It was at the old Haymarket,
in Buckstone's time, that I first met the cabman of art and
literature. Dear bibulous, becoated creature, with ever-wrathful
outstretched palm and husky "'Ere! Wot's this?" How good it was to
see him once again! I felt I wanted to climb over the foot-lights
and shake him by the hand. The twins played a couple of Young Turks,
much concerned about their constitutions; and made quite a hit with a
topical duet to the refrain: "And so you see The reason he Is not
the Boss for us." We all agreed it was a pun worthy of Tom Hood
himself. The Vicar thought he had heard it before, but this seemed
improbable. There was a unanimous call for Author, giving rise to
sounds of discussion behind the curtain. Eventually the whole
company appeared, with Veronica in the centre. I had noticed
throughout that the centre of the stage appeared to be Veronica's
favourite spot. I can see the makings of a leading actress in
Veronica.
In my own piece, which followed, Robina and Bute played a young
married couple who do not know how to quarrel. It has always struck
me how much more satisfactorily people quarrel on the stage than in
real life. On the stage the man, having made up his mind--to have it
out, enters and closes the door. He lights a cigarette; if not a
teetotaller mixes himself a brandy-and-soda. His wife all this time
is careful to remain silent. Quite evident it is that he is
preparing for her benefit something unpleasant, and chatter might
disturb him.
Pages:
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256