Life — June 3, 1897 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

-> LIFE: A ROUND OF PLEASURE. (Without acknowledgments to Lire.) T? take things from Lire without ac- knowledgment isn’t bur- glary, because the ele- ment of forcible entry islacking. Technically, it is probably grand lar- } ceny combined with sneak-thieving, But Lirt is getting used to it, Writers for the comic stage who are afflicted with brain- fag have so often helped themselves from its columns, that Lire is getting to be like the eel who didn’t mind being skinned, | Theauthor of “A Round of Pleasure,” at the Knicker- | bocker Theatre, has not only availed himself of this jour- nal's_ letter - press, but has also taken one of its double- page illustrations, and of it made one of the most effec- tive settings of the piece. He makes no acknowledg- ment, which leads Lire to admire him more for his taste than for his integ- rity or courtesy. “A Round of Pleasure” is one of those queer combinations which are supposed to please people in summer. It contains a vague idea concerning an inventor who has discovered something which makes people act out their real motives, instead of those they Tascnane amoeavon ~ affect. This result is brought around by luminous wafers which he casts about, and which most of the audience, who have not been taken into the confidence of the plot, imagine to be sparks dropping from arc lights somewhere in the flies. But in entertainments of this nature no plot is necessary, and the audience never misses this one. The essentials are bright music, scenic effects, some fun, and a number of young women with more com- plexion than clothing. The music in this case is by Mr. Ludwig Englander, who has done far better things. It is of the kind that Du Maurier says no one ever forgot and no one ever remembered. The scenic effects are good, especially the one taken from Lirr, and the gorgeous ballroom in the last act. The fun is not much nor often. Most of it is furnished by two imita- tions of Weber and Fields. The dirtiness of some of their speeches should cause their forcible ejection from the stage. But the young women! They are numerous and of exceeding comeliness. Their costumes are made of the richest materials. This is not as extravagant as it appears, for what the costumes make up in quality they lack in quantity. In this gay coterie a yard-and-a-half remnant furnishes quite a number of complete suits, with something left over for crazy quilts. The dancings and groupings are very effective. Most of the people in the cast are unknown to fame, and are likely to remain so. Mr. Walter Jones, of ‘* 1492" memory, and Mr. Jerome Sykes, will be recog- nized, but only because of their past performances, for this piece provides nothing for their abilities. “A Round of Pleasure” is handsomer than other productions of the same kind and has lots of ‘‘ go" to it. It is neither very funny nor very musical, and if it is to remain for the summer its promoters must take advan- tage of some of the large room for improvement it contains. Metcalfe. OME people have their hands full without attending to their own affairs. HE Tree Planting Association wants to have trees planted along the residence streets in New York, and for a beginning they would like to see the Fifth avenue lined with suitable trees from Washington Square to the Park. Lire doubts whether trees could be made to prosper on Fifth avenue, but it would like mightily to see the experiment tried. If it succeeds the movement will spread, to the great advantage of the city. IRST ANTIQUARIAN: Ah! This manuscript proves that Nero was a more atrocious monster than is generally supposed. SECOND ANTIQUARIAN: Indeed? “Yes. We all know that he fiddled while Rome was burning, but here is incontestable evidence that he played a number of popular airs.”