CURIOUS THEATRICAL CASE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4809, 21 August 1876, Page 3

CURIOUS THEATRICAL CASE.

A curious theatrical case was heard at the Adelaide Police Court, ou July 24, when Mrs. Caroline Wills, otherwise Clara Stephenson, was summoned by Mr. Prank Towers, manager of the Theatre Royal, for neglecting to fulfil an engagement made with him as an actress, by her failure to attend rehearsal. The evidence given by Mr. Towers was that Miss Stephenson was engaged, as “ star leading burlesque actress,” at £l6 per week for three months. On July 20 there was a rehearsal of the comedy “School,” which was to be played that night, but Mrs. Wills did not attend rehearsal, and it was impossible to play the comedy. The excuse given was that she was suffering from a severe bilious attack, but she appeared that evening in “ Across the Continent,” and was as lively as ever. She had been absent from rehearsal several times, and had more than once been intoxicated while acting on the stage. She was intoxicated in playing “ Rob Roy,” as he judged, because she was laughing when she should have been stern and warlike, and she could not enunciate the words properly. Por the defence it was stated that Mias Stephenson had been suffering from a severe cold on the chest, and it was denied that she was intoxicated. The Bench decided that Miss Stephenson did not attend rehearsal on the 20th according to rules, and whether this was caused by intoxication or otherwise made no material difference. She was fined 205., and 20s. costs. At the theatre the same evening a disturbance ensued. Throughout the piece, “Nick of the Woods,” Miss Clara Stephenson appeared to be suffering from a severe cold, and her voice was at times almost inaudible. In the middle of the second act she suddenly stepped forward and asked the audience to excuse her inability to perform her part properly. She had been treated that day most outrageously and cruelly, and she could scarcely stand. This speech was received with cheers and other signs of approbation. At the end of the play Mr. Towers came forward and was greeted with prolonged yells, hisses, and hootings. He said that the sympathies of the audience were naturally with the lady, but the conduct of Miss Stephenson since the engagement of Mr. Chaplin had been simply disgraceful, and he would have an opportunity of proving this before a legal tribunal shortly. Miss Stephenson said that during her engagement she had worked very hard, but had been most outrageously abused. In the afterpiece Mr. Tower's was hissed and hooted, but after a remonstrance from Mr. Chaplin the piece was allowed to proceed, and the following night Miss Stephenson did not appear.