Pauline Frederick : on and off the stage (1940)

36 Pauline Frederick the stage. This Pauline had already learned, and now she knew the only thing to do was to take them into her confidence. Therefore, placing her hands on her hips, she gazed menacingly at the bed amidst loud applause and guffaws from the audience, who were now well aware that the bed had stuck. Then, placing a foot firmly on the bottom of the bed, she reached with both hands up to the top and, mustering all her strength, gave it a terrific tug. It came down all right that time, and with it all sorts of bric-a-brac which had been wedged in the top to hold it fast! Most of this descended upon Pauline's head, and as she dodged first one piece and then another, the audience screamed with delight. When the noise had subsided, she picked up her lines and the play went on. What happened back stage at the close of the scene can well be imagined. She was furious and they played no more jokes of that kind. The play on the whole received good notices though it created no great sensation. Pauline's reception as a dramatic actress was likewise divided, the majority of the critics praised the quiet, dignified manner in which she portrayed the " little gray lady " and added that, " her acting will be observed with interest from this time forward." After the flattering notices that she had received in the musical comedy roles, these notices were very mediocre and it was hard to know whether she had been right or wrong. Fortunately, she was one who could take criticism and profit by it. That she had still much to learn about dramatic art she herself realized, and she set about improving the weak points in her acting. Hitherto, she had sung to audiences; now she must talk, and that meant learning how to project her voice so that all could hear. When critics remarked that her voice at times was inaudible, she did not waste time resenting this, but instead studied carefully how to correct the fault. It was not long before she had