Life — May 31, 1894 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

A NEW DEVELOPMENT. HERE is no doubt that New York likes its * variety show ” better than any other form of stage perform- ance. Call it what you like, ‘ vaudeville,” “ farce comedy,” “extravaganza” or “ burlesque,” if only the variety features are there in profusion it will draw and make money while high art goes beg- \ ging. : “ The Passing Show,” at the Casino, "4 fe isa new development of this form of entertainment, and seems to have caught the simple-hearted and laughter-secking New Yorker with a deadly grip. “The Passing Show” defies definition in any conventional terms, It hasn't even the sem- blance of a plot. It is neither play, opera nor burlesque. It is simply a rapidly passing jumble of light, form, color, motion, music and talk, no part hinging “ on any other, and all designed A simply to hold the spectator’s attention and keep him mildly amused, Throughout there is a %, tendency to burlesque contempo- “ tary productions at .other New York theatres, but except in the case of ‘ Mr. Paul Arthur's excellent imitation of Mr. Henry Miller’s Bradazon in “ The Sowing of the Wind,” the tendency does not proceed much further than the simi- larity of the names in the programme. Otherwise the whole piece is simply an excuse to bring in a catchy song, a familiar air,a clever line, a graceful dance, a shapely woman, in short, anything that will catch the momentary fancy cf the light-minded citizen of the metropolis. New York is loyal to her stage favorites, and the manage- ment of the Casino has evidently engaged the company with that fact well in mind. The names in the cast are all well known, including such stand-bys as Jefferson de Angelis, Adele Ritchie, Grace Filkins, Queenie Vassar and Mabel Stephenson. In some cases the familiarity of the names takes the place of any novelty of matter or manner, but as a whole the show goes on with such a swing and dash that there is not much opportunity to notice individual defects. ‘LIFE: To lament the tendency of a public may be quite the conscientious labor of a critic, but it’s a good deal like the attitude of the well-meaning antediluvian who protested against the incursions of the pre-historic flood. He may hold up his hands against the rising waters, but all the same he would better learn how to swim, LiFe’s critic has to take a good many swimming lessons in the course of his duties, But it remains doubtful that he will become a skilful navi- gator against the floods of poor,amusement that rise around him, For the many New York people who like such an enter- tainment as “The Passing Show” it is just such an entertainment as they will like, and the result will doubtless be that it will hold the Casino stage all through the summer. ae Metcalfe. REASON ENOUGH. IMPLE: Why is it that Mrs. Bulfinch and Mrs. Gray- neck hate each other so ? SAGE: They're both women. IT TOOK HIS BREATH. RS. HENPECK: Now, suppose I should die. Mr. HENPECK: Good heavens! Is there any doubt about it? “YOU ARE A LIAR, SIR, AN “AM 1? THEN WHAT ARE YOU GETTING MAD AnOUT?” comicbooks.com