To keep the
business from slackening, Andre-Louis prepared a new scenario every
week. He wrote three in addition to those two with which he had
already supplied the company; these were "The Marriage of Pantaloon,"
"The Shy Lover," and "The Terrible Captain." Of these the last was
the greatest success. It was based upon the "Miles Gloriosus" of
Plautus, with great opportunities for Rhodomont, and a good part
for Scaramouche as the roaring captain's sly lieutenant. Its
success was largely due to the fact that Andre-Louis amplified the
scenario to the extent of indicating very fully in places the
lines which the dialogue should follow, whilst here and there he
had gone so far as to supply some of the actual dialogue to be
spoken, without, however, making it obligatory upon the actors
to keep to the letter of it.
And meanwhile as the business prospered, he became busy with
tailors, improving the wardrobe of the company, which was sorely
in need of improvement. He ran to earth a couple of needy artists,
lured them into the company to play small parts - apothecaries and
notaries - and set them to beguile their leisure in painting new
scenery, so as to be ready for what he called the conquest of Nantes,
which was to come in the new year.
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