laughter had died down. “It’s pretty clean, too. You should see some of the filthy holes they call dressing rooms. You freeze in the winter and melt away in the summer.”
“You can say that again!” A pert-faced girl named Mary emerged from the crush at the mirror to grin goodnaturedly at Sally. “I remember once an act I was with got stuck up north in another small town. They had a regular blizzard. We were stayin’ in some crummy hotel and the pipes froze. So there was no heat. Was it cold! Brr-rr! So six of us girls piled into one bed trying to keep warm. We were packed together like sardines. Nobody got a wink of sleep jabbering away and laughing all night. But we had such a good time we never even minded the cold. Then, just before dawn, the bed collapsed!”
Ella exchanged smiles with the others but she wondered whether she would really find that so funny.
With all the other acts on the bill battling for equal time and attention, final rehearsal was hectic. Down in the pit the musicians sat waiting, indifferent and bored, while the harried house manager tried to arrange things so as to satisfy everyone. When they did play, the conductor rushed them through the music, for the most part ignoring the demands of the exasperated performers. Somehow though, Ella noted, everyone managed to get through. Afterward they all dashed across the street to a lunchroom for a quick bite.
“Well, Sally, it seems we’re already a big success,” Ella commented wryly as she munched her sandwich. “We’re appearing on the same bill with an animal act.”
Sally chuckled. “Yeah. An’ they’ll probably get a bigger hand from the audience than we will. Audiences love it,” she went on. “I guess from where they sit, it all looks so cute—the little dogs jumping through hoops an’ prancin’ around the stage, or cats or monkeys all dressed up. Believe me, if they could only see what it’s like for thosepoor dumb creatures backstage, they wouldn’t think it was so cute.”
She stared moodily into her cup of coffee. “Why am I feelin’ so sorry for the animals? In vaudeville, actors lead a dog’s life too. Always on the move. Never stayin’ long enough to get to see the town or know the people. You leave for the railroad station the minute the curtain drops on the last show, an’ get to the next town with hardly time to slap on your makeup and snap into your place onstage. Why, sometimes to make connections, a day could go by with you never gettin’ near a bed at all. You just sleep sittin’ up on the train. Livin’ off sandwiches, or chocolate bars, or an apple or somethin’. Phew!” She shrugged disgustedly.
Ella’s eyes searched Sally’s face. She’s strong. She can endure this kind of life. Can I? “Then why do you go on, Sally?” she asked.
“It’s because I’ve got greasepaint in my veins, I guess. You go along hopin’ someday maybe you’ll get a break. Make the big time. You know—be on the stage at the Palace, say.” She laughed scornfully. “Fat chance for a nothin’ talent like me.” Her finger jabbed at Ella. “Now if I had a voice like yours …” With a flick of the finger, she tossed away the impossible. “Actually, Ella, it don’t much matter if I never get any further than this. I’m doin’ pretty good. After all, I’m in the theatre, and that’s for me. I’d rather be up there on that stage than doin’ anythin’ else in the whole world!”
More than anything else in the whole world, Ella repeated silently. The very words Mr. Woods had used when she’d first met him. That’s the way I’m supposed to feel. But do I? Well, I am excited about the performance today.I can hardly wait. Oh, for heaven’s sake! Will I ever stop this seesawing back and forth? I’ve got a show to put on! Forget about everything else!
Back in the dressing room, Sally helped her with her makeup. I look like a doll, Ella decided as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.
“Ten
“You can say that again!” A pert-faced girl named Mary emerged from the crush at the mirror to grin goodnaturedly at Sally. “I remember once an act I was with got stuck up north in another small town. They had a regular blizzard. We were stayin’ in some crummy hotel and the pipes froze. So there was no heat. Was it cold! Brr-rr! So six of us girls piled into one bed trying to keep warm. We were packed together like sardines. Nobody got a wink of sleep jabbering away and laughing all night. But we had such a good time we never even minded the cold. Then, just before dawn, the bed collapsed!”
Ella exchanged smiles with the others but she wondered whether she would really find that so funny.
With all the other acts on the bill battling for equal time and attention, final rehearsal was hectic. Down in the pit the musicians sat waiting, indifferent and bored, while the harried house manager tried to arrange things so as to satisfy everyone. When they did play, the conductor rushed them through the music, for the most part ignoring the demands of the exasperated performers. Somehow though, Ella noted, everyone managed to get through. Afterward they all dashed across the street to a lunchroom for a quick bite.
“Well, Sally, it seems we’re already a big success,” Ella commented wryly as she munched her sandwich. “We’re appearing on the same bill with an animal act.”
Sally chuckled. “Yeah. An’ they’ll probably get a bigger hand from the audience than we will. Audiences love it,” she went on. “I guess from where they sit, it all looks so cute—the little dogs jumping through hoops an’ prancin’ around the stage, or cats or monkeys all dressed up. Believe me, if they could only see what it’s like for thosepoor dumb creatures backstage, they wouldn’t think it was so cute.”
She stared moodily into her cup of coffee. “Why am I feelin’ so sorry for the animals? In vaudeville, actors lead a dog’s life too. Always on the move. Never stayin’ long enough to get to see the town or know the people. You leave for the railroad station the minute the curtain drops on the last show, an’ get to the next town with hardly time to slap on your makeup and snap into your place onstage. Why, sometimes to make connections, a day could go by with you never gettin’ near a bed at all. You just sleep sittin’ up on the train. Livin’ off sandwiches, or chocolate bars, or an apple or somethin’. Phew!” She shrugged disgustedly.
Ella’s eyes searched Sally’s face. She’s strong. She can endure this kind of life. Can I? “Then why do you go on, Sally?” she asked.
“It’s because I’ve got greasepaint in my veins, I guess. You go along hopin’ someday maybe you’ll get a break. Make the big time. You know—be on the stage at the Palace, say.” She laughed scornfully. “Fat chance for a nothin’ talent like me.” Her finger jabbed at Ella. “Now if I had a voice like yours …” With a flick of the finger, she tossed away the impossible. “Actually, Ella, it don’t much matter if I never get any further than this. I’m doin’ pretty good. After all, I’m in the theatre, and that’s for me. I’d rather be up there on that stage than doin’ anythin’ else in the whole world!”
More than anything else in the whole world, Ella repeated silently. The very words Mr. Woods had used when she’d first met him. That’s the way I’m supposed to feel. But do I? Well, I am excited about the performance today.I can hardly wait. Oh, for heaven’s sake! Will I ever stop this seesawing back and forth? I’ve got a show to put on! Forget about everything else!
Back in the dressing room, Sally helped her with her makeup. I look like a doll, Ella decided as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.
“Ten
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