The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-04-24
THE LYCEUM THEATRE CLOSED
Miss Viola Allen. the 'Esmeralda'
of Old, Refuses to Play and the
Audience Are Sent Away.

For various reasons Steele Mackaye
and the management of the Lyceun
Theatre are dissatisfied with the way II
which the play OF "Dakolar" has been
received by the public. A fair
sized audience had assembled when
the orchestral pavilion was lowered in
front of the stage last night. W.
Sisson, the director of the theatre,
was seated in the audience when he was
suddenly called behind the stage. A
delay occurred during which the musl-
clans repeated the overture Presently
! the curtain closed upon them, and as
+ they we're waited aloft the drapery
again separated, disclosing the entire
/ company on the stage, with Wesley
! Sisson in the centre. Addressing the
audience, he said:
Ladies and gentlemen, owing to the
/ mental. not physical, indisposition of
Miss Viola Allen, who plays the leading
juvenile part in 'Dakolar,' we will be
unable TO give any performance this
/ evening. We are extremely sorry to
| disappoint the public, but it cannot be
helped. Your money will be returned
at the DOX-Ofnce.
Forthwith the members of the COM
pany on the stage applauded the speaker
and they disappeared behind the folding
curtains. There was evident dissatis-
faction among those present. and they
I fed away in bad temper, which was
aggravated by the delay at the box
office.
Wesley Sisson was seen after the per-
Torrance and said: Viola Allen was
engaged by US in February for period
ending March next. She was to re-
ceive a salary of $50 per week. We paid
her salary for the four weeks she was
rehearsing. As Mr.. Mackaye was dis
appointed with her acting he concluded
to withdraw her. pay her salary and
engage a competent woman. We Sc
cured Kate Forsythe to-day and en-
gagged for her to begin on Monday next.
Miss Allen evidently heard of this.
came to the Theatre tonight and then
demanded that we should guarantee
that she be retained in the part until
her contract runs out. This, of course,
we would not do, so we dismissed the
audience. Tomorrow night Miss For
sythe will play the part"
/ rs it true that salaries are in ar
rearS?'
mo. There is notice posted up that
Wednesday (to-day) is salary day, the
same as at the Madison Square. Every
body's salary is ready, if they will come
for it. Miss Allen never asked for hers.
Even Joseph Haworth, who is not play
ing, got his week salary of 5000 to-day"
Miss Allen said that her salary was
due on Saturday, but had not been paid.
Abiding to her reason for not playing,
she said: 1.-The conduct of the manage
ment has been very undetermined.
1 was engaged expressly to play
in 'Dakolar', and as l had
heard they intended to get Miss
Forsythe In my place resolved to get
a guarantee that I should be retained.
l got all out of the part that could be
had. What L feel most. however, is not
the loss of the money, but the wilful in
tention to injure my character by say
ing that l was mentally indisposed
What will the public infer from such
vile and unmanly remark?'
1t was stated, also, by Mr.. Slosson.
that the Lyceum will bring suit against
Miss Allen and her father for damages.
The lady is yet in her minority.-N. Y.
Wortd 10th.