Life, 1911-01-26 · page 30 of 44
Life — January 26, 1911 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a theatrical advertisement for a satirical play debuting April 1, 1911, at the Paragon Theatre. Arthur Guiterman's "The Goose: An Heroic Birdologue" uses anthropomorphic birds to lampoon political instability and succession crises. The plot depicts a power struggle following the death of King Aquila (the eagle—likely representing established authority). A widowed Queen faces conspirators including an Ostrich, Apteryx, and Auk plotting her overthrow and murder. The Goose—a humble court scribe—discovers and opposes this conspiracy. The satirical point appears to be commentary on political upheaval and the unexpected heroism of ordinary citizens. The all-star cast (George M. Cohan, William Gillette, John Drew, Maude Adams) advertises prestige. The "fifteen consecutive postponements" likely references real theatrical delays, adding humorous meta-commentary about the production itself.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
oh este THE PARAGON THEATRE APRIL 1, 1911 After fifteen consecutive post ponements that have raised the expectations of the public to the highest pitch; POTASH & PERLMUTTER Will positively present, for the first time on any stage, that marvel of modern dramatic art, THE GOOSE An Heroic Birdologue in One Flight and a Hop By ARTHUR GUITERMAN WITH THE FOLLOWING ALL-STAR CAST: Ghost of Aquila the Eagle, Late King of Birdland........Mr. George M. Cohan MEMBERS OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF BIRDLAND? seeeeees Mr. William Gillette Mr. Henry Miller 222 Flamingo. Cockatoo......++ The Faithful Goose. ir, John Drew seeeseeeeeeMiss Maude Adams CONSPIRATORS AGAINST THE THRONE OF BIRDLAND: Ostrich... fuk... Apteryx. we Adjutant Crane, Commanding Stork, the Royal Nurse. The Royal Egg. irdland National ...Mr. James K. Hackett Mr. William Faversham oe ...Mr. Edward H. Sothern uard...Mr. De Wolf Hopper Madame Schumann-Heink .Mr, Eddie Foy Conspirators, Councillors, Citizens, Guardsmen and Attendants (by kind con- sent for this occasion only) : Bird S. Coler, William Jay, Charles H. Swan, Wells Hawkes, William _Ord- way Partridge, Charles Felton Pidgin, Rufus H. Herron, Alexander W. Drake, William A. Quayle, Gen, Charles Bird, William H. Crane, Dr, Felix Adler, Dr. Silas C. Swallow, Edward Sandford Martin, Samuel Swift, Kenyon Cox, Bever- ley Robinson, Jessica G. Finch, Virginia Tatnall Peacock and the Wright Broth- ers. Orchestra under the Leadership of Mr. Bashful Newscholar, Tickets or ALL Srecucators. Scene: An open space anywhere in Birdland. A large rock, Center, on which stands the Ostrich in an attitude of deep thought. OstricH : From barren lands, From torrid sands, From deserts bare and lone, With visage glum In stealth T come To plot against the Throne. The widowed Queen, Of haughty mien, Disdains to be muh bride! But, hush! who's here? No friend, I fear; 'Twere best, methinks, to hide! (Sticks his head into a hole in the sand, R., and remains concealed. En- ter, Center, Cockatoo, Owl and Flam- ingo, busily talking, followed by the Goose, clad in the sober garb of a scrivener, making notes on a tablet with her bill.) Cockatoo: Three days have passed since Aquila, the boast Of Birdland, yielded up his kingly ghost; And lo! what wild dissensions move the realm! FLAMINGO: Our Queen is good and fair; but sure, the helm Demands a firmer claw. Owt: Three days are fled, And still Her Royal Highness wil! not wed. FLAMINGO And while our hearts are food for dull Despair, Rebellion thrives—for Birdland lacks an heir. Owt: Come, worthy friends, the Council meets at one, In high debate on what must needs be done. (Exit Cockatoo, Owl and Flamingo, Center, leaving Goose alone.) Goose: They go. Behind this rock I'll take my stand To watch. I feel some danger close at hand. (She conceals herself. Ostrich cau- tiously raises his head and after peer- ing about calls first R. then L, Enter Auk and Apteryx.) AUK: The plot is all prepared, The Council's badly scared. ApTERYX: With fifty cents apiece, I've bribed the State Police. Ostricu: When all is done, I mean To guillotine the Queen! APTERYX = You'll make her, on my word, The Shorter, Uglier Bird. Ostricu: I go to stir the Fickle Mob’s unrest. (Exit, R.) Auk: I go to learn who guards the Regal Nest. (Exit, L.) APTERYX And T will haste away to Hebron’s vale, For salt to put upon the Royal Tail. (As he goes, Center, the Goose emerges and confronts him.) Goose: Thy crime is known! fly! APTERYX = Ha! meddling fool, prepare to die! (They fight. Apteryx is slain.) Goose: One foe the less! Yet much remains Think not to to_do (Concluded on page 231) comicbooks.com