A THEATRE SENSATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 615, 18 September 1909, Page 6

A THEATRE SENSATION.

I THE CROWD BEGINS TO BREAK THINGS. . . | I . (By Telegraph—Special • OorreßDondeat.l. ; v - i :■ Christchurch,' September 17; ! Something;'lit©;a riot':tbok "placo,Vat , itho.\'':, . i Theatre 'Eoyal'last . night. i'. ißengoQgli, th 0,.,-', . , i Canadian entertainer, had ;got .about half way j through tho'entertainment when:the]severe in-, -; j disposition, from which ho, '.was obviously suf*. 1 fering-overcame .himv'altogether, 'andvha* had ■ I to ask the indulgence'of thfi 'auditaco, 1 ns ho , I found 'himself' quite; unable; to proceed. Ho ' | announced that'tha members';of thaiaudionoo . | could l , get -their: inoMv .back, \ori,pa6Sos ior',tlio following-evening,' whon he'hoped);to<bo, woU.. enough > to ; give... tho - entertainment.. '. A crowd gathered-round .'the.-pay boxeS 1 of itlie gallery., , arid the stallsj a number j of people who apparently camo 1 in from tho ■ ■ ■■< Btreet. The manager, finding that the great . j majority .of-tho'peoplo.-who 1 , ,' for their money, back.■ had. ,no. passes,,declined i to.'returo; any money,* because',', as he explains, - .j he ,wo,uld l».'uidble'Jto''know';:;wh4Wr persons r'teiving tlio' money had hwn 'in tho theatro .at 'aU.'r Thereupon tho croud com- , j menoed! to''take,charge.'' Tkcy'entered , the _ ■ theatro again by tUe'aoore, and -a; nibb clain-; t bered ; pvir the" fbotlights on jto the.stages, 'shouting' and .singing.,. They: interfered ■ with Berigpugh's properties,and began <. to . wrcck . . things generally, tampering]:,with .-the.- olootno ' i light, and: playing •' on tko piano..' A'■ tolophono ' message, was eont; for .the polioe,: and; on tho.. ..> arrival' of 60in0: fifteen ,the' mob; became quiet, • but-no : steps'.were, tdken'at this; time;to'get''; • -. the people*, out -'of the-'theatjto,-they .claiming' . . that,,having'paid for two arid a 1 half hours'ehtertainment, they had a riphi to'slop till that timo Had expired. A sorg(Mmt'.thbn turned up, . hnd immediately: ordered',tho-polioo to olcar••• the 'theatre:..- Tliis .was/done'".at' ,onee.Somo bolder .spirita\TCmain«l outside;for uomo'tiirio, •, and.'made- eome moro i 'noise',\'but. ovtsntu&lly they .faded into,--the 1 night. Berigotigh had • been 1 travelling; for; ovor , tifelvo ' hours, alid Was;; completely., knocked -up..- - ■