The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-10-17
PLEASURES OF BARN sToRMINc.
Experience of Fly-by-Night Company
With "UmcIe Toms Cabin"

Experience of a Fly-by-Night Company
With "UmcIe Toms Cabin.''
More than twenty-five years ago 1t was
nv fate to be a member of "band of stroll
ling players''-a company of barn stormers
doing the northwestern country in the
small towns way back from the railroads,
said husky voiced actor. There were seven
of us, two ladies and five gentlemen-per-
nit the term-all necessarily lightning
change artists" Our repertoire included
Hidden Hand" ''Ten Nights in Bar
reom," 1.-THE French Spy" ada Isaacs
Menken's great play, and last-always
last-"Uncle Toms Cabin" l say always
last. We never dared to produce this play
except on the last night in town. With
but seven people to do the moro than
twenty characters called for by the cast, the
reason why we played "Uncle Tom" as a
tailepder will be too obvious to require ex-
PLANTATION.
Our Little Eva was perhaps thirty-fve,
but ''snalI for her age" and she delivered
the gushing lines in true baby style, dying
at the end of the second act amid applause,
tears. red fire, tremolO, music and show
curtain. But she was versatlie-more so
than the Infant Phenomenon" She
served as Eliza Harris, Aunt Chloe (behind
a wing). T0psy and Cassie and looked as
old or as young as necessary under the
circumstances.
The other lady did Mrs. Sinclair. Aunt
OpheIia, Emeline, few odds and ends and
let down the curtain If necessary.
/ Fortunately for the ''fy-by- night" par
ties of that time the characters OF this
play die of at the end of each act to give
place to a new set of characters at the be-
ginning OF the next act. 1t gives the com
1any a chance to change their wigs, take
off a set of whiskers-in fact, make up"
for the next part.
have played nearly every part in tbs
play TAT different times) except Eva One
evening the infant was 'indisposed" and II
was sought 20 press me in for the little
darling" But positively refused unless
some Of nv long overdue back salary
was forthcoeing. Even this stroke did
not bring the salary The ghost had Iona
since ceased to walk with US, and it could
not be induced TO appear on this occasion.
was expected TO do about twelve ol
the characters, sometimes including Aunt
Ophelia. the lady who did this part being
in the habit Of being "indispOsea."
OF course We carried our own scenery
and mechanical effects" which coBsisted
/ principally OF aseene Intended TO represent
| the Ohio river IN midwinter. This sceua
was light blue in color. and very uncer'
] tain streak divided the water from the SAY,
/ We also had a low four wheeled truck
+ with q board nailed 20 one side Of II and
I painted TO represent cake OF ice This wa:
I for Eliza Harris and her child % escape e
I Canada On
When il came to the end Of the piece and
Z Uncle Tom dies to slosy muse red fire and
I an allegorv Of Eva in heaven, the andienes
+ in many places was uncertain whether ths
drama was ended or not There were 81
( least seventeen acts in il. the curtsia haY
( ing besn let down maaT times. wholly foi
( tae purpos= Of giving ths TEX Surviving
E characters a chance 70 change
When the audience did not arrive ao<
+ depart AZ tAe ead Of ths PlaY Il usually fs.
10 nv lsf - step a front q The gEee n col
( curtain zhd sas.ke this zanounesHasnt:
laliles and leat.eEDea--owlZg 20 TT
fact thssz al the characters OF the eraani
have died. disappeared or aesn othsrs ~
disposed of vsith the exception u G2mp
Scn S2ss and XzrkN- tke lawyer. ~