Judge — September 19, 1885 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE JUDGE. A. W. Pinero, recently from London, will direct the rehearsals of ‘‘ The Magistrate” at Daly’s. This comedy has been the rage with Londoners and the best summer attrae- tion that our American tourists found while abroad. Mr. 's endorsement of the piece is another evidence of its worth. To us who are most familiar with Osmond Tearle as the self-denying lover, the hone: moon husband or the melo-dramatic villian, it seems a little incongruous to think of him as playing—for the edification of Englishmen and Scotchmen— Virginius, the favorite role of such masters as Forrest, McCullough and Salvini, Mr, Tearle also has in his trans Atlantic reportoire the roles of Richard I/1. and Hamlet. A REHABILITATION, Mr. J. M. Hill is one of those enterpris- ing men that, while profiting themselves, benefit the community by improvements. The Third Avenue Theatre, which has been in the shadow since the Rankins left it, again claims recognition among the amusement resorts. Mr. Hill's purchase of this theatre doubtless saves us from another varicty-stage infliction. There is no reason why it should not become and remain a first-class theatre. ‘The house is still young—has no bad record to ontlive—and is located well up-town, near Lexington, Madison and Fourth Aven- nes, Mr. Hill showed his usual foresight in placing a good piece on the boards for the opening. Frank Mayo’s ‘ Nordeck” was a success last winter and it is a greater one now. The piece is handsomely set, artist cally costumed, well manned and _ piloted. Miss Kathryn Kidder, the young actress who made her debut in the part of Wanda last season, shows great improvement. Much of the school-girl recitation style has worn off and she acts more. Miss Kidder has en- viable prospects, and we believe she has the | dramatic instinct which ever has been and ever shall remain the corner-stone of an ac- tor’s success, Later in the fall a new play recently pur- chased by Mr. Hill, entitled, ‘For a Brother’s Life,” will be produced at this theatre with J. N. Gotthold in the leading character. CASINO ALOFT AND ALOW. That the summer season is over thermo- metrically as well as dramatically, is clearly evinced by the approaching close of the de- lightfal open-air concerts on the Casino roof. These concerts have made pleasure endura- able on hot nights. We may expect none the less enjoyable indoor entertainments at the Casino during the winter season which commences Sept. 20, next Sunday evening being the last roof concert. ‘The one hun- dredth representation of ‘‘,Nanon” will be iven on Thursday, Oct. 6. Miss Sadie Martinot still remains the attraction in this opera. Already there are extensive preparations being made for the production of ‘ Pfing- | sten in Florenz,” which will follow ‘ Na- he costumes in ‘ Pfingsten in Florenz,” | will be especially attractive, being of the Ne- apolitan style, hence of bright and varied colors. ‘The innovations in stage setting will be a flower garden, fountain and glass conservatory, “UNSIGHT AND UN The custom‘of reviewing theatrical per- formences as boys trade jack-knives, “un- sight and unseen,” has its disadvantages as well as its ad ages. While the method gives unlimited scope to the imagination of verbose scribes, it sometimes leads to the violation of the unities of fact; such as trans- position of sex. A San Francisco para- graphist, speaking of New Yorkers as “ our eaatern cousins,” commiserates us upon the lack of Harrison’s personification in ‘ Mikado” as Japanese, when it is really Chinese, her ideas for the “make-up” hay he avers— been gathered during her California experi- ence from some of the inhabitants there. He then proceeds to enlarge upon Miss Ha rison’s Ao- the heroine of ‘ Mikado. Evidently California does not yet boast of even a piano score of the opera which is among New York’s antiquities, and the in- timacy of this ‘‘ western cousin” with the Chinese does not aid him in speculative Japanese names. uaintance with the heathen Chi- | nese; which ignorance leads us to accept Alice | IS HE A TRAGEDIAN? Tast Saturday night Thos, W. Keene | finished his New York and Brooklyn season | of Shakesperean plays. Considerable has been said in praise of this gentleman's act- ing. Much commendation is due him for his hard, persistent work. There is proba- bly no actor in our country who is more in- defatigable in his efforts than Mr. Keene. But we cannot agree with some of our con- temporaries in giving him a high place as a tragedian; in truth, it is a question with us, whether he is properly a tragedian of any rank—if he is not in fact, another illustra- tion of the round ball trying to fit into a square hole. Certainly, Mr. Keene excites more comedy applause in “ Hamlet,” * Mer- | chant of Venice” and “ Richard III.” than any actor we have ever seen. In the parts where we feel that the situations alone must make him great, he always disappoints. ‘The power of conscious reserve force is lack- ing, and he does not assume that dignified | bearing which is often mistaken for it. If dramatic genius can be developed, as our most advanced psychologists and physio logists claim, to such a degree that it shall be a substitute for dramatic instinct, which is as much an inherent gift of man as the in- stinct or sagacity of animals is inherent with them, then it is evident that this develop- ment must be according to scientific laws; hard work not so directed cannot produce it. The skeeter sings ere yet he stings, The rattle-snake exalts his rattle; The dog will grow], the feline yowl, Ere either one will give you battle. But ab, the mule on this fair rule his back is ever turnin, Out fly his heels, the victim feels the frescoes hotly burning! THE HORSE SHOE FALLS. RIDING ON THE RAIL. In the starry midnight Handled by a crowd; Hearing, like a tumult, Shoutings very loud; Red and savage fa Make a fellow quail;— Bless me this is awful, Riding on a rail. Angry threats of lynching Agitate the mind, While the fierce attendents Utter words unkind, And the situation M kes a man turn pale;— s truly dreadful, Riding on the rail. T Splinters in profusion Savagely abound, While the legs that hang down Cannot reach the ground; And the undergarments Flutter in the gale;— Till it scems unpleasant, Riding on the rail, Hints of tar and feathers Still the voice of hope, While a whiskered ruftian Hollers for a rope, And terrific clamours Make the night grow pale;— This is quite terrific, Riding on a rail. aa ) comicbooks.com