STAGE REHEARSALS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 671, 23 May 1914, Page 3

STAGE REHEARSALS.

f PATHETIC SCENES.

I have witnessed some very extraordinary' and sometimes most pathstic scenes at rehearsals. There are some well-known actors, and, what is still worse, some famous actresses, who can never play unless more or less under the influence of drink. I saw the early rehearsals of one of the most successful comedies of the past few years. In the piece was one of the most fascinating and clever young actresses of the day- When she arrived at the theatre she would always drink half a pint o. champagne before going on the stage. She made no secret about it at all. She often would drink the wine on the stage in the presence of the whole company. One day her dresser forgot, to send out for the wine the actress laughingly said she would try to get on without it ; she was quite '"line" perfect by this time, but there were some rather emotional scenes which she had not yet played Quite to her own or to the producer's satisfaction.

On this occasion, however, she went through one ,of the scenes—a most trying and difficult one—whin she was alone on the stage for nearly fifteen minutes, splendidly. All of v.s who were standing about the wings broke into an involuntary cheer when she finished, and the producer came forward to congratulate her. She smiled and thanked him, but I saw the vras trembling all over, and was a ghastly colour. She sent h:r dresser out for some brandy, and before she went cn again she drank nearly half a pint of it n:at. Her fate is certain. £ll2 will die a 'drunkard's death, and that before very many years are out, and she is not thirty yet. I have often seen another famous actress at rehearsals, who is killing herself by remaining on the stage. She is suffering from an internal complaint which would probably be cured if she were to lead a quiet sedentary Life.

She fainted one day at a rehearsal after going through a very emotional and difficult scene, and it wa= some time before she recovered consciousness.- Then looking round at the people standing nc-ar her she exclaimed with a pathetic little cry, Ah, I shall have to play my last scene very soon, I am afraid." As a matter of fact, she is still on the stage, but she is in very bad health' indeed.—Theatre Manager, in the "_Yorkshire Post."