The customary three knocks are heard. The drop-curtain wavers and is rising, when a voice rings out, "Not yet!" and the MANAGER, a gentleman of important mien in evening dress, springing from his proscenium box, hurries toward the stage, repeating, "Not yet!" The curtain is again lowered. The MANAGER turns toward the audience, and resting one hand on the prompter's box, addresses them:
The curtain is a wall,âa flying wall. Assured that presently the wall will flyâwhy haste? Is it not charming to delayâand just look at it for a while?
Charming to sit before a great red wall, hanging beneath two gilt masks and a scrollâThe thrilling moment is when the curtain thrills, and sounds come from the other side.
You are desired to-night to listen to those sounds and entering the scene before you see it, to wonder and surmiseâ Bending his ear, the MANAGER listens to the sounds now beginning to come from behind the curtain.
A footstepâis it a road? A flutter of wingsâis it a garden? The curtain here rippling as if about to rise, the MANAGER precipitately shouts, "Stop!âDo not raise it yet!" Then again bending his ear, continues making note of the noises, clear or confused, single or combined, that from this onward come without stop from behind the curtain.
A magpie cawing flies away. Great wooden shoes come running over flags. A courtyard, is it?âIf so above a valleyâfrom whence that softened clamour of birds and barking dogs.
The customary three knocks are heard. The drop-curtain wavers and is rising, when a voice rings out, "Not yet!" and the MANAGER, a gentleman of important mien in evening dress, springing from his proscenium box, hurries toward the stage, repeating, "Not yet!" The curtain is again lowered. The MANAGER turns toward the audience, and resting one hand on the prompter's box, addresses them:
The curtain is a wall,âa flying wall. Assured that presently the wall will flyâwhy haste? Is it not charming to delayâand just look at it for a while?
Charming to sit before a great red wall, hanging beneath two gilt masks and a scrollâThe thrilling moment is when the curtain thrills, and sounds come from the other side.
You are desired to-night to listen to those sounds and entering the scene before you see it, to wonder and surmiseâ Bending his ear, the MANAGER listens to the sounds now beginning to come from behind the curtain.
A footstepâis it a road? A flutter of wingsâis it a garden? The curtain here rippling as if about to rise, the MANAGER precipitately shouts, "Stop!âDo not raise it yet!" Then again bending his ear, continues making note of the noises, clear or confused, single or combined, that from this onward come without stop from behind the curtain.
A magpie cawing flies away. Great wooden shoes come running over flags. A courtyard, is it?âIf so above a valleyâfrom whence that softened clamour of birds and barking dogs.