sister carrie

Chapter 33 (1)

Chapter 19 One Hour in Wonderland: A Faintly Perceived Voice (1)
The curtain is finally about to lift.All makeup details are done.The orchestra conductor picked up the baton and tapped the music stand lightly, and the orchestra began to play a soft overture.Hurstwood broke off his conversation, and entered the box with Drouet and his friend Shaka Morrison.

"Oh, let's see how the little girl does," he said to Drouet, in a voice so low that no one could hear him.

On stage, six characters have already played in the opening parlor scene.Drouet and Hurstwood saw at once that Carrie was not there, and continued their conversation in low tones.Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. Hoaglund, and the actor who takes the place of Mr. Bamberg are the main characters in this scene.The professional actor, Barton, had no strengths other than self-righteousness, but at this moment, it was clearly needed.Mrs. Morgan, who played Pearl, was stiff with fright, and Mrs. Hoaglund was hoarse.The whole cast was so lifeless that they couldn't say anything except just reciting their lines.The play failed so miserably, and the result was emotional turmoil on the stage. It was only because the audience was kind and hoped that the performance would be good, and they were not picky, so they did not express regret.

Hurstwood was completely unmoved.He had expected that the show was not worth anything.All he cared about was to be patient, to have an excuse at last, and to offer flowers, that's all.

However, after the first wave of panic passed, the actors were finally saved from collapse.They acted lifelessly, almost throwing out all the expressions that should be shown, and the play was extremely dull, and it was only then that Carrie appeared on the stage.

Hurstwood and Drouet both knew at one glance that she was equally lifeless.She stepped across the stage and said feebly:
"You, sir, we've been looking for you since eight o'clock." But it was badly read, and the voice was so faint.

"She's frightened," whispered Drouet to Hurstwood.

The manager didn't answer.

At this time, she read a line, which was originally a very interesting sentence:
"Ah, this is equivalent to saying that I am like a life-saving elixir."

However, the lines were read too flatly and lifelessly.Drouet squirmed.Hurstwood remained motionless.

In another place Laura was about to get up, with a premonition of impending doom, and said mournfully:

"I wish you hadn't said that, Pearl. You know the old saying: 'Miscalling a girl a lady.'"

The lack of emotion in the performance makes it embarrassing.Carrie doesn't get her hands on the character at all.She spoke as if in sleep.From the looks of it, she was sure to suffer a crushing defeat.She was worse than Mrs. Morgan.Mrs. Morgan is somewhat calmer now, at least she can read her lines clearly.Instead of the stands, Drouet looked at the concept.The audience was silent, naturally hoping that the situation would improve.Hurstwood stared at Carrie, as if hoping to hypnotize her better.He poured determination in her direction.He felt sorry for her.

A few minutes later it was her turn to see a letter from that strange rascal.The audience just got a little interested by listening to a talk.The conversation was between an amateur actor and an actor named Snooki.Snooki is played by a short American, a slightly crazy one-armed soldier who now delivers letters and earns a living, and does show some sense of humor.He roared his lines with defiance of everything, while others were indifferent to the humor, thus creating a ridiculous situation.But now that he has stepped down, the plot returns to the sad scene, with Carrie playing the main role.She hasn't calmed down yet.Throughout her scene with the intruding rogue, she was so bewildered that the audience could not bear it until she finally left the scene, which gave the audience a sigh of relief.

"She's so nervous," said Drouet, feeling himself lying too lightly:
"It's best to go backstage and tell her."

Drouet would do anything to make things better.He forced his way to the side door, and the friendly gatekeeper let him in.Carrie was standing at the side of the stage, feebly waiting for the cue to come on, feeling weak all over her body.

"Listen, Carrie," he said, looking at her, "you mustn't panic. Get on your nerves. What are these fellows out there. What have you got to be afraid of?"

"I don't know," said Carrie. "I just can't seem to act."

However, she was grateful that the salesman could come.She found that the whole class was so tense, and she lost her courage herself.

"Come," said Drouet, "be ready. What are you afraid of? Go on and do it well. What are you afraid of?"

Carrie was somewhat revived by the salesman's infectious vigor.

"Am I really that bad at acting?"

"Not at all. All you need is some spirit. Just like you showed me. Like the night before, with your head up like this."

Carrie thought of his successful performance in the room.She tried her best to imagine that she could act.

"What's down there?" he said, looking at the line she'd been working on.

"Well, it was the one between Rey and me, and I turned him down."

"Okay, be sure to act vividly," said the salesman. "Come on, that's the key. Act like you don't care."

"Miss Mactonda, it's your turn," said the prompter.

"Oh, dear!" said Carrie.

"Oh, you're paralyzed by fear," said Drouet; "come, cheer up. I'll be here watching you."

"Really?" said Carrie.

"Yeah, okay, keep acting. Don't be afraid."

The prompter greeted her.

When she came out, she was still as guilty as before, but suddenly she recovered a little.She thought of Drouet watching.

"Ray," she said softly, her voice much calmer than the previous one.It was this scene that the director felt satisfied with during the rehearsal.

"She's more natural," thought Hurstwood.

She didn't perform as well as she did in rehearsal, but she did better.At least the audience will not feel disgusted after watching it.The progress of the audience prevented the audience from paying attention to her.They've improved a bit, and now the play seems passable, at least in the parts that aren't too difficult.

Carrie went off excited and a little nervous.

