P. G. Wodehouse

“ Having hustled Jimmy into the vacant part, Charteris gave his energy free play. He conducted rehearsals with a vigor which occasionally almost welded the rabble which he was coaching into something approaching coherency. He never rested. He painted scenery, and left it about—wet—and people sat on it. He nailed up horseshoes for luck, and they fell on people. He distributed typed parts of the play among the company, and they lost them. But nothing daunted him.
“Mr. Charteris,” said Lady Blunt after one somewhat energetic rehearsal, “is indefatigable. ”

“ In the case of amateur theatricals, a large number of inoffensive people are annoyed simply in order that a mere handful of acquaintances may amuse themselves. Usually the whole thing can be laid at the door of the man, the organizer. ”

“ It had been a terribly hot, oppressive day, and there was thunder in the air. The rehearsal had bored everybody unspeakably. It would be heavenly on the lake, thought Jimmy. There was a Canadian canoe moored to that willow. If he could only get Molly.
“I'm awfully sorry, Jimmy,” said Molly, as they walked out into the garden. “I should love to come. It would be too perfect. But I've half promised to play tennis.”
“Who wants to play?” ”