“SCANDALISED” RAT

Otago Witness, Issue 3509, 14 June 1921, Page 52

“SCANDALISED” RAT

CRITERION SHOW UPSET.

A rat. which apparently had enjoyed an early Victorian training caused a double disturbance m the Criterion Theatre the other, evening (says the Sydney Daily Teleprapk). The performance of " the comedy “Scandal” was twice interrupted. It happened in the second act, wherein is the much-discussed “bedroom scene.” The curtain had been up a few minutes, and the supposed bride, with the double b d in the background, was just beginning to get, the audience speculating as to how she was to escape a difficult situation, when there’ was a short, sharp scream from the “gods.” This was followed by a volley of yelps, and a wild scramble in the centre of the gallery The upionr was deafening. It appeared that the rat had deemed the time fitting to tumble out of its comfortable eyrie and seek quarters elsewhere. It travelled via the ledge in front of the gallery, and the first scream came from 'the first young lady under whose nose it ran The ensuing noise startled the animal into jumping clown inside the gallery. Every gild within yards at once decide that it was making for her ankles, and went mad. Ushers rushed about and eventually stilled the din. Meanwhile Miss Hanaford stood quietly waiting on the stage. The rat took up new quarters. Tho play developed, until the point was reached when the supposed bridegroom stood with his back to the locked bedroom door, and the bride, who wasn’t a bride, begged him to produce the key and let her go. The rat could stand it no longer. Once more, it climbed up on to the front of the gallery, and again, as it dashed by, the gallery girls gave tongue. Shrieks, yells, and howls contributed to a perfect pandemonium. The rat fie-d under the seats. Every screeching girl promptly tried to hurl herself bodily away from the terror, and generally succeeded in falling over backwards, thus adding to the din. The two stars (Miss Hanaford and Frank Harvey) broke off their thrilling scene and stared curiously at the surging "gods.” The people in the front stalls turned disdainful noses upwards and demanded that the people up there restrain themselves The noiso continued for pome minutes. Then the rat got back on to the front of the gallery and leaped outwards. He sailed past the highly interested dress circle, and landed, among the stalls. The ladies in the stalls promptly shrieked and stampeded. “The colonel’s lady, and Judy O’Gray are sisters under tlie-il* skins.” The rat dashed down the aisle and escaped, the gallery quietened, the stalls smoothed ruffled feathers, ami tho play went on. Miss Hanaford and Mr Harvey were given an ovation at the close of the act, as a mark of sympathy with them in being thus interrupted in the middle of their biggest scene.