Jeanne Eagels

"Meanwhile, Her Cardboard Lover flourished. Though Leslie might grow weary of his long part, he had little chance to grow bored. Jeanne Eagels, enmeshed in her colorful chiffon drapery, was distinctly unusual and erratic in her performance. Once she settled into the enormous bed in Act II, her attention was inclined to wander.

"One evening, after Leslie had made his entrance and given his leading lady her cue, there followed only ominous silence.

"Finally Miss Eagels looked at Leslie, smiled charmingly, and said: 'I would like a glass of water.'

"Leslie, trying to appear unruffled by this odd turn of events, smiled back and repeated his opening lines. Undisturbed and oblivious to what he had said, the pink-and gold confection in the bed replied: 'I said I would like a glass of water, please.'

"The audience had by now sensed that this was a departure from the script and had begun to whisper. Leslie decided that nothing much could be gained by trying to cover up the incident. He politely turned and walked off the stage. To Stanley Logan, who played the part of the husband and who was waiting in the wings to go on, he said: 'She wants a glass of water,' and with that he disappeared into his dressing room, leaving poor Logan gaping and the stage manager frantically signaling for the curtain to come down.

"Another unfortunate occasion found Jeanne Eagels fast asleep in the glorious bed. Leslie felt desperately sorry for the girl. He found her strangely pathetic. He knew the part was a frightful strain for her, and he forgave her her temperament. She had great talent and was a real theatrical personality, but she was not truly a professional. Her success had come too quickly, and she was terrified to admit even to herself that she could not quite live up to it. Though there were rumblings from the management and warnings from Actors' Equity about her behavior, she survived the New York run, and then, tragically, was suspended by Equity during the tour. It was only her second major role on the stage, and it was to be her last. Two years later she was dead, unable to take the pace of her own success."

A Quite Remarkable Father, pgs. 133-134


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