sister carrie

Chapter 77 (2)

Chapter 43 The whole world cheers: A pair of eyes in the dark (2)
"Didn't I tell you," Laura said, "it's no good for you to leave New York. If you go away, you'll be completely forgotten."

Now, because of Carrie's beauty, those who were going to illustrate the teaser for the Sunday papers chose Carrie's picture, along with those of the other actors, for the illustration of the news, and because she was very pretty, they Her picture was given premium status and lace was added.Carrie seemed overjoyed.However, the management department still does not seem to care about this at all.At least he didn't pay more attention than in the past.At the same time, her role was too small.Just standing in various scenes, like a silent little Quaker woman who advocates peace and opposes all wars, that's all.According to the wishes of the comedy writer, if the appropriate actress is given the role, this role is quite interesting, but now that Carrie is given to play it casually, if the role is canceled, he will also be able to play it. agreed.

"Don't be critical, old man," said the manager. "If it doesn't work the first week, we'll cut the part."

Carrie was not informed of this intention to quell the strife.She played her part with a melancholy feeling that she was practically sidelined.During rehearsals, she was sullen.

"Not a bad play," said the playwright.The manager, too, noted the strange effect of Carrie's melancholy on the character, "telling her to play more sullenly while Sparky was dancing."

"Play more sullenly, Miss Mactonda," said the Stage Manager.

Carrie brightened at once, and at first thought he was speaking accusations.

"No, scowl," he said, "as you used to scowl."

Carrie stared at him in great amazement.

"That's what I mean," he said. "You gotta scowl as hard as Mr. Sparky dances. I want to see how it goes."

It is not difficult to do this.Carrie looked sad.The effect is so strange that even the manager is tempted by it.

"That's wonderful," he said. "She'll be applauded if she's consistent."

He went up to Carrie and said:

"Try and see if you can keep the frown down the whole time. You have to act like you're crazy to make a character really funny."

On the opening night it seemed to Carrie that she had nothing to play at all.In the first act, the happy, stuffy audience doesn't seem to see her.She frowned and frowned, but it didn't work.The eyes of the audience were fixed on the wonderful performances of the star actors.

In the second act, the audience, bored by a dreary conversation, turned their eyes to the stage and spotted her.There she was, in gray, with a sweet face, demure, but frowning.At first, people thought she was temporarily annoyed, but her expression was sincere and there was nothing funny about it.But when she continued to look sad, sometimes looking at this protagonist, sometimes looking at that protagonist, the audience began to laugh.The chubby gentleman sitting in the front row started to think she was a little sweetie.Such a scowl is of the type they kiss away.The gentlemen and gentlemen were all unanimous in their hearts.She is awesome.

Later, when the protagonist of the comedy sings in the middle of the stage, he finds a giggle, which is unexpected.And then another, and another, and when it came time to be loudly applauded, there was only general applause.What was wrong? He realized that something was wrong.

Immediately after he exited, he noticed Carrie.She was alone on the stage with a sad face, and the audience burst into giggles, and even burst into laughter.

"My God, I can't take it!" thought the grieving actor. "I can't let someone spoil my performance. Either she quit when it was my turn, or I quit."

"Oh, that's all right," said the manager when objections were raised, "that's what she was asked to do. You don't have to worry about it."

"But my performance was ruined by her."

"No, she didn't," said the manager conciliatoryly. "It was just a little joke in passing."

"Well, huh?" exclaimed the great comedian, "she's ruining my part. I can't stand it."

"Well, let's talk about it after the show. Let's talk about it tomorrow. Let's see what we can do."

However, the next act determines what to do.Carrie is the main character in the play.As for the audience, the more they pay attention to her, the more they show appreciation for her.The strange, amusing, cheering air that Carrie brought to the stage overshadowed the rest of the actors.Both the manager and the troupe felt that she had hit the jackpot.

Daily critics made her victory seem flawless.There were long stories in the papers, praising the quality of the burlesque, and mentioning Carrie again and again.The article has repeatedly emphasized the infectious power of artistic humor.

"Miss Mactonda has played the funniest character of character that has ever been seen on the stage of the Casino Theater." This is what the wise reviewer in the "Sun" said. The antics of the show, they warm like a glass of wine. Obviously, the original intention was not to highlight this character, and Miss Maconda did not appear on the stage very often, but the audience made their own selection out of special quirks. The audience pampered the petite female member of the Quaker Society as soon as she appeared on the stage, and afterwards she easily won attention and applause. The whims of fate are incredible."

The critic of the Evening World, who routinely puts out epigrams and makes them "pop" the town, ends his article with admonishment: If you want to be merry, look at Carrie's sad face.

The result was a miracle for Carrie's fate.Even in the morning, she received a congratulatory letter from the manager.

"It seems like you're storming the city with fame," he wrote. "What a blessing. I'm happy for you, and for me."

The playwright also sent a letter of congratulations.

When she arrived at the theater that evening, the manager was very happy to meet her at the door.

"Mr. Stevens," he said -- referring to the playwright -- "has a little song he wants you to sing next week."

"Oh, I can't sing," replied Carrie.

"It's not difficult at all. It's very simple," he said, "and it's best for you to sing."

"Of course, I might as well try," said Carrie sweetly.

"Could you please stop by the box office for a while before you put on your makeup," the manager went on. "There's a little thing I want to talk to you about."

"Of course," replied Carrie.

Later, when we got there, the manager took out a piece of paper.

"Ah, of course," he said, "in terms of salary, we will treat you fairly. Your contract here stipulates that the salary is only 30 yuan a week for the next three months. Now it will be 150 yuan a week for an extended period of time. Twelve months, what do you think?"

"Oh, very well," said Carrie.She could hardly believe her ears.

"Then please sign this."

Carrie saw that it was just a new contract, the format was the same as the old one, the only difference was the amount and time of wages.She signed it with hands shaking with excitement.

"150 bucks a week!" she whispered when she was alone.After all, she discovered—and isn’t it the same with millionaires?—people don’t really get the point of having a lot of money.These are just shiny words, but there are infinite possibilities in them.

Meanwhile, in a third-class hotel in Brick Street, a gloomy Hurstwood reads the happy news of Carrie's success.At first he didn't understand what it meant.Then, all of a sudden, he understood, and he read it all over again.

"It's her, that's right, I think so," he said.

So he looked around the corridors of the filthy moth-eaten hotel.

"I think she's lucky," he thought.The picture that unfolded before my eyes was that glorious, velvet world back then, with the lights, the furnishings, the carriages, and the flowers.Ah, now she is in the Forbidden City! The majestic gates before the city have been opened, and perhaps she has entered the city from the cold and bleak world outside the city.She seemed to have become a first-class person, in that far away place-every celebrity he knew was like this.

"Oh, let her enjoy it," he said, "I won't disturb her."

It was the wretched resolution of a man who was humble, dirty, but not yet broken in self-esteem.

(End of this chapter)