Ziegfeld Girls

by Sarah Barthel

  “It’s complicated,” Jada said. “Please, don’t ask any more questions. I played the game. I told you my truth.” The usual panic rose in Jada’s throat. Opportunities to perform didn’t come often, but she froze every time. She pushed that thought away.

  “Hi there, Jada.” Danny leaned against Oliver’s booth and looked down at Jada. “What brings you in tonight?”

  Jada smiled up at the piano man. “Just clearing my head.”

  “It should fill up in the next half hour,” Danny said. “Can I join you for a drink?”

  Oliver scooted over. “You can sit right here.” He patted the seat beside him.

  “Thanks, let me just get a drink.” Danny winked at Jada and walked away.

  Oliver nearly bounced with excitement. “He is flirting with you, girl.”

  “He is just being nice.”

  “You clearly don’t know men.” He whistled.

  Danny reappeared with Sally and Roger. “Look who I found at the bar.”

  “Move over, Jada!” Sally exclaimed as she sat and scooted over so Jada had no choice but to move. “Oliver, I’m so glad to see you out!”

  “Milady,” he said with a grin and tip of his hat to her.

  “Did you see that Arthur Conan Doyle arrived in New York yesterday?” Danny asked Roger.

  Jada’s ears perked up. “Yes,” she exclaimed. “Did you read his comments on the condition of our prisons? I believe he is quoted in the evening edition.”

  Roger raised an eyebrow at her. “You read Sherlock novels?”

  “Why wouldn’t she?” Oliver puffed his chest up as if building for a fight. “She’s a smart girl with too much time on her hands. A good mystery is hard to resist.”

  “Too true,” Danny said. “I haven’t gotten to the late edition yet.”

  Jada, however, had stopped listening to Danny and Roger discuss the latest Sherlock novel. Oliver’s words had set her mind in motion once again. He knew there was something going on at the New Amsterdam Theatre. His comment was meant to nudge her. A quick glance at him confirmed it. His bright eyes were watching her intently. Someone was sending those notes, but who and why?

  “Danny asked you a question, Jada.” Sally leaned and knocked shoulders with her.

  “Hmm?” Jada asked.

  “Have you read ‘The Mystery of Black Peter’?” he asked. Gesturing back to the piano, he said, “I just finished that story. If you haven’t read it you are welcome to borrow my copy and we could discuss it next time you visit?”

  “Oh.” Jada fought the swarm of happy butterflies that filled her stomach. “I don’t have much time to read these days. Perhaps another time?”

  Danny looked surprised, but replied, “Of course. I understand.” Then to Roger he said, “I should get back to playing. Thanks for the drink.” He returned to the piano.

  Oliver and Sally stared at Jada.

  “How could you!” Sally exclaimed at the same moment Oliver clucked his tongue in disapproval.

  “I don’t have time. And even if I did, I can’t take his book. I don’t know when I’ll be back.”

  “But you know me! I could pass the book back to him through Roger.” Sally gestured at Roger, who was now sitting next to Oliver.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him express interest in someone.” Sally glanced at Roger for confirmation.

  “He doesn’t have much time himself.”

  Oliver simply glared at her with his lips in a “you knew better” pout.

  “Next time I’ll accept the book,” Jada promised.

  CHAPTER 14

  For the first time ever, Suzanne was late to rehearsal. Head pounding, she slipped into the back of the rehearsal room, hoping no one would notice her sudden appearance. She glanced around and found quite a few girls were missing. Ann had still been dancing when she left the party the night before, but it never occurred to Suzanne that she might miss rehearsal.

  Laura was on the opposite side of the room, her foot perched on the bar as she leaned over it, stretching. She moved so fluidly, Suzanne wondered if she even had joints. Despite the absence of Leon or Julian, Suzanne didn’t want to draw any more attention to her tardiness and instead put her bag against the wall and started her warm-up routine.

  Lillian and Ruby sat about a yard away. Ruby was working out a knot in her shoulder while Lillian rubbed lotion into her feet.

  “Looks like Suzy isn’t so popular without her beloved Ann,” Lillian sneered, loud enough for Suzanne to hear.

