Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-05-06
METROPOLITAN rHEATER.

1.-THE Tourists had fine house last even
I ing. The piece is one Of those absurd mix
lures, without plot, rhyme or reason, that is
steadily crowding the legitimate drama into
the dark corners ana making legitimate effort
almost hopeless of reward The company
was under the business management Of
Messrs. Warner and Lord, ard local man
agement of S. G. Mott, and these gentlemen
provided well for the public. while the COM
pany on its part kept its contract. 1t an
nounced an absurdity ; it produced it. 1t
announced, in effect: "We will present the
sum of the ridiculous, the essence of the
which is to BE- laughed at because It
is too prsposterously ridiculous to be
considered gravely for an instant and it
kept its contract. The Tourists" is
plotless combination of character acting by
character specialists, and the scene Of all the
action is in Pullman palace car, where the
weary hours OF snow-b5und train are
whiled away by the oldest burlesouing and
the most nonsensical mssquerading. It is a
mixture of the widest Inconsistency: Of the
most eccentric and fantastic mimicry; of
mirth that descends to bathos of comicality
too farcieal to be fanc;ful, ana too ludicrous
10 NC bIulg why. IL ECeIUc W SHOW HOW IOllV
in action. the unreal in farce, inanity, frivol-
ity and simple, unadulterated nonsense serves
a purpose for the public-to make it laugh
for a brace of hours, and bury in the
grave of forgetfulness and extravagaut
mirth the cares and sorrows of
day So "The Tourists are successful.
in that they make the public laugh until its
lower ribs ache. and make it wonder, when it
Is all over, why it laughed. The entertain
ment is successful, in that it claims to, and
does, knock the chip off the shoulder of the
most senseless, absurd and extravagantly
iudicrous performance that has yet at
audience. More witty plays, more humor-
ous low comedies are given by the hundred,
but for the supreme of nonsense 1.-THE Tour
lists " can take the lead. Beside it the
specialties Of Nat Goodwin, Robson and
Crane, and J. Z. Raymond rise to elevated
planes. There is, however, some good in
Egypt, and that is found in "The
Tourists in some very good sing
ing, some admirable jig dancing some
class, especially that by Mr.. Mestayer, Mr.
Gilbert and Mr.. Brsy, and soma quartet
vocalism that is highly effective There are,
too, not few good take offs, - which the
travelling public particularly viii appreciate
in all their sbsurdity. The Tourists" will
draw; the play may be seen by any without
offense, unless the seasibifties of some may
be moved by the iteration of some slang"
which is new, much that is old aud motA that
is a mixture Of old and new. The play is
extravagantly funny all through, and better
words may not be chosen to describe it. 1t
will be given again this evening, and will
unquestionably bring out another large au-
dience. Mr.. Muller, the orchestra leader,
last evening gave a violin solo embracing
soma admirable limitations OF animals voices,
and for an encore initiated or the violin s.
parlor organ. His performance was, pleas.
ing break in the entertainment.