Life — May 10, 1883 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

Souk IMPORTER, . + we et Mr, Lester Wallack. Mr. Wallack’s Company of Imported Cockney Comedians will Appear in “THE CAPE SNOWBALL,” BY CLEMENT SCOTT anp SYDNEY GRUNDY. THE CAPE MAIL, AN. entirely new petite comedy, in one act, by Clement Scott, Esq., recently played at the Haymarket Theatre, London (Ontario), with great success ; this is what the programme kindly calls it. This is what the English manager thinks about it. What the American critic thinks about it may be expressed more briefly: It is sickly and hyper-sentimental rubbish, full of machine-made pathos and patent leather emotion, Miss Measor acts well. So does Mr. Kelcey. So does Mr. Flockton. So does not Miss Coghlan. AFTER THE “‘CAPE MAIL."” A GENTLEMAN (f0 the Lady who sits next to him): Is this the “ Cape Mail,” or is it the * Liar?” Tue Lapy: Why do you ask ? THe GENTLEMAN : Because everybody in the play lies, except the old woman, and she is blind, and, therefore, does not dare tell a lie for fear she could not see her vey out of it. Tue Lavy: They do all prevaricate a little. THE GENTLEMAN: A little? They all lie like a war-map ! THE SNOWBALL, ACT I. This is a farcical comedy, and so the lying begun in the one-act play is continued in the three-act. The imported Mr. Tearle lies ; the imported Miss Rose Coghlan lies; the imported Mr. Buckstone lies; Miss Marion Booth lies; Miss Efhe Germon lies. And Mr. John Gilbert believes the imported Mr. Osmond Tearle to be lying when for once, and for a wonder, he is telling the truth. BETWEEN ACTS I. AND II, An INQUIRING PERSON: The ‘Cape Mail" is an imported English comedy, by Mr. Clement Scott, is it not? His Frienp: Yes. : Tue INQuiRING Person: But it is an adaptation of the French * Jeanne qui pleure et Jeanne qui rit,” is it not? His Frienp: Yes. Tue InquirinG Person: Then why does Mr. Wallack an- nounce it as this man Scott's ? His FRIEND (seeing a chance for a merry jest): but perhaps he hopes to get off Scot free. Pre Inguiring Person goes out to see. a man.) It is wrong ; *ACT ITI. This is still a farcical comedy and so the lying continues, The imported Mr. Osmond Tearle, the imported Miss Rose Coghlan, the Imported Mr. Buckstone, Miss Marion Booth, Miss Effe Germon continued to lie, and Mr. John Gilbert still believes - LIFE: that the imported Mr. Osmond Tearle is lying when he hap; by chance to be tellin; Coghlan arrays herself in an imported English dressing-gown 227 ns the truth. The imported Miss Rose which sends cold chills down the back of every American woman who sees it. BETWE) ACTS II. anv III. An Enquirinc Person: The ‘‘ Snowball” is an imported English comedy by Mr. Sydney Grundy, is it not? its FRIEND: Yes. Tue Enquirinc Person: But it is an adaptation of the French Play scar; ou, un Mari qui troupe sa femme,” by M. Eugéne Scribe, is it not ? Is FRIEND: Yes. Tue ENnqQuirinc Person: Then why does Mr. Wallack an- nounce it as the work of this man Grundy? His FRIEND (seeing @ chance for a merry jest): It is wrong, but perhaps he does not care what Mrs. Grundy says. Erie Inquiring Person goes out to seea man.) ACT III. This is still a farcical comedy, but as the Imported Mr.Osmond Tearle takes occasion for once to tell the Imported Miss Rose Coghlan the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, of course the play comes to an abrupt end, The best acting in it is done by Mr. John Gilbert and Miss Effie Germon. AFTER THE PLAY, As Otp Lapy FRoM THE CouNTRY (putting on her cloak): La, me. I don’t go to the theayter more’n once in four or five year, an’ when I do, I do like to see a play with some gumption into it. Her City Cousin: Didn't you like the plays to-night ? Tue OLp Lapy FRoM THE CounTRY (sloriny away in her reticule the candies remaining in the package bought by the City Cousin): La, me! I suppose them shows is all alike. They're big on promisin’ an’ mighty slim in performin’. They call it the “Cape Mail,” and there ain’t no cloaks and no post-office in the hull drayma, They call it the ‘‘ Snowball,” and there ain’t no snow nor no sleighin’ in it: leastwise I didn’t see none. Her City Cousin: But, Aunty, you see— THE OLp Lapy FRoM THE CouNTRY (interrupting): An'I don’t see no sense in havin’ two names to one play, anyhow, But, then, play-actors are allus so queer and contrary-like. Though why that young woman took on so powerful when she allowed her husband was dead, should set out to play tricks on him as soon as he was back from the war, I don’t see, no how. That lets me out completely. ARTHUR Penn, A HANDSOME young fellow named Bunny Was sadly in need of some money; His heart and his hand Went in barter for “sand” To a lady whose figure was funny.