Ziegfeld Girls

by Sarah Barthel

  She slipped out of the room and ran up the stairs to the theater level. Once she could hear the piano banging out a melody for rehearsal she stopped cold. It would be unseemly to just walk onstage, and it would surely embarrass Suzanne. Instead, she slipped back and went down the corridor that led to the theater lobby. From there she ran up to the balcony and slipped in through the door. The rows of red velvet seats sat empty in the darkness. Jada was thankful light from the stage did not reach them. Very carefully, she walked to the aisle and went down a few rows before selecting a seat. The hinge on the chair creaked as she sat, and her heart raced at the thought of being caught. But no one so much as glanced in her direction.

  The theater was as beautiful as the lobby was. Above the stage was a huge mosaic of Grecian mythology that was depicted throughout the theater in various paintings. The flower and vine motif continued inside the house as well as the mauve and maroon coloring. Jada took a moment to marvel at the beauty of the space before focusing on the women themselves.

  Onstage, a group of girls walked in a circle, slowly waving their arms in and out of their formation as if creating a figure eight in the air. Another four girls sat at a table looking at a drawing of something Jada couldn’t decipher.

  Jada exhaled. The women were beautiful. Even from this distance, with all of them in rehearsal dress, they were stunning. A tall man walked to the center of the girls’ circle and began barking directions.

  “Shoulders back!” he barked at one girl. “Smoothly, Mary, we are not jumping puppies!”

  Jada covered her mouth to suppress a laugh as she found Mary, who was indeed bouncing up and down as she moved, as if she might bounce away if tapped too hard. She scanned the girls for Suzanne’s blond curls but was unable to find her. Alarmed, she leaned forward and counted as the girls continued their walk. Not a single one had Suzanne’s particular shade of blond or her poise.

  Something shuffled behind her, but Jada didn’t move.

  She scanned the rest of the stage, trying to locate her friend. Finally, in the back corner, she found her. She was hunched over a few sheets of piano music, her head leaning toward a brunette woman. Jada squinted and drew back in surprise. It was Ann Pennington. Suzanne worried about a lot of things, but she always knew what connections to make.

  Another creak sounded from behind her.

  “Hello?” Jada whispered, suddenly aware someone else was with her.

  “Ma’am.”

  Jada slowly turned around and found herself face-to-face with a light-skinned black man. “Can I help you?”

  A crooked smile sprawled across the man’s face. “Well, I was going to ask you the same thing. What are you doing here?”

  Jada felt her face warm in embarrassment. She licked her lips and tilted her head in the way she’d observed Suzanne do in attempt to get the higher ground.

  “I am observing rehearsal. What are you doing here?” The superior tone she adopted made her stomach churn. This was not the person she wanted to be, but she also didn’t want to get in trouble.

  “Same.” The man stood up and hopped over the seats to sit beside her. “Leon and I think it’s better if I observe from up here for a few days before I interact with the girls.”

  “Leon and you?” Jada leaned back and looked at the man. She’d only seen publicity shots, but from his smirk and ease of the name of Mr. Errol, she knew who he was. Bert Williams.

  Her head fell to her hands. “Oh, Mr. Williams. I am so sorry. Please. I just wanted to watch the rehearsal. My friend—I mean, I work for one of the girls onstage and she wanted me to learn what was needed so I could help her with nightly rehearsals.”

  Bert chuckled. “No need, girl. You can sit with me and help me learn the names of all the new girls. Which one is your friend?” He settled back and propped his foot up against the chair in front of them.

  “She is the blond one in the back corner with Ann Pennington.”

  “She’s Ann’s friend?” Bert jumped and leaned forward again. “Blond curls? Oh, yes, I see her. She’s a pretty girl.”

  “They were looking at sheet music earlier.” Jada hoped Bert might have some insight over what that might mean. For Suzanne to get a prominent number would be a huge coup.

  “Sheet music, eh?” he nodded. “Ann was hoping to get another girl in our act, but most of the gals she knows are . . . reluctant.”

  “Your act?” Jada asked. “You’re dancing with girls onstage?” Her heart beat against her chest.