"Well," she said, looking at him, "is it better?"

"Well, I think so. Just play it like this. Play it alive. You're ten times better than the last one. Go, go up, play it hot. Move the audience."

"Is it really better?"

"Okay, I think so. What's down there?"

"One dance hall."

"Oh, you'll do well," he said.

"I don't know," replied Carrie.

"Oh, woman," he exclaimed, "you're playing for me! Well, now go up on stage and play well. You'll have fun. Play like you're in a room. If you can play like that, I bet you had a great time. Ah, guess what? You can do it."

Salesmen often exaggerate with enthusiasm and good intentions.He did think Carrie would do well in this particular scene, though, and he wanted her to do it again in public.It was just because it was such an occasion that he was so excited.

When the time came he gave Carrie fruitful encouragement.He managed to make herself think she was doing a good job.When he spoke to her, the sadness of the original longing came to her again, and as the action unfolded, her feelings rose.

"I think I can do it."

"Of course you can do it. Well, go on and show yourself."

On stage, Mrs. Venton is making vicious hints at Laura.

Carrie listened, infected with something--what, she could not say herself.She snorted lightly.

"That is to say," said the professional actor playing Rey at this moment, "that society is a horrible avenger of insults. Have you ever heard the story of the Siberian wolf? And it fell down, and other wolves devoured it. This analogy sounds indecent, but there are wolves in society. Laura makes a mockery of it. A society that is only a pose, to such a mockery It's extremely offensive."

Carrie was startled at hearing her stage name.She began to feel the poignancy of the situation.The feeling of being an outcast came over her.She stayed on the edge of the side of the stage, her thoughts racing.She couldn't hear anything except her blood was boiling.

"Come, girls," said Mrs. Fenton solemnly, "let us take care of our own things. Nothing is safe when there is such a habit of sneaking in."

"Go," said the prompter next to her, but she didn't hear it.Inspired by inspiration, she was moving forward with grace.What I saw in front of the audience was a beautiful and proud girl. With the development of the plot, a group of wild wolves in the society ridiculed her and abandoned her, and she finally became a helpless person.

Hurstwood narrowed his eyes.He is infected.Carrie's sincere expression has already moved all the audience in the hall.The magic of passion that melts the world is at work.

At the same time, the originally scattered attention was absorbed, and the previously dissociated emotions were concentrated.

"Ray! Ray! Why don't you go back to her?" was Pearl's cry.

Every eye was on Carrie, who was as proud and as contemptuous as ever.Wherever she went, they followed her.Their eyes followed hers.

Mrs. Morgan, who played Pearl, came up to her.

"Let's go home," she said.

"No," said Carrie.For the first time, her voice had that piercing quality it had never had before. "Stay with him!"

She pointed a accusing hand directly at her lover.Then, a deep lament is expressed with extreme simplicity, with shocking power: "He will suffer no more."

Hurstwood realized.What he saw was exceptionally high art.When the curtain fell, there was thunderous applause, and it was for Carrie, so his experience was deepened.She was so beautiful, he thought.What she has achieved is one level higher than those in his circle.The thought that she belonged to him made her feel sweet.

"Wonderful." He said, and then got up excitedly, and walked to the door of the stage.

When he saw Carrie she was still with Drouet.He might not know his affection for her.He was almost dizzy with excitement with such strength and emotion as she displayed.According to his wish, he hoped that he could tell a lover's praise endlessly with boundless affection.But Drouet was here too, and he too was full of emotion.And he was more intoxicated than Hurstwood.At least, according to the nature of the matter, Drouet's enthusiasm was more vivid.

"Ah, ah," said Drouet, "you've done a great job. It's just marvelous. I know you'll do it. Oh, you're a sweet little thing!"

Carrie's eyes shone with success.

"Am I doing okay?"

"All right? Very well, I think. Don't you hear a round of applause?"

At this moment, there seemed to be faint applause.

"I think I caught something - I felt it myself."

Having said that, Hurstwood came over.He felt instinctively the change in Drouet.He understood that the salesman's closeness to Carrie made him jealous.For a split second he blamed himself for sending him backstage.He also hated him for being an intruder.It was hard for him to force himself to the level where he congratulated Carrie only as a friend.At last, however, he managed to get himself under control with all his might, and it was a triumph.His eyes almost danced with his usual quick-witted glance.

"I think," said he, looking at Carrie, "that I should come and tell you how wonderfully you've done it, Mrs. Drouet. It's very lovely."

Carrie understood, and answered:

"Oh, thank you."

"I was speaking to her," interposed Drouet.Now he seems to be happy because she is his, "Tell her that she played wonderfully."

"Indeed," said Hurstwood, turning his eyes on Carrie, who, for her part, read the meaning in his eyes.

Carrie laughed beamingly.

"If you were so good in the rest of the play, you'd make us think of you as a born actress."

Carrie smiled again.She felt the sensitivity of Hurstwood's situation and wished to be alone with him, but she did not understand the change in Drouet.Hurstwood found himself so oppressed, speechless, and jealous at every moment of Drouet's presence, that he assumed a Faustian air Treacherous. This is only one interpretation of Faust. There are many interpretations of Faust. - Translator) bow and walk away.After going out, he gritted his teeth with envy.

"Bastard!" he said, "must he always be in the way?" He returned to the box in a depressed mood, thinking about the misfortune of his position without even talking.

(End of this chapter)