The Wasp — 1892 — page 162: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* satirizes the hardships and absurdities of traveling theater companies in the late 19th century. The sketches mock: 1. **Actor salaries**: The text notes actors are paid meager "mummer" wages despite extensive travel. 2. **Road life conditions**: References to cross-country tours, including anecdotes about actress Maude Granger's menagerie (alligator, flying rat) causing chaos during performances—likely satirizing the unpredictable chaos of touring productions. 3. **Practical joking**: Stage hands played tricks like waking actors at midnight or placing animals in unexpected places. The cartoon illustrations show various theater types—depicting the colorful but disorganized characters typical of traveling troupes. The overall satire critiques both the exploitation of performers and the circus-like disorder of touring theater operations.