Young, the actor, used to relate that on one occasion, when playing the hero of "The Gamester" to the Mrs.Beverley of Sarah Siddons, he was so overcome by the passion of her acting as to be quite unable to proceed with his part.
There was a long pause, during which the prompter several times repeated the words which Beverley should speak.

Then "Mrs.Siddons coming up to her fellow-actor, put the tips of her fingers upon his shoulders, and said, in a low voice, 'Mr.Young, recollect yourself.'" Yet probably from the front of the house nothing was seen or heard of this.

In the same way the players will sometimes prompt each other through whole scenes, interchange remarks as to necessary adjustments of dress, or instructions as to "business" to be gone through, without exciting the attention of the audience.

Kean's pathetic whisper, "I am dying, speak to them for me," when, playing for the last time, he sank into the arms of his son, was probably not heard across the orchestra.
Mrs.Fanny Kemble, in her "Journal" of her Tour in America, gives an amusing account of a performance of the last scene of "Romeo and Juliet," not as it seemed to the spectators, but as it really was, with the whispered communications of the actors.

Romeo, at the words "Quick, let me snatch thee to thy Romeo's arms," pounced upon his playfellow, plucked her up in his arms "like an uncomfortable bundle," and staggered down the stage with her.