Life — September 29, 1898 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

APOLEON had rather a strongly marked face, Mr. Francis Wilson's resembles it slightly. This is tho basis of a comic opera produced last week at tho Broadway Theatro, under the title poral.” The words PSR “comic opera” are used. =- advisedly. Tho pleco is both an opera and comic, in which it differs largely from many others which have been produced under the same appellation, Mr. Wilson, for the first time in quite a long while, is comic, and Mr, Englander’a music is attenuated opera. This apparently faint praise means a great deal. Comic opera 1s ‘an expression which has been used wrongly 80 often that it has almost failed to have any meaning atall. ‘Tho Little Corporal” {s really @ comic opera, well sung, well pro- duced, well acted, and quite well worth seeing and hearing. Without invading the province of tho muste halls, Mr. Wilson might easily in- crease his resemblance to the great man, and thereby lend an added interest to his performance, The voices of the company are good, and, among thom, that of Mr. O'Sullivan deserves special mention. Miss Glaser, both in singing and bearing, has improved, Sho is very easily superior to the rest of the female cast and the chorus, in which latter thero is room for improve- ment in looks and voice. “The Little Corporal” ts well prepared, well presented, and deserves well of the . 8 . R, CHARLES HOYT'S latest addition to cocktail comedy is ontitled “A Day and a Night in New York,” and varies only slightly in char- acter and amusing qualities from his tther pieces, which, by bis own often and pub- lily expressed confession, aro written only to amuse, and not to elevate, “oe . wee HE Horald Squaro Theatro is 3 ahouse that has seen many vicis. situdes in its long careor under various names, but at last seems tohave struck tho gait of prosper- ity, and has achieved an individuality en- «LTP E™ tirely its own, “The French Maid,” which now holds its boards, is one of its standard successes, and a fair sample of its pecu- liarly humorous class of productions. . ° * PLAY which Lirgcom mended last season “The Royal Box,” {8 at the Fifth Avenue Theatro again, with its cast strengthened by tho addition of dainty Katherino Grey, It {s rather diverting to hear its author and the player of the principal part, Mr. Charles Coghlan (who, by the way, is one of the best actors now before the public), hold forth in a long stage speech condemning the manners and morals of the stage, Ho wrote tho lines himself, and they fairly out-Cloment Cloment Scott. In this matter your actor {8 a good deal like tho Irishman and his wife. He may abuso her to his heart's con- tent, but heaven help anyone elso who lays @ hand on her. Clement Scott heartily wishes ho hadn't. . . . HERE is a now Lilliputian in town, Bho is the smallest of them all, and dainty as a French doll, Her blue-eyed, baby face, for sheer prettiness, {8 far and away ahead of the older members of the company. Thoy have a new vehicle for the display of their cleverness, called “The Golden Horse- shoe,” & concoction containing some good songs and one or two very gorgeous and effective ballots, Tho entertainment given by these clever little people is entirely unique, and, far from being a freak show, has considerable truly artistic morit. * . * RB, CHARLES FROHMAN, whose name is simply a trade- mark for the Theatrical Trust, shows even & greater amount of effrontery than usual in a sort of supplement given away with the regular programme at the Madi- 80n Square Theatro, It 18 a reproduction of the programme of the first performanco at that theatre when it was under tho management of the late and lamented artist, Steele Mackaye. It seems almost a pro- fanation for the slimy Trust thus to exult over the acquisition of what was onco a true temple of dramatic art. But tho Trust has no more taste than conscience, Metcalfe, The Reason. HE: And you say he isa very emi- nent writer, Why, be has short hair! He: Yes. He's a short story writer. ss HAT is the difference between a donkey’s tail and Hopkins?” Give it up.” “A donkey's tail is the end of an ass, but Hopkins is no end of an ass.” nil Mi We Abhi “NAVAL RESERVE.”