Life, 1892-05-12 · page 10 of 18
Life — May 12, 1892 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis This page contains theater criticism and satirical cartoons from Life magazine's "Drama" section. The main content critiques actress Rosina Vokes's theatrical company, noting she's lost her supporting actors Grosssmith and Thomas, and praising Felix Morris's acting while questioning whether he can fill the gap. The left-side cartoons appear to be generic vaudeville/theater gags titled "Off on a Bust," "Hard Pressed for Time," and "Last but Not Least"—showing comedic situations unrelated to specific political figures. The text discusses the theatrical season's transition and mentions Maurice Barrymore's debut as a librettist in "The Robber of the Rhine" at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. The closing paragraph humorously suggests American theater managers should combine European scouting with seeking "rare birds" like Stanley or Emin Bey, referencing contemporary explorers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WATER TOWER AT WORK. Mr, William Floatstock, of the California Water Drill Mining Co. (who has not heard the alarm of “fire” at the Matterhorn Hotel, New York): GREAT Scorr! Jack, WHAT 1s IT?) Tuteves ? Jack; Get YER GUN, BILL, GET YER GUN! It’s HYDRAULIC BURGLING, ny Jixco! SPRINGTIME, F Miss Rosina Vokes expects to retain the favor of the American public she certainly ought to put some better timber into her supporting company. Since she lost Messrs. Grossmith and Thomas, she has never had any one who adequately filled their places. Mr. Felix Morris is emi- nently painstaking and conscientious, but his art is better suited to the English provinces than to the American metropolis, and lie fails completely to stop the gap caused by the defections from Miss Vokes’s support. The opening bill of her New York engagement included, besides the already familiar ‘‘ Double Lesson,’ a one-act piece by Minnie Mad- dern Fiske, entitled “* The Rose,” and a sketch by H. Beerbohm Tree, “ That Lawyer's Fee.” The former possesses very consider- able merit, but was made to suffer from slow and dreary acting. Not even Miss Vokes's sprightliness was sufficient to make the latter interesting. . . . J N theatricals we are just now between hay and grass. The Winter attractions are rapidly being withdrawn and we have not yet struck into the delirious joys of Summer light opera. The most interesting event in view is Mr. Maurice Barrymore's début as a librettist. The opera is ‘ The Robber of the Rhine,” and is to oper the new Fifth Avenue Theatre. . . . NOTHER indication of the waning season is the annual flitting of American managers to Europe in search of plays for the American stage. We suggest to these gentlemen that next year they combine their traveling expenses in one purse. With the money they might employ Stanley or Emin Bey to fit out an expedition to go in search of that rare bird, the American Dramatist. They “LAST BUT NOT LEAST.” evidently believe, with Mrs. Gamp, that “there ain't no sich person.” Metcalfe. comicbooks.com