The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-09-27
TIL THBATRE:.
What II Yields Nowadays in ART and
Amusement Here ana Elsewhere.

Amusement Here ana Elsewhere.
The visits of theatrical companies to
Cheyenne follow a routine. A ''com-
bination'' making its way to Denver or
across the continent stops to do a
nights business in this city. The story
of the play is usually published in the
public press before its performance here,
and publicity is also given beforehand
to the merits of the chief performers.
| So much has usually been said about
a company prior to its arrival, that a
long notice in the press after its depart
ure is not necessary for the information
of the public, or beneficial to the COM
| pany itself IL it is a good one, or iniuri-
ous if a bad one, so far as its business
in Cheyenne is concerned.
The state of the drama everywhere
in this country is much the same us in
Cheyenne. The theatrical combina-
tion'' is its machinery. Early in the
Fall a large number of companies are
formed in the larger cities-the vast
majority in New York-and set out on
trips over the country to try their for
tune. Such a company is made up of
a '%'star," who has, or believes he has,
found a play suitable to his gifts and
experience. The subordinate charact-
ers are made up of people who do funny
work, or bloody work, or pathetic work,
generally after q pattern way. The
company runs one ortwo, at most three,
plays an entire season. Frequent repi-
tition makes all tue actors of a troupe
familiar with their parts early in the
| season, and their lines then run from
the tongue glibly, il not expressively.
A certain evenness i'll the performance
of a play is thus secured which was not
always to be expected under the old
| time method of each town maintaining
its own company. There are, of course,
several grades of companies-the poor
in pocket and performance; the average;
and the ''strictly first class"
From the average company the aver
age play may be expected. The star
/ uOCo Ahplp vi 100 Alb WIN III Il DlhN
composed with a view to exhibit his
points" The smaller members carry
on the story. The play fashionable
nowadays is serio-comic-a funny piece
with a vein of pathos running through
it.
The manager of the Cheyenne opera
house does whatever can be done by
close attention to his business, and by
bargaining with agents on a basis which
experience has taught him to be safe. He
has avoided giving the Cheyenne public
performances by third-rate companies,
and he has been assisted in this respect
by luck, which deserts many poor com
panies before they get this far way
from home, and causes their disband-
ment. Only a few companies have per-
formed in Denver which have not also
been at the opera house here. Some of
them were, like the Abbott company,
those that make preposterous claims on
slight merits.
The local orchestra is a great aid to q
good performance. Plays which would
be dull and commonplace with poor
music, are rendered tolerable through
the assistance of an efficient band OF
performers. Cheyenne, though a west
ern city, has the benefit of many of the
best shows on the road at eastern pri-
| ces.
The 'Hazel Kirke'' company which
is coming next week is one which pro-
misses a refined and EFFECTIVE perform
ance of a strong play. 1t may
be first in the highest rank of travelling
companies and tested by that standard.