Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-03-11
A Couple OF Theatrical Anecdotes.
BY SOL SMITH.

BANrsHrNG RosALIND.-In 1889 Miss Ellen
Tree fill d most successful engagement in
st. Louis drawing tnll houses every night.
A most ludicrons mistake of one of the act
ors, a Mr.. Duff, came very near putting pre-
| mature end to the performance of Shake
speares 81 As You Like IT," before the con-
clusOn of the first act. Duff was cast for the
character of Duke Fro derrick and being d :
tanned from rehearsal by indispositiOn he had
only studied far as the wrestling scene.
| surprising that was the end of the part so.
when that scene was ended, he quietly pro-
| c"eded to his drcssing-roum and commenced
| disrobing. When he had got off all his stage
dress bnt his trunks he heard call made
| in the green room. directly und raeath. which
| sounded to his atfrighted ear very much like
Duke Frederick and attendanis!' Holding
| his '.truBks" up by the waistband, he hurried
| dOwn, the stairs exclaiming, 1T can't be me !
| I've finished my part ~
| "But it rs yOu.' answered the call boy, land
| the stage is waiting for you"
! Rushing forward to the first entrance, he
/ heard Rosalind exciaim-
|'Looki hire comes the duke
To which announcement Celia added:
| with his eyes full of anger"
| But the DIXIE didn't come, and as for his
eyes, they seemed more full of sorrow than of
| anger. while be stood at the wing, with one
| hand employed in holding up his trunks. Ia
| sort Of tro Ssers) and the other IN expressive
| gest iculation.
Here comes the Duke" repeated Rosalind.
| at which inviting cue poor Duff claSped his
hands together in anguish. releasing, for a
| moment, the waistband of his "trunks,' - which
| Immediately commenced falling, of course,
exclaimng in a lnud whisper:
+, Il can't go on in tbs way, you know
As If in fear that he would go on in that
wav. Miss Tree turned 10 Celia. and saving.
"Let us go and meet his Grace" led tn.
way from the stage, and the curtain was low
cred. amid a shower of Kisses. In a moment.
| was the spot. The Duke was full of
apologies; the fair Rosalind was full of NOR
tiication; | was full of pcrpleXity, and the
audience fall of ill-hamor What was to be
done? 1t is clear the play could not go on
without the banishmant of Rosalind from the
court. and equally clear that to raise the cur
tain for the few lines that remained to be
spoken, and then drop il again. as needs must
be- done to allow Rosalind 10 change her dress.
would appear TO be trifling with the patience
of the public
Il have it - exclaimed /. You, Rosa
lind, must be banshed. ! hereby pronounce
sentenc, of Punishment upon you. Go. and
put on your boys clothes, and be ready to
begin the second act.o
But" intcrposed Ellen Tree, What will
the audience thinkf'
Never mind the audience" answered;
''leave me To settle il with them.'s
Away went Ellen To dress. and "a little bell
rung) out went before the curtain. f
Ladies' and enthusiastically sorry.
&c, &C.; miscOnception of the gentleman cast
for the Duke-indispoSition, &C.: usual in
diligence. &c, &c.--hope you will overlook
the thunder, &c.. and n the play cannot
well proceed without the Punishment of Ro-
saiind from the court, ask permission from
you ID pronounce the sentence which the
Dnke should have pronounced before his abb
dicltiun.
General applause and laughter answering
these apologize remarks, | Strengthened my
self up. and assuming. as nearly as could.
the voice and manner of the ciefaulting actor.
l pronounced the sentence in the Dukes
words: nTEHE
''Firm and irrevoc1bie Is my DOOM
Which have pas sed upon hoe. She is banished., +"
The now good natured Audience confirmed
the sentence with loud applause, and the per-
formance went on.
WHERE'S THE SWAP? Gas had not been
introduced into 81. Louis at this time (IS39,)
aud our oil lamps ut the wings had danger
Gus way OF haring up in a most unruly man
ner, occasionally, threatening to set fire TO the
lamp'ladd rs aid thus endanger the building.
Tue lamps We're open .'hoais.3 with wick
holders coming up from the bottom, and the
oil, when hented. would take fire, and bnrn
up in large fame. To guard against acct
dents. We had a tub of water placed on each
side OF the stage, With large swah or mop
in il. ready for use at any moment aud
scarcely night passed without swabbiag
beign required. The wing hands subordinate
sta &c carpenters) were instructed 10 ep a |
strict watch os,r the wing lamps, and TO use
lse ssrab promptly. Whenever occasion might |
require. Besides these watchers, every actor
aud actress felt deep Interest in the swai,- |
bling process. aud il WIS Iiot an unusual thing
TO see RachGrd sae TAird or Hazalsf gust before |
entering upon the stage, catch up swab aud
dash il upoa The rising flames. which, If not
attended 10. were Tx iy 10 burn up the Tow
er OF London or the Royal Palace at Elsi-
more.
Miss Tree was performing the part Of Jaie.,
aud had taken her station lAet III. Sceae %
on The balcony. for the purpose Of enjoying
the fresh night breeze after the fatigue OF
The ball which bad CONCLUDED in the previous
act, aud 20 think 0f the youag pilgrim who bad
SO greatly interested hsr during tue festival,
when, casting her eyes over the way she saw
that Que of the wing lamps was iast begia-
ming 10 flare up, aud all eyes being liked upon
Aer. there sRs imminent danger ~ coafiA-
grafton. Tue far Jali0 had taken herseas
gu tue balcony. but Uas observed TO iidget
ard tara IN hes chair in = most AN Jlslsd like /
manner, calling OF through The window be-
hi.sd b Z. ia loud whisper. ..sz.e5ody ga iks
sEsabs
Asoaaso. who bad entered from the right band
side. aud bad not seeu the nsring lamp. Eent
On wiIh hls speech, Interrupted from tluls 10
time by the lovely capaleL
Rsase.-She speaks. yet she says nothing.
wh4t OF thai.
.J4l.a.-(Aslde.l Where Is Nr Sol Smilh.
Viii somsb<siy call bean!
Rcsaea.--Hrr eye dlseoarses; win answer
II.
.Jniia.-t Aside.l VIII noiody ger the swah
We snail al be burnt aR
Reese ana Zoo hoid. It's not 10 me she
spesks-
.Islss.-f Asiae.l No. II is 20 somebody 10 !
bFiag tue swan. Where Il NJ Sd SlnlsA
Rsss<e.-Ss.1 hos she leans Ter eisexk nI'en !
her hand; Gal thai w<re siese asoA AJAX /
had. thai 1 al ~. s1aeA leal sAsekL