  “Oh, leave her be,” Ruby said. “She’s always been nice to you.”

  It took extra concentration for Suzanne to keep her focus on her warm-ups. Her back was straight, her sit-ups were sharp movements, and she held her stretches for exactly eight counts.

  “I know. Someone should tell her she’s a beat ahead during that one number.”

  Even though Suzanne knew Lillian only mentioned it to intimidate her, she still felt her face flush from the embarrassment. She was ahead, but in what number? Suzanne would have to discover that for herself.

  As Suzanne finished her warm-up, the side door slammed shut. The girls all froze in place. Julian ambled across the room until he stood directly in front of the mirrored wall.

  “Good morning, girls. I’m glad to see you all are here. For those who are not here, the rehearsal has been closed and they will not be in the running for the new quartet that we need to cast.”

  An excited murmur slowly filled the room. Suzanne thanked her lucky stars that she had arrived just in the nick of time!

  “We need four women to make a cohesive unit onstage as they will represent the petals of a rose. With that in mind, instead of normal rehearsal, we are going to put you through a series of exercises to see how you move together. Let’s get started then, shall we.”

  It wasn’t a question.

  Within seconds the girls were standing in rows following the dance director in a series of movements that involved rolling their heads around and swishing their hips from side to side.

  Somehow in the shuffle Suzanne had ended up right in between Ruby and Lillian.

  “Ann wouldn’t be a star if it wasn’t for her good looks,” Lillian said. “Same goes for Suzanne. She wouldn’t be here if she wasn’t pretty.”

  Ruby shook her head. “Same goes for all of us. Do you think Mr. Ziegfeld hired us because we could pose well? No, we’re pretty. So stop blaming people for that.”

  Suzanne grinned at the look that came over Lillian’s face.

  When she saw Suzanne’s amusement, Lillian snapped, “No one invited you to listen.”

  Suzanne laughed out loud. It wasn’t like she had a choice to listen or not. “Ruby is right. We’re used as scenery. It doesn’t take that much talent to hold a branch in midair. If we are lucky we have more talents that can be used onstage.”

  “And you could do more?” Lillian’s tone was full of daring.

  “I believe I’ve already proved that.” Suzanne rolled her shoulders back as she followed the director’s moves. Suzanne’s feet throbbed every evening, but she wasn’t about to give Lillian the satisfaction of knowing how tired she had been of late. Instead she said the most impressive thing she could think of. “I’m dancing with Bert Williams.”

  Lillian leaned toward her slightly and whispered, “I’m not talking about some monkey dance. I’m talking about real talent.”

  “Lillian, focus!” Mr. Mitchell exclaimed from his seat up front. Immediately, Lillian snapped her head back to attention and lunged to the left.

  Ruby looked past Suzanne and met Lillian’s eyes. “You have to stop saying that kind of thing, Lillian. It’s holding you back.”

  It was hard to read Lillian’s expression, but she didn’t look pleased.

  Suzanne let a small smile slide across her lips as they rolled into a standing position. “Sometimes it is better to swallow your own trepidations. You won’t get anywhere telling Flo he’s wrong. It isn’t always about who you know, but who yo
u accept.”

  The dance director clapped his hands. “All right, everyone. We are going to call you up in groups of three to see how you look together.”

  Suzanne pressed her back to the wall and slowly lowered herself to the floor. To her disappointment, Ruby and Lillian sat beside her.

  “I see why Ann likes you so much now,” Lillian scoffed, quickly regaining her composure. “You’re driven, just like her.”

  “You truly hate her,” Suzanne said. She rubbed her head, trying to press the last of the pounding out.

  “She isn’t half as talented as some of us girls, and yet Ziegfeld fawns all over her. Just because she’s got a cute smile and dimpled knees.”

  “You said yourself, there are more important things than talent, and Ann has those qualities in abundance, not to mention her dancing ability.” Suzanne defended her friend. “I’d like to see you two dance the Tangorilla or the Black Bottom with her charisma.”

  “Ann is very gifted at keeping a level head,” Ruby admitted. Suzanne had a feeling she might have said something else, but was silenced by Mr. Mitchell.

