The Wasp — 1893 — page 55: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains theater reviews rather than political cartoons. The portrait shows **J. J. Gottlob, Manager of the New California Theatre**, identified in the text as someone whose success in theatrical management has earned public respect. The reviews cover San Francisco productions including *Faust*, *A Night Off*, and *The Old Homestead*. The commentary praises various performers—particularly Joe Holland of the Frohman Comedy Company, whose talent is deemed underutilized, and several singers whose vocal abilities are lauded. The satire appears gentle, focusing on theatrical merit rather than political commentary. The text critiques both performers and management, suggesting which productions warrant attendance and which artists deserve better roles, reflecting late-19th-century American theatrical culture and audience standards.