The Last Official Theatrical Booth Appearance

[KateH.]

According to "Lust for Fame," Booth played Pescara (the villain) in the Apostate at Ford's Theatre. His father had also preformed the role before. Booth did not appear for a curtain call. "Killing Lincoln" poses a theory that Booth didn't appear because he had made up his mind to kill Lincoln and was wrapped in this thought. There is one account, made by Mary Clay, that says Lincoln attended one of Booth's plays in 1865. Booth played the villain but she did not remember the title. However, according to "Lust for Fame," Booth only appeared in one other play in 1865. It was Romeo and Juliet at Grover's Theatre. Mary Clay recalls the events that unfolded. "Twice Booth in uttering threats to the play came very near and put his finger close to Mr. Lincoln's face; when he came a third time, I was impressed by it, and said, 'Mr. Lincoln, he looks as if he meant it for you.' 'Well,' he said, 'he does look pretty sharp at me, doesn't he?'"