Life, 1891-11-05 · page 12 of 18
Life — November 5, 1891 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Amusements Page - Content Explanation This page contains theater reviews and satirical dialogue from an American satirical magazine (Life). The main cartoons mock theatrical pretension: **"London Punch Did It"** shows a lord unable to explain why something was funny—he assumed there was a pun but realizes there wasn't one. The joke satirizes upper-class audiences who laugh at performances without understanding them, blindly following social cues. **"Before the Rehearsal"** depicts an actress (Miss Plumpleigh) complaining her part lacks scope to show off her talents. The director (Mr. Heavyplay) sarcastically reminds her that introducing a ballet into a church entertainment would be "highly improper"—mocking actors' vanity and their tendency to prioritize showy performances over appropriateness. The text reviews new American plays and discusses Madison Square Garden's upcoming shows, including Horse and Chrysanthemum exhibitions. A final jab notes Horse Show attendees aren't necessarily horse enthusiasts—they attend to be *seen* attending, satirizing status-conscious social climbing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
264 AMUSEMENTS, L" E. greets with pleasure the advent of anew American dramatic author, In‘ Lettar- blair, eum Theatre, Miss Marguerite Meri re qualities of which was recently given a trial performance at the L displayed some brilliant qualities, and which there is at present, at least among American writers for the deficiency. tage, a lamentable The chief characteristics of Miss Merington’s play are b cacy of touch that sektom accompanies the Chis particular play is by no means faultless, but its ant, interesting dialogue, human interest, and a d corresponding masculi faults seem to be those ILL NYE’S play, ‘The Cadi,” has been completely remodelled with the effect of giving that gentleman's humor a more diversified background, or rather supplying a background thoroughly entertaining. where there was none before, The performance is now LONDON PUNCH OID IT. His Lordship: AW—V SAV—WUAT WAS THE PUN WE WERE ALL LAUGHING AT—A BIT BEFORE WE STARTED ? Miss Way, 1T WAGN'T A pun! His Lordship: No? Weary, Just Fawyey! Aw—How can you tell it's a joke if there's no pun ? now. ANb—\w—now— BEFORE THE REHEARSAL. Miss Plumpleigh : MY PART. Mr. Heavye.ay, 1 pon'T Like If DOESS’T GIVE ME SUF TO DISPLAY MY BEST POINTS. Mr. Heavyplay (testilyy: Miss Puumpteton, Tam AWARE OF THAT, BUT YOU SHOULD REMEMBER THAT IT WOULD DE HIGHLY IMPROPER TO INTRODUCE A BALLET AT A CHURCH ENTERTAINMEXT OF THIS KIND, NEW YORKERS are beginning to realze what a magnificent gathering place for their various festivi- ties they possess in the Madison Square Garden. The recently well-conducted bicycle races showed that the amphitheatre can hold tremendous crowds, and yet give cach spectator a comfortable seat and an excellent view of the arena. « * * THE Chrysanthemum Show and Horse Show are the next events at the Garden, and will test its capaci- ies in a different way. Flower shows are bound to become more frequent and fashionable, and the Chry- santhemum Show will be the largest exhibition of the kind ever given in this country. * . . HE. Horse Show has already made a reputation for itself, and the people who patronize it, day and evening, are not only those who like horses and good turn-outs, but the people who like other people to think they like such things. That settles it, comicbooks.com