A TRAGEDY OF THE THEATRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2360, 28 November 1908, Page 11 (Supplement)

A TRAGEDY OF THE THEATRE.

(By Edith Sewell.)

. “Tragic—yes; you would think so if you had seen it played as I once saw it I”

We had been discussing “East Lynne,” my actor friend, Ray Barton and I, and as lio made the above remark I saw liis face harden as if at a painful memory. I. made no reply, but pushed the whisky over, to him and as he looked up from filling liis pipe lie nodded his thanks. “Care to hear tho story, Jim ?”• ho asked. “It is twenty years old now, but still only too fresh in my memory.” I nodded.

“It was when I was with my first company, and a happy litllo company it was. Froni\Jbo Wilton, our manager down to myself, who played tho policeman, or anything else that came in my way, from pretty -Madge Milton, our leading lady, down to Nellie North, who played the usual wliite-a'proned chambermaid, wo wero as cheery a little band as ever trod the boards of provincial theatres. Of course there came hard times when money was scarce, but wo got along in some way and kept a brave heart through it all. Not ono of us was remarkable for talent, if I except our leading man, Godrey Carson, and the girl I mentioned, Madge Milton; and 1 think there were a few cleverer actors or better men than Gadfrey, as I knew him in those old days before the tragedy that wrecked bis lifo happened. I often wo'ndered at so good an actor caring to stay- in a little company like ours, but he seemed happy and content, and lie was certainly the backbone of the whole show. What his real name was or where he came from I never knew, and, close friends though we were, I never liked to ask him; so the feminine portion of the company wove romances about Carson being a swell in disguise and were more or less gone on him. Miss Milton was rather envied, as all the principal parts fell to her share, and when “East Lynne” was played for the first time after he joined us there were many longings for a chance of playing Lady Isabel to liis Carlyle. He played it as it bad never before been played in our little company, and Wilton declared delightedly that the part was made for him.

“He flirted a little in a light, jesting manner with all the girls, but there was only one who could make his handsome, rather proud lace soften, :and that was pretty, spoilt Madge Milton. We all saw it, but whether she returned liis love or not we could not tell, for sometimes she was sweet enough to him, and at others she was almost distant. At last, one evening lie came to me, with his face flushed and his eyes shining, and nearly wrung his hand off.

“Bay Barton, I’m the happiest man in the world,” he said, liis voice a little tremulous—“ Madge has promised to marry me.” • “Much to old Winton’s relief, they were to continue with us alter their marriage, for he had feared that Godfrey would not wish liis wife to remain in the profession. At length the great day arrived, and, although there have been plenty of grander, I think there was never a brighter, happier little wedding. We all donned our best clothes and went in a body to tho church and heard Godfrey’s clear, firm voice ring out through the silence, as he repeated tho solemn old vows. When it was over we all kissed the pretty blushing bride, Wilton leading the way, and shook hands with her husband as he stood tall and orect in the gold of tlie morning sunshine. Breakfast over, John, Wilton stood up, glass in hand, and proposed life and happiness to Mr. and Mrs. Corson. I need scarcely say that- tho toast. was drunk heartily.

“For a while all went well. Godfrey idolised his wife and gratified her every wish as far as it lay in his power, but before they had been married a. year a slight coldness sprang up between them, caused partly by a foolish jealousy she had of Nellie Northj partly by Godfrey’s objection to a certain man who formed one of our audience every night, and showed marked attention to Madge. One morning as I was writing in Wilton’s litle office I heard their voices raised in what seemed to be a quarrel, so I began to fear for the happiness of their married life.

A night of two afterwards I was struggling, into my overcoat when I heard Carson call me, and as I turned with it half on I saw. him in the doorway. “■ ‘Seen anything of my wife, Ray?’ “‘Why she went home some time ago, Godfrey. Had a headache or something, and hurried off. By. the "way; she loft a note for you—it’s hero.’ “He took it from ; me, and I got my liat-and stick, and then, as I looked at him I thought involuntarily of Archibald Carlyle, for lie was standing just as I had seen him night after night, with. that same stricken look in his eyes, reading poor, faithless Lady Isabel’s letter. Then, like &■ flash, I knew it all. - “‘Godfrey!’ He turned his white face to me.- “ ‘She’s gone, Barton; my wife has left me.’ *i' * * *

“‘lt’s the most unfortunate thing than could possibly have happened.’ Wilton’s voice .was a mixture of despair and vexation as he spoke. I was silent, for, puzzle my brains as I would, I could not" find a way out of the difficulty. “The case was tins: Our leading lady was ill, her understudy was also indisposed, and ‘East Lynne’ was billed for that’night, and a Lady Isabel we could not find. We had tried all through the Sunday, but things were busy, and now it was Monday afternoon, and we were at our wits’ end. “ ‘A lady to see you, sir.’ Wilton’s face brightened. “ ‘Some one Green lias sont, no doubt. Show her in, Joe.’ “Instead of the smartly costumed young lady we expected to see, a woman dressed in black entered, and with a slight bow, sank into a chair as if' worn out. As she lifted her veil we recognised Godfrey’s wife. But, oh, the terrible change! she had lost- her prettiness, her eves were sunken. She was the first to speak. “ ‘I see you know me, Mr. Wilton,’ she said, with a bitter little laugh. T have altered, have I not?’ “ ‘You have, indeed,’ he responded gravely. “I think the pity of his voice touched her, for I saw her mouth quiver; then, as if afraid of breaking down, she Avont on.

