The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-15
BEHIND THE SCENES.
A Change in Dressing Rooms at
Keith'S and What Followed.
Forgotten Dummy Figure Of a Woman
Aroused Ire Of Miss Sally Cohen

theatre audience Is privileged To look
upon from 1.-The front" i'm which come
dians who assume humorous parts for
the entertainment OF the public enact
parts i'm all seriousness that prove to
be quite as amusing to. their smaller
audience as the others are To the pub
lie.
Such was the case at Keith's on Mon
day evening, and the performers in the
impromptu farce were none other than
John c. Rice and Sally Cohen, whose
cleverness has provided so much laugh
ter and healthful amusement for Prov
idence theatre -goers.
That the story OF the incident may
more readily be understood and appre-
ciated, il should be stated that Sally
Cohen i'm private life is Mrs. John c.
Rice, and that i'm "Our Honeymoon,
which they are playing this week. she
portrays a wife who Is deceived before
their honeymoon is over by too much
trusted husband of sporty proclivities.
After they had done their turn" on
Monday afternoon and left the theatre,
a consignment OF dressing rooms was
made, and they were given star
room on the 20. r." side. just OFF the
stage, and into which, with the door
easily.
The stage hands were instructed 10
remove the property of Mr.. and Mrs.
Rice to their new room, from which
that of it's former occupants was 10
be taken to another location; and when
Mr.. Rice came in, about half an hour
ahead Of his wife, to arrange some
minor matter with the property man,
he was informed OF the change by the
stage manager. After a short talk with
the property man. he went TO his dress
ing room, removed some of his clothes
and prepared 10 make up; but, expect
ing his wife to arrive soon and think
ing To make il easy for her TO ma
their new room, he left the door triiie
open.
Not long afterward Mrs. Rice entered
the theatre and started for her dressing
room, but as the stage manager hap
pened to be engaged for the moment,
he did not see her and she received no
warning as to the change OF her room
Now, IL should be known that, while
such a Tang has been known TO make
trouble sometimes and TO reveal an act
tors possession of surprisingly caiorihc
vocabulary Mrs. Rice is one OF those
sweet-tempered little women who are
always ready to accommodate them
selves to circumstances and even to ac-
cept petty annoyances With noshoW or
dspleasure, and had she been told OF
the change there would have been no
expression OF dissatisfaction.
1t should be equally clearly under
stood. however. that. like the wife
whom she portrays incur Honey
moon" she thinks there is no husband
so immaculate as hers. and that, had
she reason to believe him like other
men," there is every probability that
the sweet tempered little woman would
suddenly develop into a character very
much like the wronged wife of the
stage. At least, so she says OF hef-
self.
Mrs. Rice crossed the stage at the
back and then proceeded toward the
dressing rooms. which open from
narrow entry running parallel with the
side of the auditorium Suddenly she
stopped, gave a little cry and started
back.
Through the partly open door of the
dressing room she saw Mr.. Rice bust
ling about i'm his nervous way, en- dis
habille, while her jealous eyes also saw
as plainly as could be the back or
woman standing in the room with him.
Here she called to "A stage hand
who was passing. Look in there.
Isn't that Mr.. Rice?'
The man gave a quick glance, re-
piled Certainly" and passed on, NUT
tary about a woman who didn't know
her own husband when she saw him.
The little woman rushed back across
the stage. grabbed the startled stage
manager by the coat, nearly tearing OF
two buttons. and shrieked into his ear.
II want that woman called out or my
room. | won't stand IL. She's in there
with my husband, and he's making up.
Take her out. The contemplate crea-
ture."
Stage Manager Gallagher Is man of
peace. and withal something of dipio-
mat. He has to be. He couldn't manage
80 or 40 new actors and actresses every
week If he were not
The startling nature of Mrs. Rice's
demand however, and her evident rage
nearly upset him for the mo-
ment. and he forgot all about the
change in rooms. He endeavored in his
diplomatic manner to convince the lit
tie woman, every moment growing
madder and stamping her feet angrily
that there must be some mistake, but
all to- no avail.
You drag that woman out Of there"
she shrieked again. II don't dare trust
myself TO do 1t. or there might be blood
spilled. You drag her out, and I'll take
care of him, the wretch"
BY this time, quite little knot OF
stage employees and several performers
had gathered. for the people behind the
scenes are but human and a bit of
scandal probably is as toothsome a
morsel TO them as TO other husman be-
ings.
Led by the stage manager, with the
irate little woman good second, they
proceeded across the stage; and, while
Mrs. Rice stood just outside the ROOM
backed by the group OF interested spec
tators, the stage manager braVely en-
tered the room.
In an instant he emerged. holding in
his arms the object of Mrs. Rice's jeal-
ousy. There Take her and do what
you please with her." he said as he
fairly threw into the arms of the little
woman. by this time white with rage.
the rival who was the cause of her per-
of spirit. and at the same in
stant Mr.. Rice appeared In the door
way, clad I'm blanket wrapper and "A
daub OF red on one cheek. and demand
ed For heavens sake, what's all this
mean?"
He got for an answer only n subdued
shout OF laughter. while his eyes. quick
to detect the comical side of anything.
instantly took in all the reply needed.
There stood his wife, the persplration
rolling down her face, her hat pushed