The Vaudeville Star

Holding on to his hand, Ruby dipped into a delicate and elegant curtsy. When she rose, she met his eyes. “Your Majesty.”

“My lady,” he said in acknowledgment.

20

Ruby rubbed her hands together as she watched the stagehands scurry about backstage. From her position near the curtain, she could peek out into the theater. The audience was filling up. It was an immense auditorium, and soon there would be several hundred people watching her sing. She shuddered with giddy anticipation.

Max came running backstage looking for Vernon, and soon the word spread. The theater was sold out, and it was standing room only, which meant that people who had not been able to purchase a seat would be standing in the back of the theater.

There were now over nine hundred people in the theater, all waiting to see the New York vaudeville troupe. Ruby felt a shiver of dread mixed with delight at the thought. She watched as Vern walked by her wearing full white and black evening clothes. He smiled at her absently while under his breath she could hear him muttering his opening lines.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said as he walked by her. “I would like to welcome you . . .”

Bessie joined her, looking lovely in her sparkling costume. “Don’t be nervous! I forbid it!”

Ruby laughed lightly, trying to hide her nervousness. “I am and I’m not.”

Bessie gave her a quick hug. “They will love you.”

She hurried away only to be replaced by Lee Chen in his traditional black robe. He bowed slightly to her and moved away as Ruby nibbled on her thumbnail as she looked out over the audience again. It was indeed a packed house. When a hush fell over the assembly, she wondered what had caused it.

Suddenly, in the balcony, she saw several people enter, and the orchestra struck up “God Save the King.” People in the audience sang along with them. She knew that Edward VII was a popular king. He had waited fifty-nine years to ascend to the throne after his mother, Queen Victoria, the longest wait in English history.

When the song ended, there was thunderous applause as the king gave a stately wave and took his seat. Vernon took center stage and waited for the curtains to open just as Ruby moved aside.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Vernon began. “I would like to welcome you to the Matinee Theatre!”

Ruby closed her eyes and took in a deep breath as she heard Zeta introduced. A loud applause greeted her. She knew Zeta had performed in London several times, and she wondered if she would receive the same reaction.

She paced back and forth as each act was introduced, performed, and completed. She felt the tightness of her corset and the giddiness of being nervous, excited, and feeling a little sick all at the same time. She was next to perform, and she glanced about her. A stagehand was moving equipment, but other than that, she was alone.

Her first song, “Mighty Lak’ a Rose,” was her most comfortable, as she had been singing it for the New York audiences. She tugged

at her off-the-shoulder sleeves and pressed down the front of dress. She peeked out from behind the curtain and saw the crush of people before her. Soon enough, she would be center stage. She closed her eyes.

She had to steady her nerves. This was exactly the same as New York. People had paid to see her perform, and she would sing and shine. The king of England and his entourage were watching, but so had many influential people in New York. She had performed for high-ranking officials and important businessmen. She had to be calm and collected. She had step out onto the stage and dazzle them.

“Another round of applause for Lee Chen!” Vernon said loudly to the audience.

When they quieted down, he spoke again, “It is my pleasure to introduce our newest member of the troupe. She hails from the state of Mississippi, so she is a true Southern belle. But that’s not all! She is a fine songbird, and we are happy to have her here with us tonight. Our ingenue, the lovely Miss Ruby Sutton!”

Applause erupted, and Ruby came onstage. She looked up to the right balcony and down into the audience, and when her eyes came upon those seated in the left balcony, she gave a small, elegant curtsy to the king just as the music began.

Ruby smiled as her song began. She moved across the stage effortlessly and tried to make eye contact when she could through the bright electric lights.

There was a stillness in the audience, and as she glided across the stage, she tried to remember everything Bessie had taught her and what she had done in New York. Straight posture, smile, and make a little turn. And suddenly the song was over.

Applause filled the theater with several “bravos” coming from the balcony, and when Ruby exited, she wondered if that had been the king.

When Vernon announced her the second time, it was a simpler introduction. “Allow me to introduce our Southern belle and songbird, Ruby.”

When Ruby stepped out onstage the second time, the applause was louder than it had been the first time. She realized that the audience had enjoyed her first performance, and they were rewarding her.

Ruby nodded to the orchestra conductor and began her second song, “All Things Love Thee, So Do I.” This was the song King had picked for her. It was not as well-known as her first song since it dated from the 1830s.

“Gentle waves upon the deep, Murmur soft when thou dost sleep, Little birds upon the tree,

Sing their sweetest songs for thee, their sweetest songs for thee.