Theatrical and Circus Life: or, Secrets of the Stage, Green-Room and Sawdust ArenaJennings, John J. (John Joseph)
History
Theatrical and Circus Life: or, Secrets of the Stage, Green-Room and Sawdust Arena
Jennings, John J. (John Joseph)
Circus; Theater -- United States
Another occasion that was a source of infinite amusement to an
audience that had been fully worked up to tragic interest in the
play of "Hamlet," occurred at Baltimore, Maryland, a short time ago.
The actor cast for _King Claudius_ had given some offence to the
call-boy--treated him badly in the presence of the company--so the
boy made up his mind to have ample revenge. He got a needle, fitted a
long piece of thread in it, and then placed it in the cushion chair
that answered for the _King's_ throne, in such a way that when the
time arrived, by a simple jerk of the string he might move the needle
skyward. He waited until _Claudius_ was supposed to be most interested
in the scene before the players, when jerk went the thread, and _King
Claudius_, with an alacrity unbecoming royalty, bounded out of his
chair as quickly as if he had suddenly sat down upon the sharp end
of a lightning rod. He dropped his sceptre and shouting "Ouch!" and
nursing the injured part of his anatomy, jumped and danced around as
if he had just caught sight of _Hamlet's_ father's ghost. There was an
interruption to the scene that the audience filled in with boisterous
laughter. After the act the _King_, instead of sending one of his
officers or guards for the call-boy, as befitted his exalted station,
went scouring around the scenery himself, muttering the wildest threats
and applying names to that poor boy that he could hardly have won for
himself if he lived to be a thousand years old. It is hardly necessary
to say that the call-boy did not wait around until the end of that act.
Mrs. Farrel, who was an actress of ability in her time, after being
hissed in the part of _Zaira_, the heroine of "The Mourning Bride," and
particularly in the dying scene, rose from the stage, and, approaching
the foot-lights, expressed her regret at not having merited the
applause of the audience, and explained that she had only accepted the
part to oblige a friend, and hoped she would be excused for not playing
it better. After this little speech she once more assumed a recumbent
position, and was covered by the attendants with a black veil.
On one occasion a danseuse was listening to the protestations of an
elderly lover, who was on the point of kissing her hand, when, as he
stooped down his wig caught in the spangles of her dress. At that
moment she was called to the stage, and made her appearance before the
audience amid general laughter and applause; for on the front of her
dress was the old beau's wig or scalp, hanging like a trophy from her
belt. The applause was renewed when a bald head was seen projecting
from the wing in search of its artificial covering. Stories, too, are
told of imprudent admirers, who, having excited the jealousy of the
stage carpenter, did not take the precaution to avoid traps, and as
a consequence found themselves shot up into the "flies," or hastily
dropped down to the dismal depths below the stage.
[Illustration: THOS. W. KEENE.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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