The Light of the Star: A Novel Page 4

  IV

  The reading of the play took place on the Monday morning following, andwas an exceedingly formal and dignified function. The principal playerscame prepared to be politely interested, while some of the lesser mindswere actually curious to taste the quality of the play as a piece ofwriting.

  As there was no greenroom in the Westervelt, the reading took place onthe open stage, which was bleak and draughty. The company sat in afunereal semicircle, with the author, the star, and the manager in ashort line facing them. All the men retained their overcoats, for themorning was miserably raw, and at Helen's positive command kept theirheads covered; and the supernumerary women sat shivering in theirjackets. Helen was regal in a splendid cloak of sable, otherwise therewas little of the successful actress in her dress. At her suggestion abox-scene was set around them to keep off at least a part of thedraught, and under these depressing conditions the reading proceeded.

  Douglass was visibly disheartened by the surroundings, but set manfullyto work, and soon controlled the attention of all the players excepttwo, who made it a boast that they had never read a play or listened toone. "I am interested only in me lines, me boy," said one of them.

  "And your acting shows it," replied Douglass, with quiet sarcasm, andproceeded to the second act.

  "You read that with greater power here than to me," said Helen. "I wishwe could give it the same unity and sweep of expression as we act it."She addressed the company in her calm, clear voice: "I hope you will allobserve carefully Mr. Douglass's reading. He is giving us most valuableadvice in every inflection."

  Her attitude towards her company was admirable in its simplicity andreserve. It was plain that she respected their personalities andexpected the same high courtesy from them. Some of the men were of thekind who say "My deah" to every woman, and "My deah boy" to the mostcasual acquaintance--vain, egotistical, wordy, and pompous; but oneglance from Helen was sufficient to check an over-familiar hand inmid-air. The boldest of them did not clap her on the shoulder but once.

  The reading passed to a rather enthusiastic finish, and Douglass thensaid: "I have read the play to you carefully, because I believe--_Iknow_--that an intelligent rendition of your individual parts isimpossible without a clear knowledge of the whole drama. My theories ofa play and its representation are these: As an author, I see everydetail of a scene as if it were a section of life. I know where all mypeople are at each moment of time, and their positions must bedetermined by the logic of the picture without any reference to thosewho wish to hold the centre of the stage. In a certain sense you areonly different-colored pigments in my hands, to be laid on to form aunified painting. You must first of all learn to subordinate yourselvesto the designs of the author. I know this sounds harsh--seems to reduceyou to a very low level of intelligence; but, as a matter of fact, themost highly gifted of our actors to-day are those who are able to dothis very thing--to carry in their minds a conception of the unity of ascene, never thrusting their personalities through it or out of it. Imention these points because I intend to assist in the rehearsals, and Idon't want to be misunderstood."

  Helen interposed a word: "I need not say that I consider this a verypowerful play--with that opinion you all agree, I am sure--but I wantto say further that Mr. Douglass has the right to demand of each of ussubordination to the inner design of his work. I am personally very gladalways to avail myself of the author's criticism and suggestion. I hopeyou will all feel the same willingness to carry out Mr. Douglass'sscenes as he has written them. Mr. Saunders, will you please give outthe parts and call a rehearsal for to-morrow at ten o'clock sharp?"

  At this point all rose. Saunders, a plain little man, highly pleasedwith his authority, began to bustle about, bellowing boisterously: "Hereyou are now--everybody come letter-perfect to-morrow. Sharp at ten. Nolagging."

  The players, accustomed to his sounding assumption of command, paid noattention other than to clutch their rolls of type-written manuscript.Each withdrew into the street with an air of haste.

  As Helen received her portion Saunders said: "Here, Miss Merival, is afat part--must be yours. Jee-rusalem the golden! I'd hate to tackle thatrole."

  Douglass was ready to collar the ass for his impudent tone, but Helenseemed to consider it no more than the harmless howl of a chair slidingacross the floor. She was inured to the old-time "assistantstage-manager."

  Turning to Douglass, she said, "Do you realize, Mr. Author, that we arenow actually begun upon your play?"

  "No, I do not. I confess it all seems a make-believe--a joke."

  "You'll not think it a joke at the end of the week. It's terribly hardwork to put on a big piece like this. If I seem apathetic in my part Ibeg you not to worry. I must save myself all I can. I never begin to actat rehearsal till I have thought the business all out in my mind. Butcome, you are to lunch with us in honor of the first rehearsal, and itis late."

  "It seems a deplorable thing that you must come every morning to thisgloomy and repellent place--"

  "Ah! this is a part of our life the public knows nothing of. They allcome to it--the divine Sarah, Duse--none are exempt. The glamour of thefoot-lights at night does not warm the theatre at eleven of themorning."

  "I see it does not," he answered, lightly; but in reality he felt thatsomething sweet and something regal was passing out of his conception ofher. To see her even seated with these commonplace men and womendetracted even from her glory, subjected her to the same laws. It was arelief to get out into the gay street--to her carriage, and to the hotelwhere the attendants hovered about her as bees about their queen.

  She was in high spirits all through the luncheon, and Douglass wascarried out of his dark gravity by her splendid vitality, her humor, andher hopefulness.

  "All you need is a hearing," she said. "And you shall have that. Oh, butthere is a wilderness of work before us! Can you design the scenes? Ilike to do that. It's like playing with doll-houses. I'll show you how.We'll leave the financial side of it to you, Hugh," she said, to herbrother. "Come, Mr. Playwright," and they set to work with paste andcard-board like a couple of children, and soon had models of all thesets. They seemed childish things indeed, but Helen was mistress of eventhe mechanical side of the stage, and these paste-pot sketches were ofthe greatest value to the scene-painter and the carpenter.