The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-17
A TINIID SINGER.
Mile. Marimon Refuses to Gross the
Bridge I'm TIA Sonnam bula."

Mile. Marimon Refuses to Gross the
Bridge I'm TIA scnnambula."
Detroit Post and Tribunel ,-.s
1t seems that there was really no
shadow of excuse for Mile. Marimon's
refusal to cross the rustic bridge in the
sleep-walking scene in the third act Of
"La Sonnambula' Monday night. Made.
moiselle is a. very timid person and has
always insisted upon having "double'
in this scene. Some one who resembled
her in form and costume would cross
the bridge, and as the double disap.
peared in the wings, Marimon would re-
place her and no one in the audience
would know anything about it. Colo
mel Mapleson finally tired of this non.
sense, and told the capricious singer that
she must fulfill all the requirements Of
the role or submit to heavy fine,
When the scenery was arranged for the
third act on Monday night Marimon
grew very excited and insisted emphati-
cally that the narrow, Misunderstanding
bridge was unsafe and that she would
not cross it.
The stage manager, M. Debreuil, ex-
hausted all his powers of persuasion, and
in despair sent for Colonel Mapleson, who
was in a private box. The gallant Colo
mel is afflicted with a severe attack OF
gout, which renders locomotion difficult;
but he painfully hobbled back upon the
stage and wanted to know what was up.
The stage manager wringing his hands
frantically and interlarding his converse
ton with many expletives in very choice
Italian, explained that mademoiselle
would not consent to cross the bridge.
To convince her of the safety of the struc-
ture, Colonel Mapleson, who weighs two
hundred and fifty pounds, mounted the
bridge himself. If the curtain could
have gone up Unexpectedly the audience
would have been astonished by the spec
tacle of a heefy, side-whiskered, elderly
Englishman of martial air, with his left
foot swathed in bandages, unsteadily
shufiipg over plank bridge, three feet
wide and ten or twelve feet long, Still
the sweet singer was obstinate.
Then two brawny stage carpenters as
cended the bridge and jumped on it, and
to further reassure her rope was
stretched across to serve as substitute
for hand-rail. No use, mademoisellt
would not risk her precious neck, and al
there was no time to dress double, tht
only alternative was to ring up the cur
tain and let things take their course
When the villagers pointed to the win
dow OF the old mill, as Amina was sup.
posed to appear, and exclaimed, "Sht
trembles! she staggers! Courage, she il
saved!'' as she was likewise supposed X
cross the bridge in her sleep, the situa
ton was rendered ridiculous by the en-
trance of Marimon from the wings. L
is some satisfatistion to know that he
obstinacy cost her a round fine imposed
by the irate manager.
1t required a great deal of artifce Il
induce Marimon to make the sea voyage
in fact, she was the victim of false pre-
lenses. When out at sea and realizing
her situation, she was overwhelmed witt
fear, and spent most of the time on thu
voyage Frustrated before the half-doze1
crucifxes which decorated her state
room. So great is her timidity that sh'
is in despair whenever the prospect Of |
return voyage is mentioned, and swear
by all the saints that she will never at
| tempt il. p.