Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-10-13
HAPPENED IN FRONT.
PLAYERS TELL OF FUNNY EXPERT.
 ENCEs THEY HAVE HAD.

Effect Upon Actors of Interruptions Froue ths Audience-The Man Who Sneezsd
 May Irwin and ''The Widow Jones.
 Wanted Burr Mcintosh tO "soak Him.
 Players are affected almost as deeply by happenings in the audience as is the audience by happenings on the stage Sometimes they are moved to wrath, but more frequently to laughter. Occasion ally they are frightened out of theiY lines.
 A man sat ill sn aisle seat, three rows from the front, at 3 performance of "El Capitan' the other night. He was fat man, aud he gave sneeze suddenly-& terrific sneeze. 1t was followed by an other that shook the plnmes on the big hats of the women around and made the lights flicker. The audience suspended attention aud looked at the sneezer, and the players paused just as he snorted out third sneeze that ended ill higD note such as seldom had been heard in those parts. though the Metropolitan Opera House is near by. Fl CapitaD stretched out his long arms toward ths man. rolled his hig eyes hesveaward snd said in B ser@lGilzat vu&oe:
 Heaven bless you, sir.
 This brought t2a audience back bc shs stage with a TORT. Sns .n 6 ssecEa shs performance was running on at high pressure, while the fat man chuck203 over the fact that for brief space he had been the star of the evening. A few minutes later Sun reporter asked Mir. Hopper how he was affected by ths funny things that happen ill the audi. ence. After getting a grip on II Cari. tan nose and throwing down cup oi hot coffee, as he does between acts. he answered:
 American audiences are not delpon- stratiye, and as rule things don't bap- pen in front Of course the man who sneezed tonight couldn't help it, but he made such q blasting success of it that it affected the whole house and there, fore the players, If an actor is playing a part where he can say something, it is the best thing 10 do. for it makes them all laugh and keeps them from noticing pause.
 May Irwin is all actress with whon even metropolitan audiences take fiber. ties. People have a habit of calling tC me from the audience when they want me to sing special song or to reoitG something, she said the other evening .'One night man in the body of the house called out to me to reeite Hia- watha He took me off my feet for 8 minute I couldn't remember line Of it, but I called back: 1 will if you Il give me my cue. I've forgotten how il starts. He gave me the first line, and , shouted it for him.
 When was playing the Widow Jones one night during the kissing scene between Rice and myself man shouted, I'd like to be ill your place, Mr. Rice would Rice and l were both conyulsed, and the audience roared. When the piece is funny, it often adds to the humorous situation for some one in front to do something unusual
 s.I never shall forget an experience l had while playing the Widow ill Gin. cinnati, though of course it isn't art foa an actor to see anything that goes on iE front CT to recognize anybody i'll the au dience, and I never dol don't think One night, as was saying, in the city of einders and beer, 1 noticed tue queer, est looking old woman down in front. l.o 1sl~o o,ts.Y eD gbs kept peering up at me over her glasses. She didn't laugh once, and ill all my life never saw 8 human being take $ play so seriously. She was with another woman who was equally serious. Final ly the old woman jumped up and, peer ing at me over her glasses and shaking her finger ill my face said, with a rasp ing, western twang:
 " Well, you don't look one bit ik, her.
 "I was hustered, but managed < gasp;
 "''L Like whom?'
 Like the Widow Jones, she an swered.
 Well, l am, said l.
 I don't believe a word you 're say in, said she, fer know'd the Widow Jones and her huzban nigh on to 2' years ago. I stood up with 'em whei they was hitehed, and you don t look likt her. She went of from these parts, ant heerd she was a widow and that Jone was dead, and then 1 heerd she WIS q this the-ater, and cum to see. You ain the Widow Jones, and just want to sa, one thing more--I don't see how yol dare to take other peoples names anC use eln
 "With that she louneed out, but th, next day when appeared at q rehearsa she was on hand 10 give me anoi he blast. I explained to her how it was She'd never seen play before and ha( come 20 miles to see her old friend, th, Widow Jones' There was time whel such things frightened the life out o me, but I've learsed to turn then, tS good account.
 Perhaps there is not another man oi the stage so phlegmatie as Burr McIn tesh during unusual occurrences il