Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-18
STAGE FRIGHTS.
Sudden Turns Which Have Brought
the Curtain Down.

From London Answers.
| While playing the principal part at the
| Grand Theater, Birmingham, last Guy
| Fawkes night. Miss Kate Rorke, the we'll
known actress was interrupted in a curious
manner. Precisely at the moment when the
| audience was watching her with eager and
| intense interest they were one and all
alarmed by sudden crash through the roof,
| followed by commotion in the gallery The
bolt from the blue, which interfered with
the play for a time, was a spent rocket that
had been sent up from a bonfire in the
neghborhood Beyond startling the au-
G1ence just for the moment, this sudden turn
did no great damage.
Now and again the interruption on the
stage takes a humorous turn. A funny in
cident occurred not SO very long ago at the
London Alhambra Mile. Cleo de Merode
the famous continental dancer had already
given part of her turn with the greatest
success, and had come on for the Greek
dance she gives-the last and perhaps pref
test part of her performance In this act
she usually finishes by posing as an example
of Grecian statuary, and placing the Gus
tomary double pipe in her mouth to give
classical effect to the posture 1t is silent
act. AT that moment, on the occasion in
question. terrible boy in the gallery gave
a terrible blast on his Mafficking trumpet
The audience was convulsed, and Mile. Me-
rode was only too pleased to beat a retreat.
Not only was the interruption at the Gar
rison Theater. Chatham, some time ago.
attended by serious injury to one of the
company, but panic among the audience
was only just prevented by the promptest
measures. The performance was being
given by an amateur company drawn from
the depot ship Pembroke. During the prep
aratfon of one of the scenes. In which a
tomahawk display by Indians served as
prominent feature. the audience was alarm
ed by the sudden appearance on the stage
nf a col lott 10 nIclyf -,
fullest war paint, his body enveloped in
flames. Jumping the footlights, the fiery
figure rushed into the street, eventually put
ting out the flames by rolling in the mud of
the gutter. The poor fellow a seaman
was terribly burned, and had to be re-
moved to the hospital.
In the meantime some of the scenery had
caught fire and the theater brigade had
to play upon the flames for some minutes
before they could be extinguished Need
less TO say. that evenings performance
came to an abrupt conclusion.
Drury Lane Theater has before now had
interrupted performances. In Ben Hur,"
produced last year. one of the most start
ling scenic effects ever witnessed on any
stage was the great race" in which four
chariots. each drawn" by four horses, took
part. The clever illusion of real race was
produced with the aid of a revolving plat
form and a swiftly moving amphitheater
background. 1t was very thrilling spec
tacle. One night through the revolving
pla tf0rm colllQlnS win the framework,
charioteer was thrown bodily from his car
to the ground. 1t really looked as If the
actor would be trampled on by the rapidly
approaching team. The horses, however
were skillfuliy stopped and the platform
slowed down sufficiently for the charioteer
to crawl out of danger. He was bruised, but
otherwise unhurt.
Though Mrs. Patrick Campbell may not
regard the interruption Of her acting by
a monkey as humorous, it provided a huge
audience with an immense amount Of fun.
The incident happened during the great act
ress' recent tour. In the middle Of an act
of THE Second Mrs. Tanqueray," when
Mrs. Campbell was holding the house by her
forceful acting. the attention of the au-
dience was suddenly diverted by the gym
nastic antics Of monkey, which was Civ
ing performance "of Its own on the out
side ring of the dress circle. Soon the en-
tire house was in an uproar. Mrs. Campbell
suddenly stopped and the attendants made
frantic efforts to capture the gyrating ami
NAL. At last the monkey. which had been
Struggled into the theater, was restored to
it's mistress. who with her missing link"
retired. after which Mrs. Campbell resum-
ed acting.