Life — February 8, 1883 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

SOD SP) OES New HE SILVER KING is a melodrama, with a motive and one strong situation, and about all that can be said in its favor is that the motive is not solely the exhibition of novel scenic effects, and that the situation does not depend for its success on stage carpentry and elaborate mechanism, For the authors seem to have been so delighted with their one situation as to be willing to fill up the rest of the play with commonplace dialogue and trivial expedients, Fortunately for the play, it is in strong hands. Tearle, whatever captious critics may say, acts with force and judgment, although badly handicapped by the low comedy part in the fourth act. Rose Coghlan always enlists the sympathics of the audience, Gilbert met with an ovation on the first night, and so did the scene painter, SERGE PANINE did not pan out to the eminent satisfaction of Mr. Daly and has already been takenoff. Mr. Serge Panine is a young gentleman, who dares to stand up against his mother-in- law, and gets shot in the last act. The only wonder is that it didn’t kill him before. He also does other things that are not nice; gambles away his wife’s fortune, makes love to his friend’s wife, and engages in vast swindling schemes, And this sinister, cynical, penny-dreadful part was given to John Drew, a clever young actor, who struggled hard with his lines, but failed todraw. With such erratic ideas of casting his company, it’s a wonder Mr. Daly has not foundered long ago. THE Wisdom of Solomon, the efforts of Stephen, the com- bined exertions of the Cast, and the energy of McCaull, have all failed to work up a success for VIRGINIA, which is already begin- ning to pall on the bijou audiences that find themselves nightly in the Bijou Opera House. Annte Pixtey has been rollicking through two weeks of ‘* M'liss,” at the Grand Opera House, and on Monday débuted in a new play, “Zara.” Zara turns out to be M'liss, with a change of scene and costume. There is no particular reason why one play should not be as successful as the other. “THE Queen’s Lack HANDKERCHIEF” still waves at the Casino, On Friday a souvenir of a lace handkerchief was given to each lady, to celebrate the tooth performance of the opera— not consecutive, nor in New York, however. THERE is a promise of much music not down in the score, when McCaull, at the Bijou, and Duff, at the Standard, bring out their tival version of ‘‘ Heart and Hand.” As Carleton, Duff's prize plum, comes to the Bijou, it looks as if the latter would have to sing for his baritone. POINTDEXTER NIBBS, SuGGEsTED solution of the boating difficulties be- tween Harvard and Yale:—A modified form of trial by combat, viz.: that eight men from each college row a boat race. James ALBERT Aponis VAN SLIM Loved Sappho Jerusha McKim ; He rushed to repeat At his fair idol’s feet The thoughts she inspired in him. But he told his affection so ill, That she thought he had come with a bill. He took her by surprise, She took him ‘twixt the eyes— He'll return when the days are less chill. HE death of Gustave Doré reminds us of a’story that we once heard. It may not be true,—but truth is the last thing we demand in stories. Indeed, as a young woman, aged four, endeavored to explain to us the other day, to speak of a true story is to con- tradict yourself in terms. A clever American was at a great public dinner in London. Next to him sat a small Frenchman, who chatted away with true Gallic vivacity. Towards the end of the evening, the conversation turned upon Wil- liam Blake, whom the American admired to a degree which the Frenchman thought excessive. A flood of minute criticism poured out then ; and at last came the grand climax—“£nfin, Monsieur, c'dtait un Doré man- gué.”” Having delivered himself of this opinion, the Frenchman arose and bowed, and went out of the room. “Who was my friend ?” asked the American of his remaining neighbors. “Gustave Doré,” was the answer, comicbooks.com