Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-02
q mAIa'lAlc's ACT.
Leaps Upon the Stage at Chicago and Stops
Melba' Performance.

Chicago, April Love has turned
many a mans head, but Romeo and
Juliet" was never played with crazy
man in the balcony scene until at the
Auditorium, where the grand opera
holds the boards. Robert Rothman of
Chicago, introduced discord In
Gounod's tuneful Interpretation of
Shakespeare, and Jeanne de Reszke' 8
thoughts of love were turned into
speechless fear, inspired by an anar-
chists bomb. while an audience of
thousands watched the strange specta-
Gle in the silence of wonder, stupe-
faction and terror.
The curtain had gone up on the Sec
ond act, showing Ju.iet's balcony on
the left of the stage, and Romeo. under
cover of night, was seen approaching
their trysting place. The audience saw
young man climb over the organ loft
in the orchestra. De Reszke had ad-
vanced to the steps below Juliet's win
dow. when Rothman was upon the
stage, facing him. Mercutio and the
chorus, out of sight of the interruption,
sang on in mockery OF love.
The moment came for De Reszke to
sing, but he sang not. The last echo
of the chorus had fed to the furtherest
corner of the hall and deep hush fell
upon the audience. Every eye was
watching the movements of the stran-
ger on the stage. The silence brought
the chorus to the stage, in alarm.
Nine. Melba (Juliet) came to her win
dow unurged.
Rothman wandered around the
boards with a dazed air. while you
could almost hear the audience breathe
with excitement at the strange spec
tacle before them. a cry of alarm
would have had horrible result, With
Dut doubt. AS it was, De Reszke held
his position, nervously sraspins his
sword, for he had in mind the reccu:
attempts to harm the child of his coun-
tryman. Ralph Modieska. and fell the
man before him was an Anarchist.
Rothman broke the painful silence by
shouting in voice that startled and
sent shudder through the house:
People think I'm crazy, but Tn
not
The relief from a tension of one kind
for the audience now knew what was
the matter. was supplemented by ano
thcr fear as to whether the mania,
would be captured without trouble Ii
the emergency William Perry. stag
manager. stepped from tie flies and
demanded of the intruder:
What do you want?"
The man answered threateninsly'
Don't touch me, or twill be the worse
for you
There was q nervous rustlinc
throughout the house that presaged {.
general exodus of the more timid. that
might have precipitated general rush
for the door. In the emergency. M.
Perry's voice was heard shouting or
order to lower the curtain.
Rothman continued his wandering
talk. In another moment, two stag.
hands rushed upon the crazy man and
pinioned his arms. He was taken to
the nolice station, where he was
searched. He had penknife but nc
other weapon. He gave his age as %
and said he was Chicago man. He
talked incoherently at the station
Jean de Reszke said of the incident:
- l thought the man was bomb
thiower such as we have had il
Europe, or that he had a pistol and in
the stage it might percipitate dan
gerous scene and throw the audience
into a panic l clutched my sword an6
watched him closely. | intended t
spring upon him instantly if he made
suspicious move
The women of the chorus were much
agitated by the interruption, but tn,
opera was quickly resumed.