A Night in the Show

A Night in the Show
A Night in the Show
	Theatrical poster to A Night in the Show
Directed by	Charlie Chaplin
Written by	Charlie Chaplin
Produced by	Jess Robbins
Starring	Charlie Chaplin ; Charlotte Mineau ; Dee Lampton ; Edna Purviance ; Leo White
Cinematography	Harry Ensign
Edited by	Charlie Chaplin
Distributed by	Essanay Studios ; General Film Company ; Warner Bros. (re-release)
Release dates	November 20, 1915; 1919 (re-release);
Running time	30 minutes
Country	United States
Languages	Silent film; English (original intertitles)

A Night in the Show was Charlie Chaplin's 12th film for Essanay. It was made at Majestic Studio in Los Angeles in late 1915. 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 (a.k.a. A Night in an English Music Hall in the United States) with the Karno Company from London.^[1] 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.^[1] Edna Purviance played a minor role as a woman in the audience.

Plot

A Night in the Show

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.