Life — February 1, 1883 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

THEATRE COMIQUE.. Harrican & Hart, PURVEYORS OF AMERICAN Fu Messrs. HarrtGan & Hart respectfully announce that they will present, under ‘the supervision of the author, Mr. EDWARD Harrican, a New and Original Local Comedy and Four Scenes, entitled “McSorRLeEyY's INFLATION.”’ Three Acts BEFORE THE PLAY. A SCHOOL MISTRESS FROM NeW ORLEANS (standing on the bal- cony of the New York Hotel, opposite the theatre): Mesdemoiselles ! "Tue S1x YOUNG LADIES (fo tohom she gives the comforts of a home and the care of a mother): Madame ? "THE SCHOOL MISTRESS (surveying them with a benignant smile) : Would you like that I conduct you all to the spectacle ? Tue Six Youn Lapies (with unladylike promptness) : Mais, oui, Madame! Mais, oui! We shall be enchanted. ‘THE SCHOOL MISTRE: I see_a hall of spectacle all right in front of us, and one calls it Theatre Comique, One must play there the masterpieces of Moliere and M. Scribe. Shall we go there ? ‘THE Six Youxo Laptes: Mais, oui, Madame, we shall be en- chanted. THE SCHOOL MISTRESS (0 @ gentlemantv hotel clerk): This Théa- tre Comique, is it a spectacle at the which one may conduct young ladies ? ‘THE GENTLEMANLY HOTEL CLERK: Well, I should smile! Why, any girl can take her mother there ! ‘THE SCHOOL MISTRESS : It appears that it is convenable. Shall we 0? . Tue Six Youno Laptes: Mais, oui, Madame, mais, oui ! ACT I. Scene: THe Home oF THE McSorLeys. Mr. Tony Hart is Mrs. Bridget McSorley, and she keeps a stall in Washington Market. several aged female friends she sings a song about ‘The Market on Saturday Night.” The audience ap- laud wildly, and the song is extended indefinitely. Mrs. McSorley Pas an altercation with Miss McKeon, an Irish-American lady, who keeps a stall in Washington Market, who wears French heels and talks English with a shrill German accent. Mrs. McSorley and Miss McKeon exchange high words and low language. Mr. Edward Harrigan appears as Daniel Mulligan—that is to say, as Peter McSorley. He explains to two highly intelligent colored gentlemen that he wishes to be elected Coroner, and that he made his fortune as a bar-keeper. With his colored friends he sings a song to the effect that ‘I never drink behind the bar!” The audience ap- plaud wildly, and the ie is extended indefinitely. A rival candidate for Coroner in quest of McSorley appears, and is hustled, and there is a general scrimmage, and the curtain falls on a scene of humorous and tumultuous confusion. INTERMISSION I. Tue ScHOOL MistRESS (fo the Six Young Ladies): This comedy is not one of the masterpieces of Moliere, is it, mesdemoiselles ? ‘The S1x Younc Laptes : Mais, non, madame ? ‘Tue ScHooLMistRess : It has not the air of being of M. Scribe no more, is it not mesdemoiselles ? Tue Stx Youxo Lapies: Mais, non, madame. Tue ScHOOLMISTRESS : And it is not written in French ? ‘THE Stx YounG Lapies (emphatically): Non, madame. ‘The ScHoot Mistress : Is it, then, English ? Tue Six Youno Lapis (doudt/ully): Non, madame. 59 THe SCHOOL MISTRESS (résing): Then it is not convenable for you to hear it, Let us go. Tue Six Youne Laptes (rising sulsily) : Non, madame. They follow the Schoolmistress out with great regret, for they were just beginning to enjoy the riotous fun of the play.) ACT IL 7 SEE First: The Coroner's Office and August Funke's Beer unnel. Mrs. Bridget McSorley has hidden the permit for her stall in her old feather Tea, which Mr, Peter McSorley has given away. With several aged and weather-beaten female friends she sings a song about “ The Old Feather Bed.” The audience applaud wildly and the song is extended indefinitely. Scene Seconp: MCNALLY's FLats, A convention of off-colored gentlemen is in session. The candi- dates for coroner address the meeting. Mr. McSorley sings a son; about “ McNally's Row of Flats." ‘The audience applaud wildly ane the song is extended indefinitely. The coldness between Mrs. Brid- § McSorley and Miss McKeon leads to the exchange of hot words. irs. McSorley, aided by her aged female friends, tries to rescue her aged feather bed, which is in the ion of one of the off-colored gentlemen. Everybody is hustled, and there isa general scrimmage, ana the curtain falls on a scene of humorous and tumultuous confusion. INTERMISSION II, AN EMINENT AUTHOR (ost tn admiration): What I like in this performance is its extraordinary fidelity to nature, the ultra realism, which is, of a truth, the highest art. Aw INTELLECTUAL Youxo Lapy, with spectacles and a bag of candy : Yes? (with rising inflection THe Eminent AUTHOR : Here we have the freedom of speech and promptness of personal allusion, which gave zest to the comedies of Aristophanes. Yes? Tue IntettectuaL Youno Lapy: inflection.) ‘THE NENT AUTHOR : Here we have also the license and the liberty which lent variety and vigor to the Italian commedie dell’ arte, to which Moliere was greatly indebted. Tue Intettectuat Youxo Lapy: inflection.) “THe EMINENT AUTHOR: Here we have a cleanly and humorous form of the Naturalism which M. Zola has prated about. THe INTELLECTUAL Youn Lapy (tating another candy) ; It’s all very funny, of course, and everybody else seems to be laughing, but I confess I think I like Salvini better. (with @ rising Yes? (with a@ rising ACT IIL. Scene: Washington Market on Saturday* Night. Five performers parade as the Salvation Army, Barracks No. 9, aided by Mr. John Wild, who accompanies them. They sing a song, ** The Saivation Army, O!” aided by Mr. John Wild, who accom- companies them ona big bass drum. The audience applaud wildly, and the song Is extended indefinitely. A company of off-colored genticmen rade as the Charleston Blues, with Mr. John Wild as the captain, They sing a song, ‘The Charleston Blues.” The audience applaud ildly and the song is extended indefinitely. Mrs. McSorley and Miss McKeon renew their altercation and exchange many sharp questions and blunt answers. Mr, McSorley has a discussion with a bruiser and comes in much bruised. Mrs. McSorley rushes around to avenge him, and there is a general scrimmage and the curtain falls on a scene of humorous and tumultuous confusion. AFTER THE PLAY. IN THE LOBBY, ENQUIRING YOUNG MAN: Have you amused yourself ? His FRienp ; I never laughed so much in my life. Enquirinc Younc Man: Neither did I. Yet this play is not a play, for it has no story, no plot, no love interest, and indeed no comic situations, Hits Frienp: But, my sides are sore with laughter, Enquirixc Youxc MAN: So are mine. The theatre was filled and nearly everybody was amused. I hear of people going four or five times. "No, there is nothing in this play to. appeal to women—who have no senseof humor. There is nothing in it to appeal to men who admire pretty women—who area large section of mankind. Why, then, does it succeed, His FRIEND : Because it is funny, very funny, and because it is mar- vellously well acted. ARTHUR Penn. comicbooks.com