RANSVESTIA

I made my way to the stage to practice some of my exits and crosses, and to sit and stand here and there while running lines through my head. The clothes were wonderfully comfortable and I soon felt perfectly se- cure in my shoes. Before curtain, the director had us run through final calls. Mine was the penultimate appearance with Joseph Surface, whom I met in mid-stage, joined hands and advanced downstage, he to bow, I to curtsey at first I was a bit wobbly going down and I held my skirt out too far to the side.

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Once the rehearsal was under way I was giving total concentration to lines, cues and blocking, and only when I was not directly involved in action did the knowledge that I was fully and smartly dressed as a wo- man creep deliciously back into my consciousness. I felt anew the hair about the nape of my neck, the reassuring containment of my girdle, the light and soft touch of my underthings. I sensed the fullness of my bras- siere imparting a womanly appearance to the irrelevant boy's chest lost beneath the layers of feminine attire. And I remembered to stand tall, to hold my head high: for I was a Lady, capable, assured, and a little condescending to those around her. I thought the boy playing Lady Teazle was a bit gauche, whereas the lad performing as Mrs. Candor was excellent, far better than in previous rehearsals. Though supposed to be older than the other four women characters he had some grey powder added to his wig- he was, without resort to extravagant mannerisms, a most convincing, even provocative, woman. The slim-fitting red geor- gette (a sort of fine silk) dress he wore seemed made for him. When he sat down the little movement he made with his hand to flick the hem of the dress farther over his knees looked entirely unconscious and natural.

I had plenty of time for my costume change and for touching up of my face. Mrs. Ellis negotiated the hooks and eyes of my dress before I slip- ped off the jacket and dress and wriggled into the skirt of the suit; it fitted snugly round the hips and thighs then flared out in box pleats from above the knee. The blouse shimmered and tautened as Mrs. Ellis, from her knees, reached matter-of-factly up under my clothes to pull it down under the skirt's waistband. The jacket had the built-up shoulders then fashionable, and a nipped-in waist. In the dress I had felt I looked more ladylike; now I felt elegant, chic. Mrs. Ellis changed my jewelry and I changed my shoes for the black suede, and as I walked now the pleats of my skirt kicked forwards and sideways in a most pleasing way. I was thoroughly enjoying myself, and the realization that I would be doing this four more times made my tummy go warm. I felt a tickling tumescence against my girdle and looked down to see if it showed — I was not by any means an innocent, for by the age of fifteen, like most

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