The Wasp — 1877 — page 34: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **theatrical and entertainment reviews** rather than political satire. The main illustration shows a caricatured figure labeled "DRAMATIC CRITIC," depicted as an exaggerated, ornately-dressed theatrical character striking a melodramatic pose atop a pedestal. The surrounding text reviews performances at various San Francisco theaters, including the Bush Street Theater, California Theater, and Woodward's Gardens. The reviews discuss actors like Miss Katy Mayhew and Miss Lotta Crabtree, critiquing their performances in contemporary plays. The cartoon appears to satirize **theatrical criticism itself**—portraying the drama critic as an overwrought, self-important figure. The exaggerated costume and dramatic posturing mock the grandiose style of theater criticism of the era.