EARLY THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES.

Kumara Times, Issue 558, 11 July 1878, Page 2

EARLY THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES.

The memoirs of Miss Bellmahy, which she left behind, present some strange pictures, of the Dublin, audience pf that age. One night, as she -was passing,on to the stage, an officer, who was standing at the wings, stooped and kissed her on the neck. She turned and slapped his face, in sight of the whole audience, among whom was Lord Chesterfield, then .Lord Lieutenant, who rose from his seat and applauded the act. In consequence of this Sheridan pn Wished .a notice - -in all papers that henceforth no gentleman would be admitted behind the scenes, and to enforce the notice he had a sentry placed at the stage door. One night a drunken officer, being refused admission, stabbed the soldier in the thigh with so much violence that his sword broke in the wound. Another night Mr Kelly mounted over the spikes which guarded the pit from the stage, cooly made his way behind the scenes into the green room, and grossly insulted one of the actresses. Miss Bell many entering at the time, and seeing the lady in tears, and the fellow holding her down in her chair, she asked her why she did not force herself away from him. Upon which the brute turned upon the young girl, pursued her to her dressing-room, and tried to break in the door, ‘Swearing the direst vengence upon her. The man ager came up and desired him to quit the theatre ; he refused, and was summarily ejected. Returning to the pit he threw an apple, at Sheridan who was performing yEmp, and it struck him upon the forehead with such force

as to dent the iron of the false nose into the flesh. The actor addressed the audience, but they were too ruffianly to take his part, so the curtain was dropped and the play left unfinished. Kelly had the impudence to rush round-to his dressing-room and demand satisfaction. And he got it, but not in the 'way he desired—with a oaken cudgel, with which Sheridan belabored hiru, until he howled again, and could scarcely crawl. Off he went to a coffee house to relate his wrongs to his friends, and call upon them to assist him in his vengeance. But when they arrived at the theatre it was shut, and so well defended that the ruffians thought it best to retire. The tiext. night : the ‘f Fair JBenitent” was to be performed; The; moment Sheridan appeared as Horatio, these scoundrels, who i had {Slanted! ; themselves in 'the pit, jumped Trom ! their seats and drawing their swbrds;' , y'elled, “ Out • with the ladies and down With the , house!” Sheridan was, ol iliged to %• f° r . hfp, while tliev ..destroyed his , property smashed in every yoor, and ! stabbed and thrust into'every place in . which they 1 Supposed he might be hidden. Such terror did these riots inspire that the magistrates ordlrnd j /the theatre to bp : closed ‘.for; a ; time. /The colJege students, oinnoyqd' at, being deprived of their favourite amusement, took the side pf the; manager, invited, some ofj.the to breakfast, . and as soon 1 as they were in the preciuts of the college,! dragged them to ; the pumps, !and pumped oh them till |i they were 1 • nearly drowned.—Temple I Bar. '