How Toole's " Show " Was Spoilt.

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 52

How Toole's " Show " Was Spoilt.

A TfiUE YABH TOLD BY nUISBLF: • When Mr J, L. Toole was in Scotland re* eently he told to some friends a story, of his early- days there which does not appear, in hie " Reminiacduces." He had been engaged in the Edinburgh Prin? cess's Theatre as the juvenile lead throughout the season at the then handsome-salary of £3 per week. Bat the usual summer, vacation arriving, the company were paid off and left to shift for themselves. There were to be ab Iqast six weeks of id'euess, and when the theatre biil-pcuter offered Toole good sharing terms to go touring and "starring" round some of the smaller towns for " one night only " in each, he accepted the engagement, and the venture was duly put in progress. Halls were engaged, and announcements made as conspicuously as possible. Dundee was the only town to be visited that possessed a theatre, but the Thistle Hall—a place devoted to religious services and pjajermeetings—had beetle, engaged for Toole. On arrival in the town almost the first man he met was Bruce Norton, one of the' best-known managers and actors of his day, then, the lessee of the theatre, a giant in stature, and one of the • moat inveterate of practical jokers.

- "So you're to give an entertainment in Dundee, Johnny," said Norton, seizing him by. the coat-button and bending wrathfully over the little man; " and you've chucked the theatre aside and gone to a meeting house. Why tho deuce didn't you come to the theatre ? "

Toole explained that he had nothing to dj with the arrangements — that he was only an engaged man, &c, &c. Bat Norton was quite wroth, and shaking his hand in the comedian's face, exclaimed as he walked off, ' ' I'll spoil your show, Johnny 1 I'll teach you to go past the true home of the drama. See if I don't ! "

Toole, knowing Norton's' reputation, went about all day with the feeling of a condemned man, certain of some impending disaster. Night came and with it the audience — & fairly. large one. but containing, a biff, percentage ot

solemn-looking individuals, who behaved themselves in the most severe and depressing manner, alternately clapping their hands and gazing up to the ceiling, then burying their heads in their hands, and emitting loud and deep-drawn sighs.

The entertainment was to be a musical and dramatio one— chiefly comic songs and humourous recitations. "A Norrible Tale." was the opening item, and when Toole got through the first staDza the solemn ones were Bitting staring at him with clasped hands and an expression of horror on their faces.

There was not a sound of applause, and Toole felt something, like' cold water trickling down bis back.

Attbis juncture the door- opened, and to his distress Toole saw. Bruce Norton enter. Ha was dressed in funereal black, with' long hat, black gloves, and black umbrella.

Casting a withering glanoe at Toole, he advanced with alow and measured step to a front seat, where he solemnly seated himself, then removed his gloves; and lay back with the air of & man about to listen to a sermon.

Toole was 1 now well through with the second verse of "A Norrible Tale,"' and was by fhcial and other contortions throwing all the humour he could into the rendering ; but every face' before him was expressive of utter amazement or fixed stolidity, and the verse ended as the first, in dead silence. •

Then Norton, calling all his- actor's skill to his aid, rose from his seat and looked round upon the audience with, a look of apparent mortification and scorn. As he stood be replaced his gloves on bis hands, ostentatiously lifted his hat and umbrella, then casting another scathing* glance at poor Toole, now; with a ghastly attempt at humourous expression, struggling along with the third verse, made hastily for' the door, where he quickly disappeared.

He was followed by moat of the solemnvissgf d ones, who were evidently in the plot ; but the dead had been done. When Toole reappeared to sing " Villikius and his Dinah " the house was almost empty, and before he had got half' done with' the ballad the remainder, with a shamefaced fchis-is-no-place-for-me air, had stolen away, and the curtain was rung down upon an empty house and a spoilt show.

But Toole took consolation in the fact that the treasury showed nearly £10 in takings, a good return in those days ; and Norton was forgiven for his little triek — for he had doubtless contributed to the funds as well as to the failure.