Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-20
SOME HISTORIC RIOTS
THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN VARI.
GUS THEATERs.
Strenuous Experience of Macready ii
Astor Place, New York-Garrick's
Drury Lane Troubles.


Where the actors We're pelted with over-ripe
eggs and decayed vegetables, has served
TO recall the strenuous experiences of
James owen O'Connor, whose brief but ex-
chung occupancy of a position in the lime
light is sufficiently recent to be remem-
bered by many thea ter-goers of the present
time.
The playgoer of today, however, can have
little conception of what actors and man
ayers often endured in those far-away
times when Interruptions of disagreeable
and tumultuous character were of almost
nightly occurrence. Indeed, the demon
strative character of the audiences in Lon
don became so pronounced at one time that
the managers of the principal thea tiers had
to petition the king for a guard of soldiers.
This precaution not entirely satisfying
evidently, for in 1912 the manager of Drury
Lane engaged the services of thirty prize
fighters to assist the soldiers in maintain
ing order.
The Lincoln's Inn Fields Theater was the
scene of small riot on one occasion a
result of the actions of "a certain noble
EARL who, having drunk rather too freely,
forced his way to the stage. When the
manager ordered him off he boxed that
functionary's ears. Blow was returned for
blow and mix-up followed between the
actors and the noblemans friends, who,
after being driven from the stage, revenged
themselves by cutting and slashing the fur
niture and hangings with their swords.
The theater had to be closed for two days.
Noble Lord Started Trouble.
An even worse riot was precipitated
shortly after at Drury Lane by the failure
to announce the non-appearance of Nine.
Chateauneuf. a premier danseuse, to see
whom many of the people had expressly
paid their money. The audience headed by
a peer of the realm, smashed all the or
chestral Instruments, tore up the benches
in the pit, broke the chandeliers and even
tore down the royal arms. The house was
completely wrecked and loss of several
thousand pounds sustained.
The engagement OF a French company at
the Haymarket at a period when England
and France were not especially fond Of
each other led to another serious disturb
ance. When the curtain rose on the first
act the audience began to pelt the for
eigners with bad fruit and other missiles.
Soldiers stationed in the wings to prevent
disorder were powerless, and order was
only restored when a magistrate arrived to
read the riot act. 1t is related that the
French and Spanish ambassadors, who
were present on that occasion, had "a share
of the abuse to divide between them pro-
portionate to their rank.
David Garrick, despite his popularity.
saw two disturbances during his tenancy Of
Drury Lane Garrck had engaged a num-
Der of foreigners for THE Chinese Festi-
val" among them being several French
men, War with France broke out few
days before the presentation. Garrick had
been informed that on no account would
the presence of Frenchman be tolerated
on the stage, but as the foreigners were
cast in important roles it was impossible
for him to substitute other actors. He had
the assurance also that the aristocratic ele-
ment would support him, so he concluded
to brave the displeasure of the so-called
patriots.
On the first night the king was present
and only few groans. misses and catcalls
were INDUCED in. The next night there
were loud demands that the French play
ers quit the scene. When the aristocrats
were equally insistent that the foreigners
should remain Bedlam broke loose. The
manager, irresolute, stood in the center of
the stage knowing that whatever he did
would be anragonistic to one or the other
element and fatal to his piece as well as
peace" About him were grouped the
trembling actors. The gentlemen from the
boxes descended into the pit with drawn
swords and attempted to seize the ring
leaders of the patriots" The latter natu-
rally offered a stout resistance and blood
flowed freely To make things worse the
nalcontents finally adjourned to Garrick's
home, in Southampton street, where they
demolished the windows with volley of
stone.
Tried to Fire the Theater,
Six years later Garricks announcement
that in future persons coming in after the
conclusion of the third act would be
charged the full price Of admission instead
of half price aroused'the ire of the masses.
The audience refused to allow the play to
proceed. and one Intoxicated man tried to
set fire to the scenery. In that design he
was prevented by an actor named Moody.
Eventually Garrick ordered the curtain
rung down and money refunded.
The next night the audience, headed by
a Mr. Fitzpatrick, arose in a BODY and de-
To
to their wishes Garrick had learned his
lesson and answered in the affirmative The
house next demanded that the actor Moody
should apologize for having laid his hands
on a gentleman the night before. Moody.
thinking to put the audience in good hui
NOR came forward, and. with a strong Hi
bernian accent. remarked that 'he was sor-
ry he had displeaSed them by saving their
lives IN putting out the fire.
The bit of fun. instead of amusing the
malcontentS. aroused their ire even more
and they insisted that the actor beg their
pardon on Bonded knees. Moody was NOT
to be forced. however. and Garrick finally
was obliged to promise that Moody should
not appear upon the stage as long as he
was persona non grata to the hostile audi
ence. At the same time Garrick personally
promised to pay his salary whether he act
ed or not. Shortly afterwsrd. however.
Fitzpatrick and his friends sent word that
the ban was removed.
at the Aungier Theater. Dublin, which had
Its origin In an alteration between Thomas
Sheridan-father Of the author of "The
Rivals" and 1.-THE School for Scandar'N
and a young man named Kelly, who had
climbed on the stage and insulted an
actress. Kelly had received ''broken
nose" during the argument and SO the
next night he came to the theater with a
body of his friends, hunting for trouble.
He found it, body of Trinity College
students espoused the managers cause. and
for several nights the theater was con-
verted into veritable battlefield. swords
was finally shifted to the law courts, where
Sheridan brought an action against Kelly.
who was condemned to three months, i'm
prisonment and to pay fine of 1890
II New York has not had as many the
atrtcal riots as London, 1t has at least had
one beside which all those cited seem al
chiids play. This occurred at the Astor
Place Opera House while the English actor
Macready was PLAYING there in May. 1S40.
In 1S45 Forrest. the American traEedian,
had made tour Of England and Scotland,