  “We are going to try,” Bert said. “It opens so many possibilities. But these women can be very impractical.”

  Both of them were quiet for a time. Onstage, Leon tapped his cane in a beat for the girls to move. Suzanne and Ann were in line with the others now and were, to Jada, the best of the bunch. Ann had something that made you just want to watch her, and Suzanne moved with effortless grace. Jada’s eyes welled with pride.

  Wait.

  She was proud of Suzanne for walking nicely when she and Bert Williams, the Bert Williams, were sitting in the dark, spying on rehearsal. It was ludicrous.

  “I am sorry for your troubles,” Jada said. “It isn’t fair that someone of your talent is kept in the balcony watching rehearsal while these women are worshipped for just being able to walk.”

  Bert put his fingers to his lips. “You hush now. Getting all worked up won’t do nothing, and I’d rather not have the girls know that I’m watching them yet.” He shifted in his chair until his long legs were facing Jada. “For now we are up here and they are down there. But this season that all changes. This season, Ann and I and, God willing, your friend will take the stage and make history on Broadway.”

  “Intermingling the sexes and races onstage.” Jada nearly whispered the idea. If they would dance with a man, perhaps a Negro Ziegfeld girl wasn’t too far off?

  Careful, Jada, she thought to herself. Such dreams would get her nowhere.

  “It is already done abroad. But much is done there that we lag behind on.”

  Suzanne dipped down and picked up a scarf that had fallen off one of the other girls. She didn’t miss a beat in her movements as she swept it up and placed it on the shoulder of the girl in front of her. Jada leaned forward and observed the movements.

  “Why does your girl want you to watch rehearsal again?” Bert asked.

  Without looking at him, Jada replied, “I help her rehearse.” Then she realized Suzanne might not want that spread around. A colored girl helping her rehearse might not be good for her future reputation. Jada quickly covered her steps. “She humors me as I fancy myself a dancer.”

  “A dancer, eh?” Bert glanced at the stage and back at Jada. “Shall we see if you have talent?”

  “What?” Jada snapped to attention. Quieter she said, “I don’t think that is necessary. Besides, you need to observe the girls.”

  Down on the stage, Leon stopped his tapping. “All right, girls, take five,” he declared. “And drink water. We don’t want anyone fainting like last year!”

  A general twittering came from the stage as the dancers broke down into smaller groups and whispered with one another. Ann grabbed Suzanne and the two got glasses of water to drink from a woman onstage. Ruby and Lillian sat on the front of the stage, their legs dangling with a slew of other women, their laughs carrying well in the theater.

  “Looks like we have a few minutes. Do you want to show me what you got?” He motioned to the door behind them.

  “Um . . .” Jada’s heart raced. Dancing with Bert Williams? This felt like a dream, and yet, she was rooted in place. “I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t think Suzanne would like it.”

  Once the words were spoken, Jada instantly regretted saying them. She hadn’t intended to be so brutally honest. Bert looked her up and down and shook his head.

  “That is too bad. Too bad indeed.” He tipped his head in her direction. “Until we meet again.”

  He turned and walked out of the b
alcony, leaving Jada sitting in her seat, kicking herself for missing her chance.

  CHAPTER 6

  “The better your posture the more alluring your form,” Ann explained. “One of the things Lillian doesn’t understand is that attracting a man has less to do with the size of your bosom and more to do with confidence. Keep your head high and shoulders back and few men will resist your charms.” She winked at Suzanne.

  A pile of apple cores and half-empty cups of tea sat on a small, round table beside them as Ann tried to instruct Suzanne, Vera, and Mary on the art of seduction. Their small group was tucked into the far left corner of the stage, practically in the wings. As it was, Suzanne kept moving the large curtain that hung in the wings. The heavy fabric was surprisingly responsive to Ann’s stride.

  “It isn’t about what is obvious, but what is underneath?” Suzanne asked as she tried to copy Ann’s posture. The small woman was hard not to look at as she circled Suzanne.

  “Exactly!” She picked up a book off the pile beside them. “Watch.”

