Life, 1883-04-19 · page 11 of 16
Life — April 19, 1883 — page 11: what you’re looking at
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# Life Magazine Theatrical Satire (page 189) This page satirizes contemporary theater through a dialogue between two characters—Mr. White and Mr. Black—who discuss recent Broadway productions. The main joke is that these elaborate Russian-themed operas and plays (like "The Russian Honeymoon" and "L'Étoile du Nord," featuring the famous soprano Adelina Patti) are dramatically overwrought and nonsensical. The satire peaks in Act III, where Mr. Black ridicules the illogical plot device: Peter the Great's flute-playing drives Mme. Patti's character insane, then—implausibly—the same flute-playing restores her sanity. The humor mocks the absurdity of grand opera conventions. The final Acts add topical jabs: references to "Nihilists" and "Dynamite" allude to contemporary Russian anarchist violence, while a crack about the "Baby Elephant" reminded him of "American Art" suggests Gilded Age excess and patronage. The cartoon (right) shows theater-goers outside a venue, illustrating the theatrical world being discussed.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MaApDISsON SQUARE ACADEMY OF Music. HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE CO. J. H.Marteson, - - = = = Field-Marshal Commanding. Marsuat Matuory, D.D., - - = = = = - Chaplain. LWETOILE DU NORD; or, : A Russian HONEYMOON. (By Eugéne Scribe.) Music Adapted from Meyerbeer by Mrs. Burton N. Harrison. ACT I, R. Wire: Have you been to the theatre lately ? Mr. Buack: Yes, : Where? Monday, I went to see the “ Russian Honeymoon.” Did you like it? No, "As Shakspeare says : “ Tobin or not Tobin.”* Is it well acted ? Mr. Buack: Yes. Mx. Wire: Tell me about it? Mr. Buack: Miss Ada Dyas appears as Lady Charles Coldstream. And she acts excellently. Mr. Wutre : Proceed.” Mr. Brack : Mr. Max Freeman appears as the Waiter, from “ Divorcons.”” Mr. Witte: Proceed. Mr. Buack : Mrs. Booth appeared as the Star of the North. And she acts excellently. ‘Mr, Ware? Did you go to see “ Brighton,” at the Union Square Theatre? Mr. Biack: NotI, I had seen Bryton at the Madison Square Theatre (with a groan), and that was enough! (With another groan).—That was too much ! ACT Il. Mr. Waite : Have you been anywhere else lately ? Mr. Buack: Yes. Mr. Wurte: Where? . Mr. Buack: Wednesday, I went to see “All on a Summer's Day ; or, The Queen of Hearts.” . Mr. Wurte: Did you like it? Mr. Brack: idid. It isa clever operetta. Mr. Waite: Who wrote it? Mr. Buack: Mr H. G. Paine. Mr. Wuire: Who composed it? Mr. Buack: Mr. R. H. Warren. Mr. Waite (meditating, am@é at last giving utterance to this profound sentiment); Did itever strike you that he must be a rabbit-Warren if he is so full of lively Hares—as a Cockney would say ? Mr. BLack (recovering his presence of mind): It has struck me that a play dealing with the purloining of pastry, might fairly be called a ‘Tart play. ~ ACT III. Mr. Wute : Have you been anywhere else, lately ? Mr. 3 Yes. Mr. Where? Mr. Friday 1 went to hear Patti in ** L’Etoile du Nord.” Mr. Did youlike it? Mr. Brack: 1 liked her as Poleska, I did not like Mademoiselle Ditto who assisted in the execution, Mr. Wuite: Proceed, . Mr. Brack: None of these Russian plays have the proper local color. In the ‘Russian Honeymoon,” there isa military procession. In the ‘Star of the North,” there are several military processions and a coronation, But there are no Nihilists, no Dynamite, no Explosions—except when Mme, Patti and Mrs. Booth blow up their respective spouses. Mr. Waite: Proceed. Mr. Brack: In the first act Peter the Great plays on the flute! Mr. Wittre : Perhaps this was the fatal cause of the Nihilist conspiracy ? Mr. Brack: In the last act Mme, Patti is out of her mind, and so Peter plays on the flute again, and restores her to reason ! 189 Mr. Warr: Dearme ! Mr, Biack : Now, this is a therapeutic power of music hitherto unsus- ted, This is Something New! It is comprehensible that playing on the lute should make anybody mad— Mr. Wuire: It is, indeed. Mr. Brack : But that the simple melody of the lute, even when evoked by the august breath of the Czar of all the Russians, should restore to reason, this passes all comprehension. Mr. Waite: It does, indeed. ACT IV. Mr. Wire: Have you been anywhere else ? Mr. Brack: Yes. Where? Saturday I went to the Circus? Did you see the girl with the Iron Jaw? : I did—and she reminded me of the heroine of the ‘* Honey- : Did you see the Baby Elephant ? : I did—and it reminded me of American Art. Why? Because it was perfectly able to take care of itself, and yet a rsisted in hovering about it. jumbo? id—and she reminded me of Mrs. Langtry. Mx. Witte: Why? Mr. Back: Because they were both imported from England at great ex- pense, Because there was a great deal of talk about them and not a little scandal. Because they are both Big Things. And most especially because they are the only members of their respective companies who cannot act. ARTHUR PENN. ‘4 Tae rian = (i! i \ i Jovial Old Gent: Hurro! Snartey, HOW ARE YOU GETTING ON? Snarley (who suffers terribly from dyspepsia): 1 am GETTING OFF. comicbooks.com