A THEATRICAL "SHINDY."

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 291, 29 March 1877, Page 4

A THEATRICAL "SHINDY."

Ife* South Australian Rtgisltr of the 10th Jnataat gvwtjs the following account of * teas* in ti • theatre cm the previous BfaM daring tie performance of "la File tie Madame A*get;— "The opera fad proceeded k> far a» the quarrel scene—toss ea» th# ere of Hs proper conclusion—ta.wferidb Mis» lewis and Miss Lambert ' tflßftrtta* respective parts-, when the au~jjeii<fr *Ttirft greatly pussted .to observe 'fjfeeurttun t&ncklf descending. To such aa eaten* wet* they bewildered that at ftsati» dead silence fell upon them. Saddeary, however, they gave vent to their feeing* ia food and continued hisses. Meantime the>otcea of two or three of the principal performers in altercation were unmistakably distinguishable behind "tib* curtain. What could it all meant The groans and hisses were kept wp> and ttgreat proportion of the audience com' mewed to- rise from their seats with a view of leaving the theatre. Just as the excitement, became the moat intense, Mr. Allison, the director of the theatre, in response to> loud calls, came to the footlights and apologised for the sadden termination of the opera. Miss Lewis, he said, had been * taken suddenly, all at once" —a- statement that was re wived amM minuted yetts, hisses, and «n«fersy *»«* *fc» audience then quietly dispersed. It is a pity that those who attend the opera should have been competed to WitiMS* such unpleasant exhibitions of feeling as that whteh occurred on Friday evening, and it is to bo hoped the altercation? wtlf not be repeated. We understand that the cause of the wnfctftemptf was owtnff to* Miss Lambert having unintentießally taken some of the easiness out of the hands of the prima donna, when the latter rushed off the stage, thus necessitating the descent of the curtain. It Spears, however, that matters have been _*»gether set right, and Miss Lewis apologise* to the public in our advertising columns;; but we cannot help thinking that b> jar the most commendable plan would h&pe been for both parties to have restrained their animosity twt> or three minutes longer, when they would have had an opportunity of adjusting their tittle differences in private." The following is a copy of Miss Lewis's advertisement :•—" To the ladies and gentlemen who attended the theatre ia3t evening In a moment of temporary annoyance, I left the stage >:<-* get- the better of my feelings. I wis coming back when the curtain was rung down. I apologias to you all for ifoingso.—Catherine Lewis." / ° — ■ ■ •