A Night in the Show


A Night in the Show is a 1915 film and Charlie Chaplin's 12th for Essanay. It was made at Majestic Studio in Los Angeles. Chaplin played two roles: one as Mr. Pest and one as Mr. Rowdy. The film was created from Chaplin's stage work from a play called Mumming Birds with the Karno Company from London. Chaplin performed this play during his U.S. tours with Fred Karno's company and decided to bring one of the classic music hall sketches into his film work. Edna Purviance played a minor role as a woman in the audience.

Plot

Mr. Pest tries several theatre seats before winding up in front in a fight with the conductor and, eventually, the entire cast of an evening variety show.
The film concludes when a fire eater takes the stage and Chaplin "heroically" drenches the performer and the audience with a fire hose.
The difference between "Mr. Pest" and "Mr. Rowdy" appears to be that one is pleasantly drunk and the other is obnoxious and sober.

Cast