Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-04
BOucIcault on the Rampage.

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Dramatic News.I
There came very near being a dis
ruption of Mr.. B~oucicault's contract
at the Grand Opera House last week
Mr.. Boucicault chose to assume for
the occasion the role of a fury, and il
will rebound to Mr.. John Poole's
credit forever that he is the only
American manager who has yet sue
ceeded in tanning the Anglo American
dramatist and actor. Mr.. Poole, il
now seems, is not only the partner OF
the handsomest manager in New York,
but the pluekiest-as things &c. Ii
was in this wise:
Mr.. Boucicault, who has been ac.
customed for a great length of time,
to carry on things pretty much as he
pleased in any theater with which he
was temporarily connected, not un-
naturally pursued the same policy
with the Grand Opera House. One Of
Mr.. Boucicaults pet schemes was, and
is, to admit any of his friends behind
the scenes while he acts. 1t is a deli
cate attention for which the friends
feel grateful, and which costs Mr..
BOucicault absolutely nothing. At
the Grand Opera House Mr. Bouci-
cault was pleased to adopt this same
method. A dozen or so of his init
mates would cOngregate in the wings
OF a night, among whom was no less a
person than Chief Justice DAILY, who.
to the intense annoyance of all those
having real business, would impede the
performance among the company, and,
in fact, make a public resort of a place
which, Of all places in the world.
should be private. Mr.. John Poole
viewed with constantly growing alarm
this army of friends, who, on his own
stage, not only ignored him, but caused
the most intense dissatisfaction among
the company and employees.
One day he put his foot down. and
told the stage dOorkeeper to admit no
one except those who had absolute
business in the play. That same eve
ing Judge DAILY called and was refused.
SO was Wright Sanford. Some half
dozen others, among whom were Bou-
cicault's own daughters, were similar
ly but respectfully treated. This nat
urally came next day to Boucicault's
ears. He rushed frantically to the
theater, and the very first person he
met was Mr.. Poole.
Who dared" he exclaimed. white
with rage, who dared refuse my
friends admission on the stage last
night?"
Il understand, said Poole, "that
my stage dOorkeeper did it."
And who ordered your stage door
keeper?'
did" said Poole, laconically.
You did," shouted B~oucicault
actually suffering with excitement.
Wh-at-d-ye m-m-m-ean 2"
mean, SAID Mr.. Poole, dignifed-
ly, that it is against the rules of this
theater to admit strangers on the
stage.
MI. Boucicault grew suddenly calm.
apparently appalled, at the notion that
a manager dare oppose him.
Then he said, coldly, 81 give
you notice that l shall not play in
your theater after this week"
guess you will, quite as coldly,
said Poole.
Il won't"
You will, or you shall pay for it.
Utterly overcome by a resistance so
unexpected, Mr.. B%oucicault almost
ran out Of his office, took an Eighth
avenue car down town, and called up.
on Mr. Richard 0'Gorman, his law
yer. Mr.. 0Gorman read his contract
very carefully, and said:
Mr.. Boucicault, | would advise
you 70 play, or these people can get
heavy damages from YOU
But they have refused to admit
Chief Justice Daily and my daughters
on the stage"
don't see anything about Chief
Justice Daily or your daughters in the
contract, Mr.. Boucicault," said Mr..
OtGorman. you had better play
Mr.. Boucicault plays.