The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-05-11
LAWRENCE BARRETT IN A RAGE.
Unappreciated and Mistaken for One of
the Mulligan Family.
ALBANY Letter to New York SUM-


ALBANY Letter to New York SUN
Lawrence Barrett, the actor, played al
engagement in this city last week. 1t wa
three years since he had played here. Nh
Barrett was never great favorite in Albany
In fact, il was said that when he playe,
here three years ago he announced that h
| should never appear before an ALBANY
audience again. The amusement-going PEG
| pie of Albany much prefer negro Ministries,
or the modern society plays to the classica
Sharkespearean characters in which Mr.
| Barrett is so strong.
The first night of Mr.. Barrett's recent an
pearance in Albany was the benefit of ]. w
Albaugh in Julius Cesar" Leland Opers
| House was crowded. Mr.. Barrett in the
| character of "Cassius," received an ovation
| AT last he seemed to have broken the crust
| in Albany, and it was expected that on the
two following nights, when he was to appear
in some of the strongest characters he would
have full houses. But when the curtain
rose on the first of these nights there were
hardly a hundred people in the house. and
the numbers did not increase any as.the play
progressed. Mr.. Barrett was angry, but like
the conscientious actor that he is he acted
his part as well as though the house had
been crowded. Inquiry at the box office
late the next day satisfied him that he was
to have even smaller house that night.
IL was in no very enviable frame of mind
that Mr.. Barrett sat down to table in the
Delavan House, just before it was time to go
to the Theater, to take a cup of tea. 1t so
happened that at another place of amuse-
ment the "Mulligan Guards Picnic was
announced for that evening. The colored
waiter who attended upon Mr.. Barretl's
table was very anxious to go to that per-
Torrance. Somehow he had learned that
Mr. Barrett was an actor and he jumped TO
the conclusion that he must be one of the
players in the "Mulligan Guards Picnic
This was an opportunity to secure free
ticket that he could not let slip. He was
very particular to see that everything that
Mr.. Barrett had was just to his taste. Then,
as the great actor began to eat the colored
waiter opened his campaign to secure the
coveted ticket.
us you going to play tonight, Massa Bar
rett?' he asked.
Yes sir, was the curt reply
Oats a mighty funny play, Use been
told, " continued the colored diplomat, ''and
hopes to be able to afford to see it some
day. I'd like very much TO see you in it,
but hain't got de necessary collateral to-
night"
''Who told you it was funny playT' Mr..
Barrett asked.
"Oh, everybody says dat de 'Mulligan
Guards Picnic is one of de funniest"
But the colored waiter got no farther. Mr.
Barrett jumped from the table as though a
dynamite bomb had exploded beneath his
chair. Shortly after he was heard giving
free vent to his opinion of the people of
Albany. They had no appreciation of good
acting He had offered them bills of enter
tainment with which he had crowded some
OF the largest Theaters in nearly every city
in the Union, and here he had to play to
empty benches. And. to crown it all. he had
been asked if he did not play in the 'Mulli-
gan Guards Picnic" This was too much.
Mr.. Barrett went through his part that night
as usual in Albany to a small audience.
But he has left behind an unmistakable inn
preston that he will never again appear in
Albany unless he should join some band of
negro Ministries.