  “All right, now, everyone take a book,” Julian called out.

  Jonathon came into the room, pushing a library cart full of books. He stopped the cart beside Julian and then proceeded to the back of the room, where he pulled a wide platform out from under a table and placed it in the center of the room. From under that he pulled another platform and placed it on top of the first so that there was a square riser in the middle of the room. Once it was completed, Jonathan tipped his head to Julian and left the room. Suzanne stared at the door from where he left, confused. He hadn’t so much as winked at her. What had changed between them?

  “Ruby, Lillian, Mary, and Suzanne, you will be first.” Julian gestured toward the cart. “You will place a book on your head and walk in a large circle about the room. The book must balance atop your head as you walk up and down these stairs. Do you understand?”

  All four women nodded.

  “Wonderful. Please come take a book, girls.” Julian stepped back so that Ruby, Lillian, Suzanne, and Mary could have access.

  Suzanne fell in line behind Mary and was about to pick up her book when someone whispered in her ear, “It’s not as easy as it seems.”

  Lillian had her arms pulled out wide and was already balancing a book on top of her head, her jaw jutted slightly to the left. It was a challenge Suzanne couldn’t refuse.

  “I can handle anything, don’t you worry about me,” Suzanne replied.

  “Bet you can’t keep your book in place the whole rehearsal.” Lillian’s dark eyes were glistening with competition.

  Suzanne followed Lillian’s gaze and saw Ruby and Mary struggling to walk up the high steps without jostling the book too much. Every few moments one of them would lift a hand to their head, panicked, to catch the book before it fell to the floor. Jada had made Suzanne walk with a book on her head for days before she premiered her Lady Ann act. This should be simple.

  “It can’t fall once, not until Julian says we’re done.” Suzanne amended Lillian’s dare.

  Lillian’s eyes widened a bit, showing the doubt in her mind. But she just said, “Loser buys lunch.”

  “Deal.”

  From the corner of her eye, she saw Julian watching them, nodding with approval, but she didn’t care. This wasn’t about impressing Julian.

  With a wave of her arm, she motioned for Lillian to go first. Lillian placed the book on her head and began the long walk up the staircase. Suzanne followed her every move, careful to catch any twitch in her arms. It wasn’t until Lillian reached the top platform and was about to come back down did she fumble. Forgetting to keep her eyes straight ahead of her, she glanced down at the stairs and the book slid straight off her head and hit Mary’s back, causing her to drop her book. The loud thud as the books hit the ground echoed throughout the theater. Suzanne couldn’t help but allow a smirk to tug at her mouth. Regaining her composer, Lillian placed the book back on her head and walked the rest of the circle without any more trouble.

  Suzanne reached the top platform and glanced across the circle at Lillian. She glanced around the room at the remaining girls until her eyes landed on Laura, who was sitting by herself watching them. Once their eyes locked, Laura’s face lit up and she gave Suzanne an encouraging nod. Using Laura as her visual focus, Suzanne stepped on the stairs. She held her stomach in, as if she were doing multiple pirouettes, and concentrated on keeping her neck long and her head relaxed. A moment later her foot landed on solid wood floor. She turned slowly around to give Lillian a knowing smile, but nearly jolted when she saw Jonathon standing next to Julian, both of them watching her. When had he returned to the room? Their eyes locked for a brief moment, but Suzanne forced herself to pull away and flash Julian Mitchell a dazzling smile. Two could play hard to get.

  Meeting his eyes, she was surprised to see him staring at her intently. Without thinking, she put one foot behind the other leg and lowered herself in a deep curtsy, keeping eye contact with the director the entire time. He nodded as she stood up and continued to follow Ruby around the circle—all with the book neatly atop her head. From the corner of her eye she saw Jonathon lean against the back door, still watching her intently. That amused smirk still tugged at his mouth.

  “Very well, ladies, I’ve seen enough. Let’s try Laura, Emmaline, Claudine, and Charlotte.”

  Suzanne handed her book to Laura and grinned. “Just don’t look down and you’ll do great.”

  “Show off,” Lillian whispered. Suzanne’s smile turned into a dazzling laugh; she made five trips up and down the steps and not one fumble.

