The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-12-29
ADJUSTMENTS.
THE BOOK EMF.

ADJUSTMENTS.
THE BOOK AGENT.
Tomorrow evening next the laughable
playo The Book Agent" introducing
numerous interesting specialties, will be
produced at Harper's Theatre by the cele-
DRAFTED Meteor combination of Niles,
Evans. Bryant and Hoey. The Detroit
Free Press of Sept. 12, thus spaaks of the
entertainment.
Last evening new candidate for favor
with patrons of vaudeville attractions,
styled The Meteors," began an engage
ment at the Detroit Opera House before a
large sized audience. The leading lights
of the organization are Chas. E. Evans,
and Bryant and Hoey, who are also the
managers. The programme began with
an acceptable sketch by Harry McAvoy
! and Emma Rogers, after which Mr.. Evans
appeared in very happy combination of
quaint sayings and odd doings, showing
that he has lost none of his wit and com =
icalities, The French twin sisters, very
fine dancers and old favorites, won a
hearty encore by their pretty act, and
performer with good voice. under the
name of Dyllyn gave an exhibition of his
abilities as dialectician, which was both
pleasing and comical. Bryant and Hoey
those really accomplished musicians and
clever comedians were n ext on the bill,
and for nearly half an hour or long enough
to respond to a half dozen recalls. they
delighted the audience. Kelly and O'Bri-
en- appeared in an entirely new and very
funny combination of comedy and music
called Insanity" winning instant favor
and tumul uous applause. The variety olio
closed with a remarkable exhibition of
club swinging by Gus Hill, after which an
afterpiece-and an exceedingly funny one,
too-entitled The Book Agent intro
duced Messrs. Evans, Hoey. Dyllyn,
OBrien, Kelly and McAvey, Miss Emma
Rogers and the French twin sisters to
good advantage and ended tbs perfor-
nance amid screams of laughter. THE
Meteors" entertainment as whole is
worth seeing.
THE ONLY BISHOP.
A grand New Years treat is in store
for our citizens at Harper's Theatre. in the
form of the intensely amusing play of
Strictly Business" as presented by Wild
ow Bedott" c. B. Bishop, one of the droll
est and most uuapproachable of living
comedians. Here is what the Richmond
Wing of Sept. II, says of the play and
the players:
c, B. Bishop, 'sOld Bish.,' whose name
is as familiar to the Richmond people as
household words, and whose personnel is
as well known and easily recognized as the
Washington monument, made his appear
ance here last night in a fresh character,
entitled Phinass Pomeroy Philkins, in
new comedy by A G. Gunter, called
Strictly Business" After the audacity
which, a few days ago, made use of the
Gear of Russia as an advertising medium
we were prepared for fun, and we got it
in good fat Jumps. The part of Phllkins
gives Bishop chance to revel in all the
round, jolly, unetious merit for which the
round comedian is SO celebrated; indeed,
SO accurately does it fit him, and so nicely
is it suited to all his peculiar characterize
ics.that we an easily imagine the author
and the actor sitting side by side and joint
ly connecting scheme to capture laugh
from The public oG ct dTwlis. We are famil
lar with some of MIR. Gunther's works
we have seen and laughed at his Fresh"
his I'D. A, NJ" produced originally in
Richmor d, we thought an admirable and
well conceived work; but nothing that he
has heretofore written will compete with
Strictly Business" in that great obieSt of
a hearty and healthful
laugh Inc story Is mover. wei thought
out, and admirably treated: the unities of
the fable are well preserved the plot car
ried out with remarkable consistency, and
the fun is not lugged in by the head and
shoulders, but flows as tree, thick and
generous as molasses from the bung- hole
of barrel.
Bishop as Philkins was really immense
To use trite phrase, the cheek, self-reli-
ance and conscious power of the CONNER
cial traveller were all faithfully portrayed |
The character was never lost sight of for
q moment; indeed, we have seldom seen
an actor SO thoroughly lose sight of his |
identity and invest himself so completely
with his part as Bishop does IN Philkins. |
We congratulate mutually the author and |
the actor-the first for having made an inn |
portant addition to the dramatic literature |
of his country, and the actor for having
added one more to that long list of laugh |
able approximations that have delighted the |
public for more than two decades If we |
were inclined to prophesy. we might say |
that Bishops Philkins will take the rank |
with Rip Van Wrinkle" .'Dundreary, y |
Kit, the Arkansas Traveller" and any or |
all OF the strong and peculiar dramatic |
creations, with which we are familiar.
RANCH TEN,
said to be one of the most thrilling |
plays of the distinctively western type