THE QUEEN AS STAGE PROMPTER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2665, 10 August 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE QUEEN AS STAGE PROMPTER.

A DK.Liciou.s story, for the accuracy of which we can vouch (writes a Pall Mall Gazette correspondent is "going round," anent Mr Irving's and Miss Ellen Terry's visit to Sandringham. It appears that all was going beautifully with the "Merchant of Venice"— her Majesty seated in front, stick in hand all attention—until Miss Terry's time came as Portia to deliver get , great speech about " Mercy." We all know how she does it, advancing towards the Jew and making a marked and peculiar pause before delivering her oration. The kind queen, who was all attention, and had probably, been carefully instructed in her youth by the Duchess of Kent or her good governess in Shakspere's " tit bits" —was eagerly following the gifted actress —but quite mistook the pause for some sudden failure of memory. Fancy Ellen being overawed by her Majesty into forgetting her part ! So the Queen began prompting her quite low " the quality of mercy," &c, but Miss Terry did not take the cue, and her Majesty then repeated rather more loudly and encouragingly, " The quality of mercy is not strained." This was almost too much for Miss Terry, but, with a violent effort to suppress her twiukling merriment, Bhe controlled herself, and gracefully accepted her cue from our gracious Sovereign. Good Queen Bess, we know, used to shout at tiie preaches, and correct them openly in theology when they preached before her, but this is probably the first time that an actress has ever been honoured by having a Queen and Empress as stage prompter.