Lizzie and George were now more than half-way through a successful theatre season in Halifax. On March 22,1877 the company performed the thrilling Military drama Rosedale.
Rosedale was first produced at Wallack’s Theatre in New York on September 30th,1863. Rosedale was typical of the sensation plays of the day. Melodrama and more melodrama were then topped off with a “thrill” sequence to make the audience jump out of their seats. The audience got more than it bargained for this evening. The big thrill sequence in Rosedale was called the gypsy drill in which a large number of soldiers were to suddenly appear on a bridge at the back of the stage and aim their guns at the marauding gypsies who are about to attack. To add a sense of realism to the scene, a company of the 66th Halifax Battalion of Infantry volunteered to play the role of the soldiers for this performance.
Perhaps they got carried away? One of the Infantry volunteers by the name of John R. Roome, jumped too far and missed the bridge entirely instead falling 20 feet to the floor beneath the stage. Ouch! Dr. Trenaman, the local doctor was called to the theatre to attend to the injured Infantryman. Mr. Roome suffered cuts, bruises and what the Acadian Recorder called “injuries of a more serious nature”. Broken bone? Cracked rib? According to the newspaper, Mr. Nannary sent $50 to the family of the injured man and regards from the Company for a quick recovery.
Never a dull moment!
me and lizzie may 