STAGE FRIGHT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 187, 30 June 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

STAGE FRIGHT.

A HIT WHICH WAS NOT OX THE BILL. Speaking of stage fright, and its ludicrous effects on some actors, a manager says: — . " I once set on a young medical student in the character of a lover, who had to make a declaration, be accepted, be surprised by a rival, challenge him on the spot, declare, that he would not stir until the greensward was stained with the blood of one, if not both, order parenthetically pistols for two at once, and coffee for one in ten minutes, and, in fact, go through the greatest amount of bombast compressible into a short time. Of course, the love-making was to be of the most high-flown character. . "On he went ,and, at the sight of the audience and the lady seated at her work-table, subsided immediately into the very abyss of fear. Instead of rushing frantically towards the object of his affections, flinging himself on Lis knees and bursting into a tremendous rhapsode, as he ought to have done. he. simply stood and looked at her, twisting his hat feebly in liis hands. "Not one word could he say, but in dead silence crept across the stage, slowly took up a chair, offered to felt down, looked behind him to make sure that the chair was really in Hs place, sat down on the extreme edge of it, looked on the ground, rubbed his knees slowly, and now and then glanced up at his'intended bride, much as a dog looks up when it has stolen soniething and knows it is going to be whipped.

"The audience were in eestaeies. Thev all thought it was pure acting, and' tins part was that of a bashful lover. Certainly, anyone who could act half as well would make his fortune- . , , "He had been in possession ot the stage some seven or eight minutes, without speaking a word, when he opened his mouth once or twice, rubbed his knees again, and at length sa : d, in a broken and husky voice:

' How's your mother? ' "A perfect shriek of laughter burst from the audience, and gave the opportunity for getting him off the stage. The rival rushed forward, pounced on him, hauled him of? by the collar, flung himself on his knees, did all the rhapsody himself, and we had to patch up the'scone as best we could. "Although so complete a failure on the part of the individual, the scone was the best of the evening."