should last 4 5 minutes. Ruth Wallis songs are the tops and I have been trying to borrow or buy a recording of 'Pop Up Song.' If any of your readers can lend me one, I will guarantee to return it. I have the assistance of an electronics expert who records on tape and works my microphone and amplifier, generally a 10 watt output with column speakers, as these give the truest sound. Where possible, one has an instrumentalist accompaniment.

5. Actions: Any item has to follow the same procedure. I learn the music and the way it is played, then the words, and if it is in French, the English translation as well, so that I know exactly what my actions should be. When I am word perfect and I know the music bar by bar, I work out my routine and rehearse this in front of a full length mirror. Fast action is needed to bring a song alive and it is my continued, fast and relaxed actions which stirs an audience into enthusiastic response, which in turn, spurs one on to even better efforts. Sometimes I kick high, but I use my legs a lot for effect and constantly move my hands and arms. All movement must be confident and mature which puts an audience at ease. When things go wrong, as they do occasionally, one must have sufficient confidence and control of the audience to laugh it off, gesticulate or even tell a story! Walking onto the stage in one per- formance, I caught my bustle on a nail and ripped it badly — however, I turned it into a comedy moment for the audience—another occasion doing a high kick in a night club, the floor was too highly polished and I fell rather badly but bounced up and carred on the audience thought this a very amusing highlight - so clevely done! If only they had known how badly shaken up I was!

I rehearse a number over and over again until I am sure of myself. I am never satisfied for a true artist should never be so. For rehearsing, I wear a black leotard and flesh tights of heavier weight and tie up my hair with a bright silk scarf. Audiences for whom I have performed vary from 70 in a night club, to 650 in a hall, but are generally around 350.

In one musical, I was asked to do a "strip." This was rather exacting but here again, I worked out a routine and rehearsed hard with the orchestra until we had it right. I stripped in a deliberate and provoca- tive way right down to sequined pasties on the breasts and a well fitted sequined G-string. For this, I had to tape myself carefully inside and to the rear nothing showed. In doing the strip, I relieved it with some humor, both of which items were borrowed from Madame Arthur's. When down to my black lace scanties, I had a ‘NO PARKING' sign

―

62