  “I can’t help it if I’m naturally coordinated.” Suzanne meant it as a joke, but Lillian didn’t think it was funny. She linked arms with Ruby and moved across the room to sit with some of the other girls, leaving Suzanne to sit alone.

  “All right, girls, that’s all for today!” the director called out. “Would the following girls please stay onstage: Ruby Booth, Mary Schider, Lillian Darmin, and Suzanne Haskins. The rest of you are free to go home—but such a short rehearsal will rarely come your way twice, so enjoy your time off!”

  “This will be fast,” the man said. “Ruby, you know what I am going to say.”

  “Put on some weight?” she asked guiltily.

  “Exactly!” he exclaimed. “We want the audience to desire you, not desire to feed you.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said, smiling. “I’ll work on that.”

  “Good. Mary, we’d like you to work on your posture. You dropped your book often, and from what I could see, it was due to a lack of support from your abdomen.”

  “Yes, sir,” Mary promised.

  “Now, the four of you impressed me today. Not only did you strive to do your best, but you found ways to push the other girls in your group to be better than they are. That shows leadership skills.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Suzanne and Lillian said.

  “Flo is impressed with you as well.”

  “Mr. Ziegfeld?” Suzanne repeated. “He has been watching me?”

  “Yes—why else would Jonathon be here but to check up on rehearsal for Flo? We’d like to have you, Mary, Ruby, and Lillian work together to complete this vision of a rose that Flo has in mind.”

  Suzanne grinned. Such an honor was worth more time with Lillian. “When do rehearsals start?”

  “I’ll have Jonathon add the time to your call sheets. Congratulations, ladies. Keep up the good work.”

  Julian walked away while Mary and Ruby clasped hands, their faces filled with wide smiles. Suzanne nudged Lillian with her shoulder. “If this doesn’t warrant a lunch date, I don’t know what does.”

  Lillian nodded curtly. “I couldn’t agree more.”

  “Could I borrow Suzanne a moment?” Jonathon asked, offering his arm to Suzanne.

  “Of course.” Lillian gladly let Suzanne go. “Shall I meet you in our dressing room?”

  Suzanne glance
d at Lillian. “Yes, I don’t think I’ll be long.” She accepted Jonathon’s arm.

  Once Lillian had walked away, Jonathon leaned over to Suzanne and whispered, “Julian or Flo are going to tell you soon, but I wanted to see your face when you heard the news.”

  “What?”

  Jonathon put a finger to his lips and led Suzanne out into the hallway. “After seeing your dedication, outside of your tardiness today, Flo has asked Julian to choreograph an entire production number around you. The Tango of Brazilian Dreams.”

  Suzanne swayed where she stood. “A whole number around me?”

  Jonathon nodded.

  “I don’t know what to say.” It was what she had wanted, a chance to make her mark. But knowing that Flo had requested this specially for her . . . it was too much to handle.

  Jonathon put a hand lightly on her back. “Should I not have told you?”

  The news slowly sunk into her consciousness. “He is building a whole number around me!” She leapt at Jonathon and hugged him.

  “Oh!” Jonathon said as he was almost forced to wrap his hands around her as well to stop from falling over. “I’m glad you are happy.”

  “I should get home. I should find Ann and go celebrate tonight. I believe the Ritz is having another party. I’ll send her a note.” She stopped. “Oh no. Lillian.”

  Jonathon smiled at her contagious excitement. “Go to lunch with Lillian. I’ll deliver a note to Ann for you and then will come back to drive you home.”

  “You must have better things to do, Jonathon.”

  “Better than driving around the next toast of New York?” Jonathon grinned. “I think not.”

  CHAPTER 15

  With a flick of her wrist, Jada broke the thread from the garment she was sewing. She leaned back in the kitchen chair and admired her work. Several times she glanced from the magazine picture she’d stolen from Suzanne’s bed stand to the dress in her hands. She had never made anything quite so intricate before. There were four layers of fabric, each overlapping the next and with a different hemline. The bodice had a calla lily embroidered across the neckline. Jada worked hard to replicate the look of the petals, but it wasn’t as good as hoped.