Life, 1899-09-28 · page 13 of 20
Life — September 28, 1899 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page reviews theatrical productions featuring prominent actors John Drew and Sol Smith Russell. The satirical element appears in the caption's subtitle, which claims Life is making "predictions" based on "Bara's example"—likely referencing Theda Bara, a silent-film actress known for sexually provocative "vamp" roles. The two illustrated figures represent these actors in their current roles. The accompanying dialogue at bottom—"Placing the Blame"—is a short comic sketch where a husband deflects his wife's complaint about never attending decent theater by blaming New York's theatrical landscape at century's end. The satire critiques both the quality of contemporary theater and the social dynamics of theatergoing. The reference to "the Bowery" and "vaudeville" indicates concern that serious theater is degrading toward lower-class entertainment forms, while the husband's deflection suggests marital tension over leisure and culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
John Drew as" Lady Teazte.” AS PROMINENT ACTORS SEEM TO BE Ink Haworth and Miss Filkins ample opportu- nity for that “ strong” acting once so much admired, but fortunately little called for in modern plays outside of the Bowery. Ac- cording to the old standards Mr, Haworth might bean ideal Kafael; accordingto ours he {s over-violent and over-vehement. The rest of the cast is fairly competent, and handles its heavy material with fair suc- cess, The humor arises from the Dutch notion of the Jew and Jowish traits so familiar on our own vaudeville stage. It is impersonated In Aaron, a greedy merchant and father of a daughter whom he wishes to marry off. Ho is portrayed by Mr. Emmett Corrigan, who succeeds admirably without dropping into varlety stage meth- ods, tn spite of what must be great tempta- tion, “Tho Ghetto” 1s certainly interesting. Sol Smith Russetl as Portia? RED BY BARA‘S EXAMPLE, LIFE VENTURES A PEW PREDICTIONS. With pruning and accoleration of action tt might become absorbing. Metcalfe, Placing the Blame. HE: Why is it that you never take me to a decent play? He: Because, my dear, this is the end of the nineteenth century, and we live in New York,