J. D. Beresford

Name: Nineteen Impressions — The Empty Theatre
Author: J. D. Beresford

Nineteen Impressions — The Empty Theatre (1918)

Summary

“Nineteen Impressions — The Empty Theatre”, published in 1918, is a work by J. D. Beresford. It explores elements such as parade, rain and shingle.

Quotes from Nineteen Impressions — The Empty Theatre (J. D. Beresford)

J. D. Beresford, Nineteen Impressions — The Empty Theatre (1918)

“ I believed that I was one with the storm, and that I could see my own insignificant body still sitting foolishly on the parade, an atom of humanity barely distinguishable from the eager excited people that bustled and clattered past, a dismayed rout flying to sanctuary.
A voice at my side startled and jarred me. I became suddenly conscious of the crash of a wave upon the shingle, of sounds that had been miraculously arrested and that now broke out afresh. I realised also, that my sight of the rout had been a vision of frozen attitudes; now I saw a crowd no longer, but moving individuals. ”

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J. D. Beresford, Nineteen Impressions — The Empty Theatre (1918)

“ And as I watched and saw the horizon drowned in the impending sky, the shadows came racing towards me across the sea, swift harbingers of the coming storm. I knew that behind that hurrying darkness would come a wall of rain like a white mist that would presently shut me in to a little world bounded by the foam of the breakers that monotonously roared upon the shingle.
Even the thoughtless crowd upon the beach was beginning to move. I heard the shrill call of nursemaids and mothers. The flickering panorama of life on the sands was steadying down to a definable purpose and movement. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. D. Beresford, Nineteen Impressions — The Empty Theatre (1918)

“ I did not look up, but some strangeness in the sound of the voice held my attention, some indefinable clearness of utterance that overrode the sullen, reiterant attack of the sea upon the beach, the threat of the advancing squall (I could see a sudden thread of breakers lighting the distance of the shadowed sea) , the clatter of hurrying feet upon the parade, the excited cries and interested exchange of comment on the imminence of so remarkable a storm.
A great drop of rain burst on the flags at my feet. Everyone was running. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. D. Beresford, Nineteen Impressions — The Empty Theatre (1918)

“ And that light grew brighter and more steady until as I stood in the middle of the stage mechanically giving forth the majestic lines I had never understood, I found myself trying to observe individuals in the dimly seen audience. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. D. Beresford, Nineteen Impressions — The Empty Theatre (1918)

“ The cards of Fate fell into one of those rare combinations that most of us never see once in our little lives. I found myself promoted over an intermediate understudy and called upon to play the greatest of parts in a great theatre. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. D. Beresford, Nineteen Impressions — The Empty Theatre (1918)

“ If my heart beat quicker at rehearsal, as I mouthed the wonderful words I was to speak, it was not with fear that I might misinterpret the thought of genius, but with elation at the vision of myself the cynosure of all eyes. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. D. Beresford, Nineteen Impressions — The Empty Theatre (1918)

“ I believed that the people were still there, but that I could not see them.
"Indeed, as I glanced in panic over the house, it seemed to me that I was playing to an empty theatre.
"I turned my back to that awful blank and faced the stage, but as it had been with the audience so was it with my fellow-actors. As I gazed at each of them, he or she faded from my sight.
"I found myself declaiming the lines '... makes mouths at the invisible event.'
"Abruptly I fell into silence, for darkness was coming upon me. One by one the lights went out until I was all alone in that great dark place ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. D. Beresford, Nineteen Impressions — The Empty Theatre (1918)

“ I meant to send him back happy to his lodgings.
"You really think it's going to rain, then?" I said pleasantly.
He cast one more glance at the horizon. "Certain," he told me, with the air of an expert. "We shall 'ave dirty weather afore noon."
"Of course you get to know the signs of it, living here all the year round," I said.
"We do," he acknowledged, looking plausibly weatherwise.
"I shall stop here to see the beginning of it," I told him. "I am staying at the hotel, so I shall only have to cross the parade." ”

J. D. Beresford

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Quotes from Nineteen Impressions — The Empty Theatre (J. D. Beresford)

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