“ ‘I shall not detain you long, Mr. Wilton, but I heard you avanted someone for Isabel to-niglit, and as it is my best part T Avant Abu to let mo play it for you.’ “She spoke very coolly, and Avlien she had finished, John Wilton stood gazing at her blankly. “‘Play Lady Isabel!’ lie said. ‘Mrs. Carson, do you knoiv that your —that Godfrey Carson. is still the Archibald Carlyle ?’ “She looked at him.

“‘Yes,’ she said quietly; ‘I knoAV.’ “ ‘You must be mad,’ Wilton cried almost roughly. ‘Why, lie Avouhl never forgive me. Besides lie lias suffered enough—it- avoulcl be cruel!’ “ ‘And have I not suffered?’ she cried, stretching out her hands in entreaty. ‘lf you - have any pity in you, you will grant me what I ask. I am a dying Avoman, John Wilton—dying of heart disease and starvation. Ah—and of a broken heart! He lias suffered, but not as I have.’

“For a moment her despairing, sobbing Amice ceased, and then she turned to me. *

“ ‘Raymond Barton, for the sake of the past, help mo to gain Avliat I ask. It is only for one night, and then I can die content. Only one look in his lace, one touch of liis hand!’ “I could not ans Aver. John looked at me, and I returned his look with one of pleading for the Avoman avlio stood betxx r een ns. He turned to her.

“'I consent,’ ho said briefly. T knoAv I’m a fool, and Avhat Avili Carson say— Avell, lia\ T e your oavii Avay.’ “‘Heaven bless you!’ she said. ‘You have given me the only good timig life lias left for me besides death—a last look at the man I loA'C.’

“ ‘More fool you to leave him, then,’ he said bluntly. ‘You don’t want to rehearse, do you?’ She shook her head.

“ ‘T have played it too often, and I shall play it to-night as I never played it before.’ “We did not toll Godfrey who was taking the part, and I was nearly in a fever until the play began. Godfrey seemed uneasy, too. I was not on until near the end, so I had plenty of time to go in front and watch. At first she was wretchedly nervous, although her acting was all right, and I could .see that she was feeling the awful strain. Godfrey—well, I could not make him out. I felt sure he had recognised her; but his quiet lace showed no feeling beyond thatrequired for the part. One thing I noticed was that his acting was a trifle mechanical: but the scene Avent all right, and then toAVards tho end of Lhe second one it seemed to me that they tverc Avarming to their Avork, and there Avas a smothered excitement beneath Godfrey’s coolness. I have seen ‘East Lynne’ played many a time, but never before or siuce have I seen those last scenes played as they Avere that night. Men and Avomen sobbed, but Avlion the final scene of all came there was a tense stillness all over the theatre. “The two behind the stago had left all acting behind them and Avere playing out the tragedy of their oAvn lives to a - finish, and it had an intense, an awiul fascination for me. They moved, they spoke their parts with a great barrier betAven them —-the old sAveet memories of their brief married life rising like shadoAvs to mock them. “ ‘My sin was great, but my punishment lias been greater!’ Her Avords held the people spellbound Avith their agony. ‘Only a Ayord of love—-my heart is breaking for it !’ “To my dying day I shall never forgot Godfrey’s -face as lie stood looking doAvn at her—anguish in his eyes, passionate kwe and regret on his usually calm, proud face. Still her voice went on“ *

... “ ‘Surely you Avill forgive and forgot ?’ “‘I cannot forget, but I have already forgiven.’ His voice Avas grave and infintely tender. Tho pity, tho miserable pity of it all-—the tAVO ruined lives, the mockery of the dying AA'mnan in her stage drees, Uerfflce

ghastly under . unnecessary poivder, the crowd of people Avondering at tlic reality of the acting F “Then into the eyes of the dying woman leaped a sudden - gladness, and as she lay on his arm Godfrey stooped and kissed her.

“The curtain descended -and Avas raised again for a second, but still the figure newer moved,.and Godfrey Carson looked at tho people with eyes that saw them not. A movement by me caused bis to turn, and I saw John Wilton hastily remove liis hat from the back of liis head, and* bold it to shade liis face from the people’s gaze, Avbile the tears rolled doxvn his kindly old face.

“A storm of applause rang out through the theatre. The representative of Lady Isabel did not bear !”