  She placed the book on her head and continued to move around the stage. A few of the other groups stopped and watched her as well. Not for the first time did Suzanne hear whisperings of why Ann had chosen her to befriend, but Suzanne refused to let their jealous gossip detract from her good fortune. This group of women especially should understand there was more to a person than good looks. Ann returned to their small group.

  “When a man calls your name, do you whip your head around in excitement or curiosity?” She moved her head fast as if to look over her shoulder. The book naturally fell to the floor. Mary picked it up and gave it back to Ann. “Most of us do. But if we move slower, not quite glancing in his direction as we turn, it becomes a dance between you, and for once we women take the lead.”

  She turned slowly, keeping her gaze down as she turned, and then lifting her eyelashes up and meeting Suzanne’s gaze. Only someone devoid of a pulse wouldn’t have felt their pulse quicken when Ann set those eyes upon them. Suzanne herself felt goosebumps rise on her arms.

  “But who here are you trying to impress, Ann?” Vera giggled.

  Mary hushed her. “Perhaps had we known this move Mr. Vanderbilt would be taking us out tonight instead of Ann. No offense, Ann.”

  “None taken. Cornelius is a good friend, but far too young to be anything more than that.” Ann took the book off her head and handed it to Suzanne.

  “I’d take a young admirer if he brought me jewels like the Vanderbilts are known for.” Vera sighed.

  Suzanne raised an eyebrow. “I’ve only been here for the morning, but even I have heard of the diamonds that you were gifted with from a certain someone.”

  Vera blushed as the other girls laughed. She pulled her robe tighter around her waist. It was embroidered with hundreds of little roses. Suzanne itched the collar of her chemise. Tomorrow she would make sure she looked as glamorous as the other girls.

  Suzanne placed the book upon her head, hardly daring to admit to Ann how much the muscles in her back ached from keeping her posture in the Ziegfeld style. Working with Jada, Suzanne assumed she’d worked every muscle possible. She was wrong. In the span of one day she felt as if she’d unearthed a new level of muscles that had never been used before.

  Leon walked over to their group and removed the book from Suzanne’s head. “Very good, Suzanne. You’ve proven yourself a force to be reckoned with. I’ll tell Flo of your hard work.”

  “Thank you,” Suzanne said. Any thought of pain floated away with his compliment. A personal mention to Mr. Ziegfeld was quite an honor.

  “We’ll be stopping now. I want to be sure all you girls have time for dinner and a good night’s rest. We will start working on thematic movement tomorrow.”

  Vera’s hand shot up in the air. Leon looked at her and nodded. “Are we dressing up as roosters like last year? That was fun.” She grinned.

  Leon laughed. “You had the best crow, if memory serves. This year we are focusing on love and glamour and the crime that sometimes accompanies it. Ann will be dancing a lively number where she is chased by a policeman. She and Julian just started choreography on it, and I think it will make even the dullest man laugh. Our ending will feature a row of chorus girls in a dancing contest that will then turn into a musical number called ‘At the Ball.’ Bert and Leon will put their usual comedic twist on a gentleman golfer and his caddy while Mr. Wynn is perfecting a number about a joke king. With all the talent in the room, we expect this year’s Follies to be the best yet.”

  An excited murmur filled the room and a couple of the girls applauded Leon’s declaration. Suzanne felt her stomach tighten with nerves. Her signature dance was that tango, which didn’t seem like a fit with Leon’s cops and robbers ideas. She would have to find other ways of being noticed if she was going to stand out in this sea of beauties.

  Leon cleared his throat. “I expect all of you to be on your best behavior as we begin our journey together. The temptation to go out every night is great and there are plenty of gentlemen waiting in line to have a Ziegfeld girl on his arm. Rehearsals start at nine sharp. As long as you are on time and ready to work, I won’t ask questions. The moment our time here is jeopardized there will be consequences. Are we clear?”

  A chorus of “Yes, Leon” vibrated through the room.

  “Good. We will see you tomorrow then.” Leon gathered some of his papers and watched the stage empty.

  “Thanks, Leon,” Vera said. She rubbed her shoulder as she linked arms with Mary and headed toward their dressing room.

  “Bring an evening gown with you tomorrow,” Ann demanded. “We’ll go out to dinner after rehearsal. I’ll introduce you around.”

