Life — March 22, 1883 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

| | | | ~ DALY’S THEATRE. SoLe ADAPTER, Mr. Aucustin Daty. Now on exhibition every evening a comedy called 73 4-11-44, or “CASTING THE DICE!” Adapted and augmented from the German of Schou- thau by Mr. AuGustin Daty. ACT I, IN THE HOUSE OF MR. BaRciss IN THE COUNTRY. Mr. Bargiss is married to Mrs. Gilbert, and yet in his youth, when he was in love and engaged to her, the young man’s fancy lightly turned to thoughts of verse, and Mr. Bargiss became, a Spring-Poet. Since then he has become the husband of Mrs. Gilbert and the father of Miss Rehan and Miss Dreher. Miss Rehan has been painted in a picture with her Dog. Lord Lawn- Tennis, a British nobleman, sends Signor Tamborini to find out whose picture it is. Mrs. Bargiss gets Mr. Lewis's poems printed ina magazine. And if this seems a slight first act fora play, blame the German gentleman who wrote it. BETWEEN THE ACTS, First Cross OLp Man: Don't like Dutch plays, do you? SEcoND Cross OLD MAN (gruffy): No! First Cross O1p M I find that Dutch plays are like Dutch cheeses and Dutch women—rather heavy! Don’t you? Seconv Cross OLD MAN ( grufly): No! First Cross OLp MAN: Let's go out and take a nip of Dutch courage, will you? SECOND Cross OLD MAN (grufily): Yes! ACT II. IN THE HOUSE OF MR. BARGISS IN THE COUNTRY, A Professor just translated from some German Dickens is hun- ry. Mr. John Drew isin love with Miss Rehan (—and no won- ier ; she is as pretty asa picture!). Mr. John Drew gets rid of Signor Tamborini, and gets Miss Dreher’s husband ready to go to New York, and gets Miss Rehan quite cross ; and, in fact, things get mixed up generally. If this seems a slight second act for a play, blame the German gentleman who wrote it. BETWEEN THE ACTS. Ay OLD New Yorke! hat young man, Gilbert, is very good as Signor Tamborini, isn’t he? An OLDER New Yorker: Yes, he’s not at all bad, but you should have seen Walcot or Brougham play a part like that! Tue Orv New Yorker: Do you remember the one night down at the old Fifth Avenue, when Mrs. Gilbert appeared as the /nfant Phenomenon, and danced a pas seul? > LIFE: 143 Tue OLDER New Yorker: Yes, she wasn’t at all bad, but you should have seen it down at Mitchell's old Olympic, when Henry Russell played the Savage and Mary Taylor acted the Maiden! THe OLp New Yorker (a/tera pause); Don't you think that Daly has a remarkably clever comedy company ? ‘Tue Ocper New Yorker: Yes, it isn't at all bad, but you should have seen the company at the old Park Theatre ! THE OLp New YorKER changes his seat in silent disgust. THe OLDER NEW YoRKER, overcome with memories of the past, goes to sleep, and dreams of George Frederick Cooke. ACT III. IN THE HOUSE OF MR. Barciss IN New York, Everybody has come to the city, and everything is going wrong. Mrs. Gilbert finds out that Mr. Lewis isa Bad Man. Miss Re- han quarrels with Mr. Drew. Signor Tamborini dances, while the Pretty Chambermaid sings. Then unmerciful disaster follows fast and follows faster, and complications most exquisitely comi- cal and intricately and everlastingly humorous ensue, which need not be recounted, since they must be Scen to be Appreciated. If this third act is one of the brightest, most brilliant, and altogether most laughable act ever seen on a New York stage, praise the American adapter, who has not spared his own easy wit, his faculty of comic invention, and his extraordinary gifts of getting the utmost of effect out of a trifle. BETWEEN THE ACTS, First Dupe (/anguidly): Rather fun, don’t you think ? Seconp Dupe (anguidly): Rather. Is that Pussy Smith in the box over there? First Dupe (/anguidly): Rehan's rather pretty, don’t you think? Seconp Dupe (/anguidly): Rather (relapses into silence), A STILL SMALL VOICE FROM THE GALLERY : Oh, get on to the gillies with the a paper collars ! Both Dupes faint with horror, and are taken home to their Ma. ACT IV, IN THE HOUSE OF MR. Barciss Iv New York. Mr. Stephens has made up with Miss Dreher. Mrs. Gilbert makes up with Mr. Lewis. Miss Rehan has made up with Mr, Drew. Signor Tamborini brings a telegram from Lord Lawn- Tennis, offering to buy the Dog in the picture. Everybody is happy. Bless you, my children! If this play is one of the most amusing performances to be seen in this city for many a long day, divide your praise equally between the adapter, who made a bright American comedy out of a dull German farce, and the manager who has chosen and trained a very clever company. AFTER THE PLAY, A Literary GENTLEMAN: Mr. Daly might have called the comedy “ Mother Hubbard.” A Lrrerary Lapy: Or ‘‘ Love me, love my dog.” A Literary GENTLEMAN: It reminds me of the International Novelist's last study of womankind, the “ Portrait of a Lady.” A Literary Laby: Remembering Lord Lawn-Tennis, it re- minds me of one of his earlier sketches, * An International Epi- sode.’ A LiTerary GENTLEMAN : But this is funnier! A Literary Lapy: It is! 0, it is! ARTHUR PENN, ADAPTED, I hold that his deserts are small Who, even when his heart is sore, Would not have rather loved a score, Than never to have—etc., etc. comicbooks.com