Acclaimed actor Edwin Booth, who remained a theatrical luminary dispite being the brother of presidential assassin John Wilkes Booth, was nearly upstaged during an 1882 production of Hamlet. In the title role, Booth was waiting backstage to deliver the famous "To be or not to be" soliloquy when he heard a roar from the audience. Patrons had recognized Akron actor Newton Chisnell in the lowly role of a grave digger and cheered for him as if Shakespeare himself had walked onstage. Momentarily confused, Booth regained his composure, delivered the speech with fervor and invited Chisnell to take a bow.

Chisnell died at the age of 45.