Historical references to London's sounds

A disgruntled audience in a late Victorian London theatre

And so the show proceeded towards the end of the act. But it did not proceed now in a way to please our audience. They had become critical, not to say bad-tempered, and suddenly the playful players were startled and pulled up sharp by the sound of a prolonged "Hiss-s-s" from the front! There was no doubt about it. We were simply astounded but had to believe our own ears, and soon we heard that horrible sound again, followed by jeering remarks in one or two unpleasant voices. [. . .] When the act-drop had fallen the entire audience hissed us with determination and with vigour, and you never saw such a downcast, shame-faced company of actors as ours when we thoroughly understood what had occurred. The people had paid their money, and, as we elected to play to them, they had a right to their money's worth.