The Wasp — 1889 — page 255: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This appears to be a theatre/entertainment news column rather than a political cartoon page. The prominent illustration shows a figure in Egyptian dress and headdress, accompanying a review of "Egypt" at the Alcazar Theater—described as an "oddly-named play" with a confusing plot about the Nile's inundation. The page consists primarily of theatrical gossip and announcements about San Francisco Bay Area opera houses and performers. It includes notes on various productions, cast changes, and performer engagements at venues like the Tivoli Opera House and Baldwin Theater. The satire is gentle: the review mocks "Egypt's" confused narrative and overwrought "traditional Egyptian paraphernalia," suggesting it prioritizes spectacle over coherent storytelling—a common criticism of Victorian-era theatrical production.