arms bare! It's damp as a well outside. (_Usher runs out._)

_A ubiquitous member of the faculty suddenly appears._ What's the matter? Anybody sick?

_Physician._ Oh, no! Not much. Miss Jackson was resting in her dressing-room and somebody leaned over the sill and spoke to her--you know she's on the ground floor. She's quite nervous, and she got a little hysterical--slight chill. My brandy was all out, so I--Oh, thank you! (_Usher disappears breathless._)

_Ubiquitous Member of Faculty, gloomily._ I've always said there should be understudies--always. What will they do without their Viola? It's a ridiculous risk--

_Physician, hastily._ But Miss Jackson is all right, or will be as soon as I get--yes, I'm coming! Oh, nonsense!--She's all right: there's no need for an understudy, I a.s.sure you!--No, keep them all out! No, she has enough flowers in there now! Yes, keep people away from the window!

-- _Curtain rises on Third Scene._

_Group of ushers collapsed on stairs leading to gallery._

_Nan._ (_White organdie over rose pink silk; rose ribbons._) Oh, girls, I'm nearly dead!

_Ursula._ (_Black net over electric blue satin; silver belt and high silver comb; black gloves._) There's one good thing, we're downstairs to-night. Last night I got so dizzy hopping up and down those steps--

_Leonora._ (_Yellow liberty silk cut very low; gold fillet; somewhat striking Greek effect._) Oh, what do you think I just did? I was so tired I stumbled just behind the orchestra circle (after I'd shooed that funny woman out of three seats) and I fell almost flat! And the nicest man helped me up and made me take his seat, and who do you think it was? It was Mr. Fosd.i.c.k. He went and stood back, and I sat a long time then. Wasn't he ducky?

_Sally._ (_White dimity with green ribbons; a yard or more of red-gold hair; babyish face._) Where's your own seat, dear?

_Esther._ (_Pale blue silk with long rope of mock pearls._) Oh, Piggy's given it to her little friend, as usual! It's a great thing to have--(_The door swings open, and the actors' voices are heard_: "There dwelt a man in Babylon, lady, lady!" _Another usher comes out._)

_Nan._ How'd the song go? Better?

_Usher._ Oh, grand! They made her do the second verse again. Miss Selbourne says that she's the best all 'round clown they've ever had.

_Sally._ Oh, does she? I heard her tell Dr. Lyman that the plays deteriorated every year--(_Enter another usher._)

_Second Usher._ Girls, you _must_ be quiet! That woman at the back says she can't hear a word--

-- _Curtain rises on Fourth Scene; applause, as audience takes in stage setting. Row of enthusiastic alumnae in upper box._

_First Alumna._ (_Happy mother of three; head of sewing circle; leader of the most advanced set in her college days; president of the Anti-Engagement League, junior year._) Oh, girls, did you ever see anything so lovely? How _do_ they manage it? We never imagined anything like it, I'm perfectly willing to admit. Aren't those lords and ladies fine? Why, look at them--there must be forty or fifty! And aren't the costumes beautiful? How handsome Orsino is!

_Second Alumna._ (_Rising journalist; very well dressed; knows all the people of note in the audience; affects a society manner; was known as the Gloomy Genius in her college days, and never talked with any one who didn't read Browning._) Quite professional, really! How that Miss Jackson reminds one of Rehan! I wonder if Daly sends the trainer? That little Maria, now--she's quite unusual. Lovely figure, hasn't she?

Elizabeth Quentin Twitch.e.l.l. Dr. Twitch.e.l.l of Cambridge, I wonder? Do they set that stage alone?

_Third Alumna._ (_Blonde and gushing; sister in the cast._) You know, that Miss Twitch.e.l.l was the best Viola, too, they say. Peggy tells me Mr. Clark says he wished she could play them both. She's very popular with the cla.s.s. But Miss Jackson does everything. Writes, acts, plays basket-ball, beautiful cla.s.s work--Oh, isn't that sweet! (_Clown and chorus of ladies with mandolins and guitars sing to wild applause._)

_Fourth Alumna._ (_Tall, thin, dark, and dowdy; very humble in manner; high-principled; worth two millions in her own right; slaved throughout her entire college course._) I don't see how anybody can say that girls can't do anything in the world they set out to. Isn't it wonderful? You can say what you please, but it's just as Ella says--they do ten times what we did and do it better too. I think they're prettier than they used to be, don't you? And they're just like real actors--I'm sure it's prettier than any play I ever saw!

They make such wonderful men! Would you ever know that Sir Toby was a girl? And Malvolio--he's just too good for anything!

_Curtain falls on Fourth Scene._

-- _There is a long wait in total darkness. The audience smiles, then settles down to be amused. Somebody faints and is restored with shuffling, apologies, and salts._

_Slender, dark-eyed, gray-haired man, with non-committal expression, uncle of one of the Mob; with his wife, who grows more frankly puzzled as the play advances._

_Uncle._ I suppose they've outdone themselves in this garden scene.

_Aunt._ Yes, Bertha says they've worked tremendously over it. Henry, what _do_ you think of it?

_Uncle._ Very ingenious, my dear.

_Aunt._ But Henry, their voices--

_Uncle._ They _are_ a little destructive to the illusion, but you hear the gentleman behind me. He a.s.sures us that he thinks they are men!

_Aunt._ Oh, _Henry_!

_Uncle._ It's a pity they haven't more like Maria. Viola could take a few points from her.

_Aunt._ But Bertha says that they adore Viola. She writes, and plays basket-ball, and stands high in her cla.s.ses, and--

_Uncle._ But she isn't an actress, that's all. She shouldn't grasp all the arts! She's too melodramatic--she rants.

_Aunt._ Bertha says the trainer admires her very much--he wants her to go on the stage.

_Uncle._ Oh! does he?

_Aunt._ Did you know that even the mobs are trained very carefully?

Bertha says she goes to rehearsals all the time. And the princ.i.p.al parts--Malvolio worked six hours with Mr. Clark one day and eight the next. And Viola had to do more. And the stage committee _slave_, Henry, they simply slave. Little Esther Brookes is worn to a shadow--not but what they love to do it.

_Uncle._ And when did Malvolio and Viola and the stage committee do their studying?

_Aunt._ Oh, they keep up with their work. It's a point of honor with them, Bertha says. Of course they can't do _quite_ so much, I suppose--