A NERVOUS ACTRESS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4924, 4 January 1877, Page 3

A NERVOUS ACTRESS.

Laferriere, says a French journal, has been playing “The Poor Idiot” in the provinces. At one small town the stock company was very nervous about playing with the great star, especially a hapless woman who was cast for the mother, and with whom Laferriere has the crack scene of the piece. It .is in the fifth act, at the moment that the idiot begins to recognise and distinguish the persons that surround him ; then she rushes to him, and, folding him in her arms, shrieks :

“ My son, I am your mother !” At every rehearsal Laferriere encouraged her. “Don’t be nervous,” he would say: “ keep cool. All you have to do is to cry, ‘My son, I am your mother,’ and embrace me.”

“Oh yes, but, M. Laferriere, I am so frightened to play with you.” All went well through the first four acts, and in the wait before the fifth Laferriere went to the actress’s dressing-room to cheer her.

“Keep a stiff upper lip,” he said, cheerfully; “ you know what you have to do. The whole play leads up to that scene. I .reckon on you. ‘My son, lam your mother !’ and embrace me.”

“Yes, yes; ‘my son, lam your mother!’ I shall not forget.” The curtain rose. Laferriere was playing with even more than his furious vigor. The crisis comes and the lady clasps him to her bosom. ■

“Now, then,” he whispered encouragingly ; then, taking up his part, yelled ; “ Who is the woman ? Who is she ?

“My mother ! I am your son !” gasped the actress ; then she shrieked. Laferriere bad made his teeth meet in her arm.