Connecticut western news., 1881-04-13
AN AUDIENCE OF ONE.
The Smallest Crowd a Company
 Ever Played to.

AN oA OA%"s
 The Smallest Crowd a Company
 Ever Played to.
 "The sma llestaudience ever played to-" says Emmett, "was in Columbus, Ohio. The managers had been tr7ing to introduce matinees, but with not much success. Joe Jefferson, Deman Thompson, and some of the big stars had gone through the mill, and the audiences had been so small thatthey had shied, and refused to take thegate. The money had been returned t the box office, and the disappointed ticket buyers had departed determinednever again to patronize matinee in Olum- bus. The afternoon business Tas at it's lowest ebb when struck thetown. After two or three-performancs the posters. -ac.1aounced matinee. went to the theatre at 2 o'clock thai after noon and found my company s,ylark- ing behind the curtain, in theirevery- day suits. looked out in theaudito- rum. There was just one maj in the theatre. He sat clear back in he par quet. It was as much as cold do to outline him in the darkness. I went out to the box-office. Did hat man pay for his ticket?' I asked Yes, fifty cents, the treasurer replsd. 'The manager told me to return him his money and close the theate.' No, you won't, I said. T have 1ever dis. appointed an audience when I'm sober, and I don't proposeto do so now. We'll play for him. I went into the parquet, introduced myself to the man, ano thanked him for his attendance. I tol6 him that as he had thought epough ot me to come and see me and pay fifty cents for the privilege, hs should have as good 8 performance> as though the house was packed. Ithen went behind the cur tain and reodested the company to dress. 'Gres% Caesar, Joe,' one of them said, 'y>d ain't going to play to that one man, are you?' Yes, am,' I replad. He's paid his money, and he a1all have his moneys worth. sOh, dhe devil, broke in another member of the company, 'I'l pay his ffY cents and you let him go.' I told mem that the performance must go on as usual, and I warned each one that any attempt to guy the audience or any failure to play part in full would be the signal for discharge.
 "Well, the orchestra played an over, ture and the curtain arose." Faits con- tinued. "I walked down to the foot lights. I invited the audience to come forward and take front seat, where he could see and be seen. He thanked me and settled himself in the front TOW, I suggested that little generous applause thrown in where he thought the actors deserved it would serve to in- spirit them and warm them to their work. He seemed to appreciate the situat1an and agreed to give us all the encouragement that he thought we deserved. The performance began. l don't think ever played better. l threw myself heart and soul into the character, and sang the Lullaby sc tenderly that the entire audience was in tears. He called for an encore. ] told him that we rarely gave an encore, but as this was an extraordinary occasion he should have one. He applauded liberally at times where no applause was deserved, and again failed to ap plaud where applause was deserved. Al such times called his attention to the omission, and asked whether on reheo tion he did not really think that he ha6 made mistake. A hint was sufficient He would clap his hands as thougl perfectly enchanted and shout Bravo like an Italian over Salvini. The com pany paid no attention to him, but wen on with the performance as regular a clock work. Between the acts, how ever, one or two of them evinced dis position to go out into the auditorium and mingle with the audience. I SC my face against it and they refrained At the close of the second act the man ager entered the theatre. He had bee1 out for walk. He seemed dumbfound ed at seeing the house brilliantly lghte' and the orchestra soberly playing to on man but he was more astonished whel the curtain arose and the performance was resumed with as much uncOncer1 as though there were thousand dollar in the house. But he had an eye t business. He sent word to the news paper reporters, and half a dozen ( them arrived in time for the last act No actor ever received better newspape criticisms. Some of them were over
 column long. It turned out that tn audience was the owner of coppe mine In Michigan, and very wealthy On the following night he gave tn whole company banquet at the lead ing hotel. He entertained us as hand
 somely as we had entertained him, an
 we parted with mutual regrets. Just
 year afterwards announced anothe
 matinee at Columbus. It was we'll ai
 vertised, and the house was packed |
 suffocation. I took in over $I, 200. M
 sense of duty to that one man, who Ina
 invested the small sum of half dolla
 had returned me golden harvest.