PLAYING TO AN AUDIENCE OP ONE

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 13, 9 May 1877, Page 2

PLAYING TO AN AUDIENCE OP ONE

Governor Joseph C, Foster the veteran American manager, actor, and author, some years ago organised a theatrical company to play short en* gagementa in various cities and towns of the West. They aw ived at Bueyrnsv Ohio, a small city on the Sandusky River, where bills were issued, a hall rented, and properties engaged. Dur« ing their stay a novel incident occurred. Mr Foster was sitting in tfce hotel (the. Sim's House), ruminating, in all pro* babilifcy, upon the full house he was to> have, when a stranger entered the room with a bill f<>r the evening's perfor* nwnce in his band.. " Are you. manager of the theatre ?" asked the stranger. "Yea, sir," **I am and always have been extremely fond of th-atricals, but nover had an opport. unity of seemg ' Richard I II." * Very well, sir como to night." " Unfortunately, I leave town this evening by the 645 train. Now, how much money would induce your cnm;>any to play " Fichard TIT," for me this afternoon? 1 * Poster, thinking the stranger was joking, replied that he would do it for twentyfive dollars. The stranger looked at the bill again, and inquired! what would be the extra charge for the"Rough Diamond/ To carry oat. the joke, Foster replied ten dollars. To his utter surprise the stranger " pulled his weasel," counted out thirty five dollar?, and handing them to him* remarked that he would like to havethe play begin no later than 2 o'clock. Foster got the company together, and related the circumstance. The idea of playing '" Richard" to an audience of 1 one was to excessively ridiculous, and*, so new in their experience, that they one and all consented. Two o'clock came, and the solitary audience as* sembled- Choosing an eligible post*, tion, and cocking hut feet upon the back of the seat in front of him, hewaited for the performance to begin.. The bell rang, up went the curtain* and the play began. Never did actor* do better. They all exerted themselves to give their patron ao- entertainment fully worth the price paid for it, and they succeeded. The stranger an* plauded vigorously at different pointy and at the close of the play called the Richard, Sir Joseph, T. Fannin* before the curtain who responded in a neat little speech, A dance and a song, followed, after which the force of the- *' Bough Diamond ** was played. The. audience laughed, roared and ap*> plauded, and left in time to catch the, 6.45 train.— Era Almanac