Eustace, curiously enough, was not very nervous on the first night. He was fairly certain that he was word-perfect; and if only the ostrich didn't kick him in the back of the neck—as it had tried to once at rehearsal—the evening seemed likely to be a triumph for him. And so it was with a feeling of pleasurable anticipation that, on the morning after, he gathered the papers round him at breakfast, and prepared to read what the critics had to say.
He had a remarkable Press. I give a few examples of the notices he obtained from the leading papers:
"Mr. Eustace Merrowby was Tommy."—Daily Telegraph.
"The cast included Mr. Eustace Merrowby."—Times.
" ... Mr. Eustace Merrowby ... "—Daily Chronicle.
"We have no space in which to mention all the other performers."—Morning Leader.
"This criticism only concerns the two actors we have mentioned, and does not apply to the rest of the cast."—Sportsman.
"Where all were so good it would be invidious to single out anybody for special praise."—Daily Mail.
"The acting deserved a better play."—Daily News.
" ... Tommy ..."—Morning Post.