THEATRICAL UNREHEARSED SCENE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2575, 9 April 1877, Page 2

THEATRICAL UNREHEARSED SCENE.

; The South Australian .Register of the 10th ult. gives the following account of a scene in tlie theatre ton Friday night during the .performance'of "JLa Fille de Madame Angot'":'—"The'osera had proceeded so far as the quarrel scene—just .on the eve of its proper''conclusion—in which Miss Lewis and JMiss Lambert took the respective parish'when the audience were greatly puzzled to observe the curtain quickly descending. To such an extent were they bewildered that afr first a dead silence fell upon them. Suddenly, however, £ they. gave .tent, to their feelings in loud and continued hisses. Meantime the voices of two or three of, the principal performers in altercation were unmistakably distinguishable behind the curtain. What could it all mean ? The groans and'hisses were kepi-lip, and' a great proportion of the audience commenced to rise' from their'seats with a view of leaving the theatre. Just as the ( excitement became Ihe most intense, Mr Allison, the director of the theatre, in response to loud calls, came to the footlights and apologised for the sudden termination of the opera. Miss Lewis, he said, had been ' taken .suddenly, all at once'—a statement that was deceived amid mingled, yells, hisses and cheers, and the audience -then 'quietly dispersed. It is a pity that those who attend the opera should have been'compelled to witness such unpleasant exhibitions of feeling as:- that which occurred on Friday evening, and it is to vbe hoped the altercation will hot be repeated. We understand that the cause of the contretemps was owfng to Miss Lambert having unintentionally taken some of tho business 'but-of-'the*: hands df the prima ' donna, when the latter rushed off the stage, thus necessitating the descent of the curtain. It appears, however, that matters have been already set right, and Miss 'Lewis- apologises to the public-in--our advertising columns ;^but we cannot help thinking that by far the-most commendable plan would have been for both parties to have restrained their animosity two or three minutes longer, yrhepF they would Have had an opportunity of adjusting their lititlfe t differences in private. The "following is a copy' of Miss Lewis's; advertisement :—" To the ladies and gentlemen who attended-, the - theatre ..last evening. In a moment of temporary annoyance.l left the stage to gdfc^tke better of.my feelings. I was coming back'when the curtain was rung down. I apologise to you all for doing so.—Catherine'Lewi*."