THE HOOTING OF MR. BANDMANN.

Auckland Star, Issue 472, 15 July 1871, Page 2

THE HOOTING OF MR. BANDMANN.

The following scene occurred in Piper's Opera House, Virginia City, on the 2nd May, on the occasion of Herr Bandmanh'i farewell benefit, which is thus given by the Gold-hill News : —

" There were only nine ladies in the dress circle, and about twice as many gentlemen; the parquet contained merely a few dozen men and boys. The third act of ' Hamlet' was given by way of commencement, with Mr. Bandtnann as the t>anish Prince, and Mrs. Bandmann as Ophelia. At tho close of Ihe act loud applause, from the parquet principally, called for him to appear before the curtain, but he did not respond, evidently thinking the audionco was 1 guying' him. This act was followed by the fourth act of ' Borneo and Juliet,' Mra. Bandmann appearing as Juliet, in the rendition of which character she was very justly applauded. ' Don Cajsar de Bazan' was the concluding piece, but it was interrupted and totally closod out in a most outrageous and summary manner not contemplated in the'bills.""Mrs. Banduiann as Maritana, Mr. Hardio as Don Jose, and Colton as tho King of Spain, duly mado their appearauce upon the Btage, and commenced playing their parts all right. When Mr. Bandmann, in hit) presentation of Don Cresar, at the proper time came upon the stage and faced the audience, a crowd of rude boys and men, who had-evidently gathered for the purpose at the rear portion of the parquet, beneath the dress-circle, saluted him with a fearful blast from numerous tin horns and trumpets, accompanied oy tho infernal clangor of cow-bells. Mr. Bandmann advanced to tlic footlights amid the terrific din, bowing low, smiling and kissing his hands to the audience, as though in the magnanimous acknowledgment of a pleasing and merited compliment. His anger, however, got the better of him, and there he stood loudly vociferating, with fierce gestures, for some minutes, apparently telling his rude insulters what he thought, of them, yet no-one could hear a Word he was saying. Mrs. Bandmann'came to him, and at'length' succeeded" lnleading him olf the stage. She came back directly, and tho noise having subsided as the drop curtain wont down, she addressed a few words to the audience,-being evidently much excited, and taking tho insult to herself. She sarcastically thanked the perpetrators of tho insult, and said that in all her professional travels throughout the world _ she had nevqr been so cruelly and wrongfully' insulted as, on tins'; present occasion. She retired with applause,, and sodi afterward slage-niana^eriHardie came before the curtain, and Baid a few words to tho still wailing and expectant audience. He deprecated the uncourteoui and insulting treatment of Mr. Baudmann, and stated that' as there word ladies and gentlemen who had paid for admission, now all was quiet and orderly once more, with their permission the play might go on. His remarks were received with applause, and the play might probably have proceeded without any further interrupt tion. Mrs. Bandmann now came out again, still naturally much excited and affected, and made another short and appropriate address to the audience. She said : —" It is impossible for the play to go on under the circumstances. I .dare not hare my husband conic out again, for he is very indignant.' It is impossible to proceed with this play. When my husband married mo in England, ho promised me a kind, ;welcomo, and war.ni! friendly reception in nis'adopted country^, America, wherever we might go ; and this is the way the people of Washoe treat üb. This is the first time we were ever so insulted, and, the obliged to ' come down. 'on'! 'diiis iof our^ plays. If you did not like him, and would insult him, .you might, at least, have been gentlemen enough not to insult a woman* When ..Anieripftn.actors,,cqme to England, no matter how poor they are—-and wo have had some very poor ones appear there—we have always treated them courteously; but see how differently you ; treat' lne."^, We'~~haro'~ sdone here, and-shall go elsewhere^but whpreve)?. We mayl'go in'this worljd we).shall.,remeniber/this 'night as'long as "we "live, and'"neverf"never; never come back .to Virginia city again ?" Her remarks were well spoken, and much appliui'dell lit■Vriridus points, us well as at the conclusion. Tho play did not pi'oeeed, but the gas being turned off, the audience went awiiy.7 JMr. Baiidinann s.ub'seqwe'ntly" sept a message from his dressing-room'^-manager Piper, desiring three policemen to protect him on his way home to his hotel; but none whatever were needed, and when he got ready Jie and_ his wife walked ._ arm-in-arm.up to the International, unmolested andhjnnoticed. There"war,1 in 'fast; no Cause for v ftsair,1 as'the rude boys who had given him that ridiculous charivari serenade, having attained their object, had left as soon us possible, before they got into; trouble,, fearing* the consequences. ■' While heartily deprecating this outrage on Mr. Bandmann as not at all to the credit of our community, yet we would state that Mr. Bandmann has somehow contrived, by his own style of deporting himself, to create more enemies, both in the theatre and out of it, and less friends, than any actor ever appearing hero. He is not by any means a ;first-iratei actor; or as>.'good1* as'"represented. His style certainly does not suit tho people of this section, yet none of this justifies the outrageous treatment of him last evening, and the perpetf(rtors dfierre punisljo«pifc" SiMi <A iiV ii 3 «?_«$&? |I,| U fCi J its I