The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-12-25
SOME STAGE coNrRErEMps.

| one OF those unrehearSed incidents
| which call for extra smartnesS on the
part Of the performer If he wishes to
avoid appearing ridiculous occurred at
a performance of 1.-THE Shop GEr' dur
ing October, 1895. The French Count,
at sally of wit from Appleby anent
his feet, retorts sarcastically, II reserve
my foot for you, sare," at the same time
I raising 1t ais II in the act of kicking.
| On this occasion his boot unfortunately
| flew off into the wings, displaying a
| large hole in his sock. The ready witted
comedian who played the part was, how
ever, equal to the occasion. Farewell,
sare!" he exclaimed tragically, limping
around the stage. FAREWELL We shall
meet again. l go-to mend my socks."
The house literally roared with laugh
| ter.
Miss Sarah Thorne tells a good story
of how, when she was playing in THE
Colleen Bawn," at a provincial theatre,
the gun loaded with powder to shoot
Danny Mann was missing from the
wing just before it was required, and
could not be found. At the last moment
one of the actors, eating from a paper
bag, emptied out the biscuits, inflated
the bag, and bursting it with sudden
blow, Danny rolled over into the water,
killed by the report of a paper bag as
effectually as he would have been by
real gun.
Miss Marie Wainwright narrates an
absurd instance that nearly threw her
off her balance during a first night
Perhaps you remember that as Dame
Hannah, in 'Rudigore, / had to go on
with small dagger, with which TO
threaten the wicked Baronet's Wife
When my turn came round the dagger
was nowhere to be found. Nothing
would induce me to go on without nv
property, and although Mr., Darlington
implored me to appear without it, [
was resolute. There was a terrible
stage wait, and at last Mr.. Darlington
grew desperate, and forcing something
into my hand, absolutely pushed me on
to the stage And what do you think
it was? A large gas key. I continued
to conceal the absurd makeshift from
the audience; but when | had to hand
my supposed dagger to Mr.. Grossmith,
he most unkindly gave me away. How
can / kill myself with this thing?' he
said, holding up the gas key in its en-
eirety which produced a perfect howl
of laughter and for some minutes we
were unable to continue"
When Charles Kean was playing
"Eichard III" his fearful grimaces in
character paralyzed all the other actors
with fright, much to his amusement
On one occasion a new man had to take
the part of the sentinel who awoke
Richard Whom asled 'yyho ic +hara 90
he had to say, 'Tis l. my lard: it's I,
my lord the village cock hath twice
proclaimed the hour of morn" But as
Kean wac making such fearful grmaces,I
and scowling at him, the poor fellow |
lost his head and could AMY stammer, |
Il Ills !, my lord; it's /, my lord; the
village cock TITS l. my lord; the-vil- |
age cock,' BY this time there was a
decided litter all over the theatre and |
I<ean then said. "Then why the mischief
lon't you crow" which, needless to
say, brought down the house.
Jefferson while playing rip Van
Winkle' went to the theatre one even
ng tired out after q long days fishing
When the curtain rose on the third act
t disclosed the whte-haired Rip still
leep in his twenty years nap. Five,
en-, twenty minutes passed, and he did
lot wake. The fact was that all the
ime he was really sleeping. Finally,
he patience of the gods became ex-
and one called out, rs there
-oing to be nineteen years more Of this
nooze businees?" At this point Jefferson
egan to snore, which decided the
rompter, who, opening a small trap,