The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-12-30
DRAMATIC AND LYRIC.
AnecdOte OF Edwin Forrest.
MORE OF THE G. G. G. Comply.
Breach OF Etiquette -Theatre-Opera
House-'Life Of an Actress'-
Miscellaneous Gossip.

There is now running through
the Dramatic Times a very interest
ing series of articles called 1.-THE
Memoirs Of Charles r. Thorne." A
recent number contains the follow
ing anecdote Of Forrest, which we
do not remember to have seen in
print; a perusal OF it will convey a
forclble idea Of the passionate tenn
per AMI overbearing manners for
which the tragedian's early life was
noted: During my engagement at
the Philadelphia Arch Street Thea
tire in 1885," says Mr.. Thorne, 81
had a difficulty with the eminent
tragedian Edwin Forrest, who had
been engaged for six nights, and
who opened in the play of "Ora~
loosa." I was cast for the part of
Francis PiZarrO, who, the reader
may remember, is killed by Oraleosa
at the end of the third act. Know
ing how particular Mr.. Forrest was,
[ took great pains in studying my
character, but on the day previous
to the representation / was taken
seriously i'll; Mr.. William
Forrest, brother of the actor,
and one CT the managers
OF the theatre, came to my room in
the greatest CONSERVATION, but the
doctor assured him that I had a
violent fever and that if I left nv
room it would be at the risk of my
life. The preparations at the
theatre, however, went actively on,
in the hope that I would soon re-
cover. Next day MI. William called
again, and was almost in despair
when my wife told him 1t would be
impossible for nae to venture out.
Seeing, however, the dilemma he
was in. and receiving the assurance
that "Ned" would help me through
the part. [ left my bed, and in spite
of all my wife's remonstrances went
to the theatre to play. If any of
my readers recollect the tragedy at
all, it will be remembered that q
combat ends the third act, and that
as the curtain is falling upon the
tabieau, Oraloosa places his foot
upon the dead body of Pizarro.
This was certainly done, and. in
point Of fact, upon this occasion
was somewhat OverdOne, for the
foot was pressed down upon me
with not a little force and with q
remark between the teeth express
sive of anything but pleasure.
What had l done? Had 1 not left a
sick bed to oblige the management?
l asked the prompter if l had, by
being imperfect in the text, spoiled
some speech of Mr.. F.'s, or caused
him to fail in some great point :?
The prompter assured me that l
had been perfect, and given every
speech and cue properly. l departed
home somewhat mystifed. The
following night damon and
Pythias' was to be played and l was
the Pythias-so announced on the
bills-but the tragedian refused to
act with me, compelling his brother
William to dress fer the part. Upon
williams appearance the audience
called Tor 'Thorne,' and would
seemingly not allow the play to pro-
coed until Damon, advancing to
the footlights, demanded to knoWwhy
this disapprobatlon was eyinced tor
ward lis brother? My name was
reiterated through the house, where
upon he remarked: My brother
plays Pythias,' and walked up the
stage. Considerable confusion oc-
Cured throughout the play, and l
need scarcely add that / was not al,
lowed to act during the rest of that
engagement"
THE G. c. C. CO.
Tie week of opera which was
given at the Walker left a very
small margin of profit to the man,
agement, and the engagement was
extended over Christmas in the
hope that business would pick up;
there seemed to be a fatality follow
ing the company, however, for
Christmas eve saw beggarly turn
ont; the holiday matinee was but
little better attende d, and Christmas
night. from which everything was
hoped, only drew the regulation
three or four hundred dollar house.
DR.. Mckenzie, when approached
for some particulars of the company
and their engagement. was unable
to give the information desired.
"Th:s much you may say,
however" the doctor remarked,
"that they did not bring out
by any means the company L
contracted for; Barnes, the tenor,
left them before they got here, as
did several other strong people;
you may say, too, if you want to,
that the whole company were
thoroughly Disguised with their
manager, and they all felt they
couldn't get home too quick"
What the trouble was we did not
learn; it is probable, however, that
the disgust is the same as that felt
by the audience when Mr.. Howe
put up Patience" for two nights,
with himself as Bunthorne on each
occasion; when we saw his gyra>
tions we could only think of How.
son and shudder.
The company. we learn, is