The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-10-01
STAGE RANouETs.
One That Caused a Performance 70
End In a Riot.

Stage banquets are not invariably mer-
ry, as witness a very old one-that In
Macbeth" where Banquo is guest I'M
seen by all but the host, whose rawlings
at the sight throw everything into disor-
der and cause the hostess to dismiss the
company. There is also an outdoor din
ner going on in "As You Like 1t" when
Orlando interrupts. In Shakespeare's
time at these stage feasts the performers
used as food marchpane, a sort Of bis
cult, to which one of the servants makes
allusion In Romeo and Juliet" Good
thou, save me a piece of marchpane."
The actors grumbled at the constant use
of marchpane and would have preferred
something substantial.
In the eighteenth century, when the
strolling players went more or less mer-
rily on foot and were much of the time
half starved, real food in the plays was
more than welcome. There was a Brit
ish manager who, whenever salaries were
considerably In arrears and dissatisfac-
ton prevalent, soothed everybody into
good humor again by putting up the nau-
teal drama, 1.-THE Cramond Brig" which
calls for a dinner of boiled mutton and
turnips. In 1.-THE Gentle Shepherd"
which used to be given in Scotland, real
haggis was introduced. There was also
a very elaborate meal In the old farce
"No Song, No Supper"
Persons in the audience are not aware,
perhaps, that it is difficult to eat on the
stage and carry on the dialogue at the
same time. Not a little practice Is re-
Quired. The experienced players, how
ever, do 1t gracefully and we'll. Before
an audience one must eat very daintily,
else well bred people In front will criti-
else. An actress must also know some
thing about cooking, or at least about
the preparation of food. Making bread
on the stage is common, and In Robert
sons "Ours" there Is a charming scene
where Mary Netley runs about in the hut
in the Crimea with sleeves rolled up and
in her hand the well busted rolling pin.
She also works out the dough.
Occasionally there is too much drink
ing. In play entitled "The Wary Wild
ow," which was acted in 1893, it Is said
that there was so much whisky punch
consumed that all the performers became
intoxicated.
Mr. Clement Scott, In his memoirs, re-
lates the disastrous experience some years
ago in London of Miss Nita Nicotina, a
young woman who made her debut in a
play called "Ecarte." The Australian
tragedian, Boothroyd Fairclough, was in
the cast. The picnic scene was Of highly
realistic character-genuine hampers from
Fortnum & Mason's, Perigord pies, chick
en-. truffles and champagne. The repast
was of sumptuous character, and the &C
tors and actresses ate and drank heart
lily. The gallery, after awhile, becoming
weary of so much feasting without being
able to join in it, began to jeer. The
champagne continued to flow, and Miss
Nicotina displayed the effects of overin-
diligence. The jeers turned into yells,
and presently, when she entered with a
green boot on one foot and yellow boot
on the other, the yells became bowls, and
the lady unwisely attempted speech.
The piece ended in a riot, and the lights
were put out.-Baltimore News.