The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-30
DRAMATIC
.stThe Lottery Of Lifs" COutrasted with
the Legitimate Drama,
spring,


the Legitimate Drama,
AS every playgoer in the city knows the
Walnut Street Theatre has this week been the
scene OF "a Picture OF Men and Manners of the
Present Day." entitled The Lottery Of Life. This
play is understood to belong to the sensational
order, and 1t certainly deserves the title, for
more decided sensation has never been pro-
duced in the theatre whose boards have of late
repeatedly witnessed the triumphs of such
brilliant actors as Booth, Forrest, Jefferson,
Clark, and Mrs. Lander. During the three
weeks of Mr. Forests recent engagement the
establishment was crowded every successive
night but The Lottery of Life has
charms of which Spartacus and Richie
y lieu could Eot boast and in conse-
.duence the muititudes which thronged the
theatre to witness these specimens OF the legti-
mate drama are entirely outdone by the hosts
= which struggle for admission to the former.
= Mr. John Brougham, who presents in his own
: genial person the happy butunusual combina-
:. 4lon of successful playwright and brilliant
actor. is the author of the new sensation; and
in its conception he has left the sensational
F." style to which we are accustomed in these lat
'-rter days a half century in the rear A faithful
idea of the scope of the new play may be gath.
cred from the remarks made by the author. in
response TO an imperative demand for his pre-.
sence before the curtain, at the close of the
second act, the night of its first presentation
The faeetious comedian, in that inimitable
manner which characterizes his speeches be-
tween theacts, spoke somewhat as follows
Ladies and GentIemen--I very much
obliged to You for the distinguished honor
(which you have conferred upon me; but
really find myself at a loss for words befitting
this occasion. (Cheers.) However will say
that 1 am much Indebted to you for pronounc-
ing this play success before you had seen 1t,
| yerowding the house on this the hrst even
II lg. thought you had had quite enough of
tn classical drama for few weeks past (strk-
int Forrestian attitude, to the intense delight
oft he audience), ,.and thought / would give
YOU something in the way of blue lights and
bripn stone, for change. cloud cheers)
sneak apologetlcally of the production, but
whato loesdt matter since we are both suited {?
Y ou yt Nnt trash, and here you have ii; want
cash, an du have IL. (L0ud cheers of attesta-
tion1 B II 1 warn you that what you have
already 81 ven is nothing in comparison with
what is to come. As.soon as the curtain rises,
q pistol viii behred, ana timid ladies will please
prepare to f. Nnt Then will come a few knock
downs inter- WerEed with birthstone and thrn.
der. and q nSsurderer Will meet his lust de-
serts--" And so on the same thing over and
over again, for ElfIeen minutes or more, the
audience meanw Nile convulsed with laughter
and uproarlous wi. o applause.
Aglance at the ! S9Gramme for the evening.
In the art of concoctii. 8 which John Brougnam
is assuredly without az equal, gives further
and stilI more damaging t>Re to the character
OF his latest sensation TINS lhe "men of the
present day." whose "man\~aFs' gave the
markD are pictured, are "TeNNy' the swell,
seampish character, on the chances" persN mated
by the irresistible Brougham him.~lE "Mordie
Soiomons, alias Ancraft a dCuble-fa sea chai.ac-
ter. ON me cross" ''I3ob Mawley, a pNgnaciotss
character, onA,e slog;p "On Tommy, a pr0miscu.
GUS Character, on ne loose dodgers, villain
ous character, ntte sh0ve;'l waiter, a useful
character, on hetipS" Miss Tartar, an ascerbe-
tic ehaEaeter on nleJaW" emily Summers, an
Interesting character, on ne spoon" Polly O'Hal,