The Penn's Grove record., 1886-06-05
PLAYING IN AN ILLINOIS VILLAGE
An ExpeFience that Recalls Old Barn
e. iStorming Boys.


- iStorming Boys.
-
Il Chicago manager who had just re-
turned from a tramp on the road with
a comedy company tells us his expert.
ence in a small Illinois town where he
made q date by mail merely to fill in
the unoccupied time between the larger
cities. The town had been deliberately
billed, and seats had been on sale for a
week, yet when the company arrived
not one ticket had been disposed of.
"How do you account for thlsp"
asked the manager of the merchant at
whose store the plan of the house was
spread.
"Why," was the reply, ''you charge
fifty cents, Our people never go as stiff
as that"
When the manager went to look at
the hall he found a room capable of
seating perhaps 200 persons. 1t was
heated by two large stoves at the rear
and ventilated by several broken win.
dows. The scenery which the COM
pany carried was made low for emer-
gencies, but still it was Just twice too
high. The ceiling was eight feet above
the stage and the scenery was sixteen
feet high, and there was a pillar square
III the centre of the stage.
"How about music?" asked the man
ager.
"What music?" asked the proprietor.
"Why, our piece IS full of singing.
We have to have an orchestra. Our con-
tract calls for an orchestra"
"Does it?" said the proprietor, very
much as if he wasn't just sure what an
orchestra might be.
SIS there an orchestra in town?''
asked the manager.
"Guess not. Never heard 70 n
here"
"Well you must get a piano, them"
"Piannerl There amt one in town."
That settled the music question, so
the manager turned his mind on the
yexing question of putting a quart of
scenery into a pint measure of stage
space, and finally ended by concluding
to play without scenery.
When the night came the manager
entered the hall and found a doZenboys
and men standing around n of the
stoves.
SWELL" said the manager, "it's 7.30
We'll open the doors now" and he
passed among the men and boys. to
take up their money.
"I'm the fireman." said the first 81
tend the stoves"
II roll up the curtain" said another,
and so On-some were ushers, some had
peddled bills, some carried water for
the actors.
what do you dor" said the wearied
manager to a stalwart looking chap
sitting behind the stove.
"Me?"
"Yes, you"
81 amt right in my head" was the
answer
NO." put in several of the by
ISLANDERS; 'that's SO, he amt: he amt
got no sense" and they seemed to
think that ought to settle all dispute
about his right in the hall. And 1t did.
AT S O'Clock not a soul had come to
the door. About ten minutes later
a man came up, showed a tin star on
his breast, said he was the marshal and
walked in. In five minutes more five
men. five women and a string of chill
01Ch OdGlCs ulAAlOuuOlD6 bldU Why WCIO
the village board and families. Behind
them came a few persons who offered
sufnsranging from a nickel to a quarter
to get in, and II man came up and
actually planked down a whole half
dollar with a reckless air, but not
a word.
"Just imagine if you cam" says the
manager, show all this struck me.
My company was composed of fastidious
ladies and gentlemen, who were costing
me in the neighborhood of $1,000 a
week."
Well, the curtain went up and the
play began, but it had not gone far
when the fellow warranted not to
be fright in his head" fell off the front
bench in a foaming fit.
"Jes' stop yer play a minute" said
one of the trustees; she'll be over
it pretty soon. He has 'em every little
while"
So the play was stopped, and the
young man was rubbed and rolled and
water dashed in his face. When he
came to, the play went on, but 1t had
not gone far when he toppled over
In another fit. This time the leading
lady left the stage and declared she
would not go on again. Others OF the
company followed her lead and began
to put on their street clothing. The
manager announced that under the
circumstances he could not go on with
the play, but would be back in that part
of the country sometime and give them
the rest OF the performance. Much to
his surprise the audience accepted this
pledge and filed ont without making
any demand for the money that had
been paid.
Talk about your old days Of barn
storming," says the manager, "but
they can't hold a candle to the present
right here in Illinois,"