After the First Night
AFTER the first night the author remains in complete ignorance as to whether his play has been a huge failure or a huge success. True, he has been called before the curtain, but perhaps the audience only applauded for a joke, or because it was sorry for him, or for some other unknown reason. Full of fear and mistrust, the author examines the words and looks of his friends.
“You are happy, aren’t you?”
“I think that the first act ought to be cut a bit.”
“But it was played quite well, considering.”
“I congratulate you.”
“Perhaps the third act could be cut?”
“Of course! They ought to have played it quite differently.”
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