EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPADE OF A CAT IN A THEATRE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 566, 21 February 1873, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPADE OF A CAT IN A THEATRE.

—o— At the Manchester Theatre during the performance of the “ Lady of Lyons.” u singular interruption took place, which fairly upset the gravity of the house. Just before the crisis in the fifth act, when Pauline is about to sign the marriage contract, and Claude Melnotte is preparing to assert his prior claim, the property-man's cat made its appearance upon the scene, ami fritked across the stage in a highly grotesque manner. Of course the apparition was in ridiculous contrast to the “ dandy pathos ” —to borrow Tennyson’s phrase—of the author of “Money,” and a general titter passed round the house. After a memontary stoppage of the play, the business of the scene was just being resumed when the animal suddenly reappeared at the opposite wing, this time with an outstretched tail, and exhibiting other symptoms of alarm. After scampering twice or thrice across the stage, and probably finding all the places of exit occupied by “supers,” intent upon its capture, it looked for safety on the other side of the footlights, and without lotting “ 1 dare not,, wait upon I would.” cleared the orchestra and stalls at a bound, and alighted on the shoulders of an elderly lady in the third 01 fourth row of the pit, to whom itquietly surrendered. For once, at least, the judicious.aud unskilful were of one mind, for everybody laughed, until, the incident over, a round of applause reassured the players and the play was resumed and concluded without further interruption, with the exception of an occasional giggle from persons who had not got their laugh out C[ui{,e so soon as tlio rest, flfciv.cllester -£*r» amine r.