, 1879-03-09
THE STAGE.
THE DRAMA.


LOCAL REVIEW OF THE WEEK.
The past week has not been remarkably
brilliant or notable one in Chicago theatrical
circles, although no less than three PLAYS nc"
to the town have been brought out, OF which
mention is made below.
Perhaps the greatest attraction was at HaVcr-
ly's, where "Almost Life" has hela lae
boards to patronage somewhat less than IL oe
serves. The play is OF the usual tFench Type,
in which illicit and honorable love forms tne
groundwork of the plot, mixed up Will ule
usual modicum OF Gallo humor N"n"a
is not very funny when etans1a'eu
into Euglish) and the necessary assortment "
Dukes, Counts, and other elements Of noon,ty ~
without which no French drama is comple1e' LUG
plot is a simple enough one, pelns met7'} '"e
love Of Countess for an unmarried youals w.
blcman who lives in the Immediate vicinity o.
her residence. After enjoying her 1aSors lof
some time he becomes enamoreo Oh t4ic
souaren Of another young lady, wh1cn naturaiJ
arouscs the ire Of the Countess. Apous Inlo
time the Count is killed, and an lo!ot cnarses
the crime Oh the young nobleman- Inc VARIOUS
events of his trial and conviction 1or the mur-
der. and final escape through the confession Oh
the murder By the idiot, afford opportunity 1or
some excellent acting by the principal 1emale
characters, assumed By Miss Maud ufan-
ger AMI Miss Emily Rigl. The latter
is perhaps the best actress OF the t"o, anu Tue
old-tiue theatre-goers Of Chicago can scafcelV
believe that the stately woman before lien IS
the same person who came here as spi1gnty
little balct-dancer in 1857, making her debut IN
"1he Black Crook" After caperlng nlmoly 10
the pleasiugs OF the orchestra Tor serefal
- n1-~
seasons, Miss Emily abandoned ierps1chore ana
formed an alliance with Thespis, which mas
proved advantageous to both PARTIES der
enunciation is good, Notwithstanding the slight
accent with which the delivery OF her lines Is
tineed. and in point Of gracefu1ness there is
hardly an actress on the American stage
who is her equal, the training re-
cejyed at the hands OF oallet-
master years ago doing her good service VI
Miss Granger there is not much to be said. She
graduated from Fanny Morant's school, and,
like all pupils OF that lady, her acting is stereo
typed. She does everything passahly well, but
is nowhere brilliant In falling, she Is particu-
larly bad, There is good deal to be made out
of a ncl1-reculated stage fall, and when the de-
serted wife or maiden goes over like 3 oarn-door
on receiving distastetul news, the audience 1eels
that she means business, and Is inclined to ap-
plaud accordingly. The public knows who the
effective dramatic athletes are, aud is not 10
be fooled By any inferior exhibitions
Miss Granger goes down too much after
the manner OF q trick pony in crcus,-drop-
ming gently to the knees, and then rolling over
in very mild fashion, -
The Rice Surprise Party has been giving
"Dabes In the Woods u at McVicker's, to fair au-
dfepces The hold which this extravaganza mas
| taken On the public affections Is demonstratea
| by the fact that, although it has been produced
| keen time with their feet to tho. lively music
wirh which It abounQs, and admire the comtcalt-
| ties OF Edouin. Mcstayer, Dxe1 and Harrlson1
| who. Will: Louise ScarIe, Alice Atherton, and
| One feature that deserves mention is the prc,
cociousness OF the Edouin childfen-May ana
Daisy These mites of humanity,
and ? years old respect respeeti'e1y; haYs fSs
them veil. Daisy ssmakes up'' immensely as q
| policeman. and the faithful imitation OF the
| average blue coats gait and swagger never 1ahs
to produce rounds Of applause
Mr. Dcminick Murray, au actor OF merit VINO
| has hitherto confined himself chiefly to the
! rc7cition Of parts in which striped suit OF
clothes aud chain were the principal features,
has been doing something new at Humln's.
| His play is entitled "1nnocent; or the Gamb-
ler's Grime,n: and deals in sensationallsm ct the
most pronounced type. 1t is essentially
ttdrama'' for the gallery, and has met wltI
favor ut the hands of the critics Who occupy
that portion Of the house.
"Good as Gold II has been on at the Metro"
politan, and in it Mr.. Edwin Browne pleasing
young actor, has achieved 1alr amonnt ol suc
cess. ..
Tie management will continue "Good as
Gold'' at the Metropolitan this week. Ayariet,
bill Is also offered.
Mr. S. D. Pierce, advertising agent Of Hooley'
Theatre, will be tho recipient OF benefit at tina
house next Saturday night.
| Miss Clara Brown, OF Enelcwood, an amateul
reader of considerable ability, will read at La
cou, H., Thursday evening Of this week, befor,
the Reform Club Of that place.
The sprightly and amusing Lotts appears a
Hooley's tomorrow and every night except Sat
| urday during the week in " Musctte.' At th
"Wednesday matinee, East Lynne"
"Horrors y will be brought out by the Ric
Surprise Party at McFicker's on Monday, Tues
lay, and "Wednesday OF the present week
Thursday and Friday evenings and at the satur
day matinee Is Hiawatha " will be given.
Miss Laura E. Dainty, the reader, is making
tour through Michigan. Her engagements 10
the present week arc: Monday. Grand Rapids
Tuesday, Bay City; Wednesday, Lansing; Thurs
day, Jackson; Friday, Plymouth; Saturday, Dc
| troit- -
| Mrs. Scott-Siddons, fresh from the Canad
branch OF the Court Of st. James, will give read
ines at Farwcll Hall next Friday evening AM
| SATURDAY afternoon. As the lady is fayorit
here, the entertainments will doubtless be vel
patronzcd.
. The second annual benefit Of the Chfcag
Lodge of Elks vii. take place at A1cFicker'
Theatre next Thursday afternoon. As nigh
be expected there will be tremendous arraT Q
talent, but as the programme is not completed
| it cannot be giyen.
Mr. Haverly is out with gorgeous posters 70
the present week announcing Mr.. j. 4. Emme
in his New Fritz" Both the play and tn
star are we'll known and liked here. The Gel
mania Mannerchor has been engaged to assis
| in the rendition Of 1.-THE Lullaby Chorus"
"Brokcn Fctters; or, The Great Express Rot
berry, is the somewhat suggestive title OF th
attraction at HaInlin's this week. Mr. c. "
Barry assumes the leading role There are nr
mcrous exciting scenes in the play, and somt
thing OF interest for almost everybody.
Mr.. Carpenter announces q season of an ct
tire months lectures and entertainments c
Art and Travel. The series comprises an illus
tratcd tour through England, Ireland, Europe
| the Holy Land. and India, under the auspicc
Of the celebrated English traveller and Orienta
scholar, Judge ". F. Bick, late Of her Majesty
| civil service, whose entertainments have bee
the feature OF the lecture season i