THE MAD ACTRESS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1193, 4 November 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE MAD ACTRESS.

An Anecdote or 3his. 3lontioiid. The story of the life of this justly celebrated actress, as told by Colley Cibber, in hi'“ Apology,’’&c‘, if full of strange vicissitude—something of sunshine and very much of shadow. Taken as a wholej her life might be said to constitute a living tragedy. Towards the end, through the perfidy of one dearly and passionate!}’ beloved, ami the accompanying treachery of another whom she had held close in warmest friendship, she was thrown into such paroxysms of suffering that her reason was dethroned, and from that sad bereavement she never reco vered. After the first wild burst w as over she settled down into a calmer and more tranquil state, but was never suffered to go unwatched. Though never raving, and seldom passionate, she had a disposition to wander away in search of “ that which was lost.'” One day, during a remarkably lucid interval, Mrs. Jlontford asked her attendant who was playing at her favorite theatre, and what was the play for that evening. The play chanced to bo Hamlet, ’ and she was so informed. That had been her chief love, next to “ Romeo and Juliet. In the character of Ophelia she had wpn some of the warmest applause that had marked her histrionic career. The circumstance impressed her; but, with the cunning habitual to the insane, she shut her thoughts closely up within her bosom That evening she complained, at an early hour, of headache, and was accompanied to her chamber, where an attendant remained with her until she appeared to have sunk into a profound sleep. Mrs Mountford had retained the best part of her theatrical wardrobe, and had been allowed to keep it where she could look over it when she pleased. On the present occasion, as soon as she had been ieft alone, she arose, noiseldssly fastening her door upon the inside' then drew forth the dress in which she had last enacted the character of Ophelia, with a little basket containing a few faded sprigs and flowers. Thus habited, she managed to steal away by a rear passage, and gained the street, where she very quickly called a cab, uad was taken to the theatre, reaching the ladies’ dressing room only a few minutes before it would be time for Ophelia to go on in the orazy scene in the fourth act. Mrs Bracegirdle was the Ophelia of the evening. From peculiar circumstances in the past she did not dare, even had she had the heart, to oppose the mad woman. And further she was impressed with the belief that Mrs Mountford would not fail in the part. So at the proper time for the

appctsancc of Ophelia, in her strangely fantastic garb, with her basket of grass and flowers, appeared that well remembered form and face. For a brief space there was the hush of death upon the overflowing house. Then the dear old tones sounded once again upon their ears. And now Ophelia was crazy inded ; but it was Ophelia, to the life—a representation of madness which no mimic art could have produced. The astonisment of the performers upon the stage, and the final enthralment of the audienee can be better imagined than described. And it was to bo her last effort.