A Night in the Show (2 reels) (1915) starring Charlie Chaplin
In A Night in the Show, Charlie Chaplin doesn’t play the Little Tramp. Instead, he plays the part of an inebriated patron at a vaudeville performance, who annoys both the audience and the performers.
Synopsis
Charlie Chaplin, rather than playing his famous Little Tramp character, is playing his older inebriate character as “Mr. Pest”. He also plays a second role, Mr. Rowdy. And between the two, he get in trouble with almost everyone in the show that he’s come to watch!
Comedy highlights
- Mr. Pest fighting with various members of the orchestra.
- Accidentally knocking a fat woman into the fountain after fighting with the trombone player.
- Mr. Rowdy, in the balcony, pouring beer on everyone! Including Mr. Pest below!
- Mr. Pest, plucking the plumes out of a lady’s hat, so he can see better.
- Running gag of Mr. Rowdy almost falling out of the balcony.
- Helping “La Belle Wienerwurst” up on stage — after having knocked her down.
- Fighting with the fat boy and his father, using the pies the boy brought as weapons.
- Bothering the snake charmer.
- Her snakes getting loose in the orchestra pit.
- Dot and Dash getting pelted with tomatoes by Mr. Rowdy.
- Mr. Pest hitting Dash with a pie.
- Mr. Pest hiding behind the fat boy during the fire eating act.
- Mr. Rowdy using the fire hose to douse the fire eater — and everyone else.
Cast
- Charles Chaplin … Mr. Pest / Mr. Rowdy – in the Balcony
- Phyllis Allen (Dough and Dynamite) … Lady in Audience
- Lloyd Bacon (The Champion) … Man in Balcony
- Lawrence A. Bowes … Ticket Taker / In Balcony
- George Cleethorpe … Man Behind Bead Lady
- Frank J. Coleman … First in Line
- Fred Goodwins … Gentleman in Audience
- Charles Inslee … Tuba Player
- Bud Jamison (A Dog’s Life) … Man in Balcony / Member of ‘Dot and Dash’
- James T. Kelley … Trombone Player and Singer
- Dee Lampton … Fat Boy
- Paddy McGuire … Feather Duster / Clarinet Player
- Charlotte Mineau (His New Job) … Lady in the Stalls
- Edna Purviance (The Kid) … Lady in the Stalls with Beads
- John Rand (The Pawnshop) … Orchestra Conductor
- Wesley Ruggles (Police) … Second Man in Balcony Front Row
- Carrie Clark Ward … Lady in Audience with Ostrich Plume Hat
- Leo White (The Champion) … Frenchman / Negro in Balcony
- May White … Fat Lady / Tootsy Frutti the Snake Charmer
Trivia
- Based on a famous comedy act called “Mummingbirds”. Charlie Chaplin starred in it when he was a player with The Karno Company in England.
- The film was restored in 2014 through the Chaplin Essanay Project thanks to the financial support of The George Lucas Family Foundation, The Film Foundation and The Material World Charitable Foundation.