Six Characters in Search of an Author - Luigi Pirandello (short novels to read txt) 📗

up here for a moment. Please be so kind, will you? The Actresses Taking off their hats, one or two also their cloaks, and going to hang them on the racks. After all, why not? There you are! This is really funny. We’ve got to put them on show. The Father Exactly; just like that, on show. The Manager May we know why? The Father I’ll tell you. Who knows if, by arranging the stage for her, she does not come here herself, attracted by the very articles of her trade? Inviting the Actors to look towards the exit at back of stage. Look! Look! The door at the back of stage opens and Madame Pace enters and takes a few steps forward. She is a fat, oldish woman with puffy oxygenated hair. She is rouged and powdered, dressed with a comical elegance in black silk. Round her waist is a long silver chain from which hangs a pair of scissors. The Step-Daughter runs over to her at once amid the stupor of the Actors. The Step-Daughter Turning towards her. There she is! There she is! The Father Radiant. It’s she! I said so, didn’t I? There she is! The Manager Conquering his surprise, and then becoming indignant. What sort of a trick is this? Leading Man Almost at the same time. What’s going to happen next? Juvenile Lead Where does she come from? L’Ingénue They’ve been holding her in reserve, I guess. Leading Lady A vulgar trick! The Father Dominating the protests. Excuse me, all of you! Why are you so anxious to destroy in the name of a vulgar, commonplace sense of truth, this reality which comes to birth attracted and formed by the magic of the stage itself, which has indeed more right to live here than you, since it is much truer than you⁠—if you don’t mind my saying so? Which is the actress among you who is to play Madame Pace? Well, here is Madame Pace herself. And you will allow, I fancy, that the actress who acts her will be less true than this woman here, who is herself in person. You see my daughter recognized her and went over to her at once. Now you’re going to witness the scene! But the scene between The Step-Daughter and Madame Pace has already begun despite the protest of the Actors and the reply of The Father. It has begun quietly, naturally, in a manner impossible for the stage. So when the Actors, called to attention by The Father, turn round and see Madame Pace, who has placed one hand under The Step-Daughter’s chin to raise her head, they observe her at first with great attention, but hearing her speak in an unintelligible manner their interest begins to wane. The Manager Well? well? Leading Man What does she say? Leading Lady One can’t hear a word. Juvenile Lead Louder! Louder please! The Step-Daughter Leaving Madame Pace, who smiles a Sphinx-like smile, and advancing towards the Actors. Louder? Louder? What are you talking about? These aren’t matters which can be shouted at the top of one’s voice. If I have spoken them out loud, it was to shame him and have my revenge. Indicates The Father. But for Madame it’s quite a different matter. The Manager Indeed? indeed? But here, you know, people have got to make themselves heard, my dear. Even we who are on the stage can’t hear you. What will it be when the public’s in the theatre? And anyway, you can very well speak up now among yourselves, since we shan’t be present to listen to you as we are now. You’ve got to pretend to be alone in a room at the back of a shop where no one can hear you. The Step-Daughter coquettishly and with a touch of malice makes a sign of disagreement two or three times with her finger. The Manager What do you mean by no? The Step-Daughter Sotto voce, mysteriously. There’s someone who will hear us if she Indicating Madame Pace. speaks out loud. The Manager In consternation. What? Have you got someone else to spring on us now? The Actors burst out laughing. The Father No, no sir. She is alluding to me. I’ve got to be here⁠—there behind that door, in waiting; and Madame Pace knows it. In fact, if you will allow me, I’ll go there at once, so I can be quite ready. Moves away. The Manager Stopping him. No! Wait! wait! We must observe the conventions of the theatre. Before you are ready.⁠ ⁠… The Step-Daughter Interrupting him. No, get on with it at once! I’m just dying, I tell you, to act this scene. If he’s ready, I’m more than ready. The Manager Shouting. But, my dear young lady, first of all, we must have the scene between you and this lady⁠ ⁠… Indicates Madame Pace. Do you understand?⁠ ⁠… The Step-Daughter Good Heavens! She’s been telling me what you know already: that mamma’s work is badly done again, that the material’s ruined; and that if I want her to continue to help us in our misery I must be patient.⁠ ⁠… Maddame Pace Coming forward with an air of great importance. Yes indeed, sir, I no wanta take advantage of her, I no wanta be hard.⁠ ⁠… Note. Madame Pace is supposed to talk in a jargon half Italian, half Spanish. The Manager Alarmed. What? What? She talks like that? The Actors burst out laughing again. The Step-Daughter Also laughing. Yes yes, that’s the way she talks, half English, half Italian! Most comical it is! Maddame Pace Itta seem not verra polite gentlemen laugha atta me eef I trya best speaka English. The Manager Diamine! Of course! Of course! Let her talk like that! Just what we want. Talk just like that, Madam, if you please! The effect will be certain. Exactly what was wanted to put