  Suzanne tried not to sound overeager. “I’d love to! As long as it isn’t too late.”

  Ann glanced at Leon and smiled. “Of course. Leon’s word is law.”

  “Thank you, Ann.” Suzanne smiled at Leon.

  Leon put a hand on Ann’s back and led her toward the piano. “I’d like to discuss some of the music for your entrance, if you have a moment.”

  Ann waved over her shoulder to Suzanne as she headed backstage.

  Hobnobbing with Ann Pennington. Suzanne couldn’t believe her luck. Ann was the biggest star in the show. Suzanne herself had tried to achieve Ann’s classic curls, but without her dark locks they never looked right.

  Before entering her dressing room, Suzanne hesitated. She’d never gone back to find Jada and bring her up to the stage. She bit her lip. Had there really been so much work that Jada couldn’t be spared? Or did Suzanne just not want her near the excitement? Neither answer pleased Suzanne. Tomorrow, she promised herself. Tomorrow she’d rectify the situation.

  With that enthusiasm she swung the dressing room door open, ready to announce her news to Jada, but the room was empty.

  Suzanne shut the door behind her and stepped inside. On Ruby’s table was a beautiful bouquet of lilies. They filled the room with a sweet scent.

  “Jada?” she asked, despite there being no place for her friend to hide. She spun around again before giving up and dropping onto the white vanity chair. She lifted one foot onto her knee, slid her shoe off, and rubbed feeling back into them. The new blisters burned, but Suzanne refused to stop. Instead, she stared at the lilies and tried to guess which gentleman caller Ruby had infatuated. Ruby wasn’t as vocal as Lillian about her conquests. A fact that made her a better friend, but much harder to read than the other girls.

  Just then Lillian’s laugh carried down the hall. As Ruby swung the door open, Lillian declared, “No better homecoming than a clean room.”

  Ruby’s face fell as she saw her vanity. “Flowers? Who for?”

  Suzanne switched and started rubbing the other foot. She shrugged. “As they are on your table, I assumed they are for you. Is there a card?”

  Ruby’s face paled further and she darted to the vase. She pawed through the flowers trying to find the card.

  Lillian plopped down on the floor
and leaned against the wall. “The first day is always brutal. It gets better.”

  Suzanne forced herself to regain Ann’s Ziegfeld posture and smiled. “Are you sore? I just need a good stretch to set me right.” Her back ached with her efforts, but the look on Lillian’s face was worth it.

  “Well, it helps that you have been in rehearsal for that flop. I’m sure it kept you in shape. Ruby and I, of course, had a few months off between shows to enjoy life.”

  Ruby yanked the card out of the flowers. “Oh,” she sighed with a hint of relief. “They are for you, Suzanne.”

  “Me?” Suzanne tried not to wince as she stood up to retrieve the card from Ruby. Her feet burned, but Suzanne refused to show Lillian any weakness.

  “Who are they from?” Lillian asked. She had gotten to her feet as well and was huddled together with Ruby and Suzanne.

  That was the question: Who had sent Suzanne flowers? She and Jada didn’t know anyone in New York, and those who might send her flowers from home didn’t know that she had accepted this position yet. Suzanne wrinkled her nose.

  “Sorry, girls. I think this might be a private affair.”

  “Oh my!” Ruby gushed. “A private affair. That sounds so mysterious.” She giggled.

  Lillian swatted her with the tie to her robe. “Don’t be silly, Ruby. She just doesn’t want us to know who sent them. I bet it was Flo himself. She looks about the type who would attract his eye.”

  Ruby’s gasp covered Suzanne clucking her tongue. The very idea that a man such as Flo Ziegfeld would chase her was absurd. She was no Ann. And yet, the way Ruby reacted and the glint in Lillian’s eye made her think that his interest may not be quite as farfetched as she believed. Well, any man can pursue, but she was the only one who decided when she was caught.

  Either way she slid the card into her pocket. These girls didn’t need to know everything about her. She’d decide herself who deserved her trust.

  “Well, I am not interested in getting involved with any man.” She went behind the partition and began to change.