The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-07
FIRST NIGHTS" an NEW YORK.
EsieIIe CIayton'- " Quick or the Dead -
Young TRnashtlI's PIny, Etc.

Correspondence ot The Appeal
NEW YoRR, Oct 6.--The cold weather
Of this wecl, is bringing home the last lin
gcring country cotlagcrs with rush, and
in the absence Of any social entertain
mcnis, the thcaiers are the only attrac.
tons. That they are reaping a rich har-
vest is proven by the standing room
only" signs which are visible nearly every
where. Monday brought three first
nights" none OF which is worthy the inn
porlant sound OF that name. A dramatic
zation-called a Psychological study-oi
Amclic Riycs' "Thc Quick or the Dead"
was presented at the Fifth Avenue thea
ter by Estello Clayton and company who
might well be described as transformers.
4 more miserable lot OF rubbish has sci.
dom been put together in one play, and il
Us doubtful ii metropolitan audience has
ever witnessed poorer acting than was
done on this occasion. The only plausible
reason Tor the whole enterprise (which Is
fathcrcd by we'll known stock exchange
brokor) is the probable benefit Of the title
which il is doubtless hoped will insure the
play "succcs dc curiusile." Beyond
that, there Is absolutely nothing to
commend this purpOsclcss combina-
ton Of sentences 10 the attention
II tho most unlcamod Tho large audience
which attended Mondays performance
was unqucslionably attracted by the pros.
poet OF something strongly unconventional.
ns almost every ono was familiar with the
book and therefore expected unusual
situations. The "souching rain" was
heard, to be sure, aud barbara. Ia a seal.
skin wrap aud q iaunty hat, came In "out
OF the teeth OF the brown gale" but that
was about all there was. There was no
| haystack nor any vehement opportunities
on the part Of barbara 10 be kissed three
times IN quotation marks, nor even
| the emphatic conduct OF Jock The
| audience might have forgiven tae
wretchcd play aud the still more wrcichcl
acting, hut they could not pardon the
elimination Of the only "rclocming'
feature. Miss Claylon's comcly face aud
somewhat graceful figure were pleasing to
| look upon; these were her only claims 90
| the indulgence OF the spectators She Il
about ~ unsympa,hctic person ~ could
have been chosen for the part, and though
sine Is pretty and attractive, she Is utterly
unlike the impression formed OF Miss
Riycs' morbid, passionate. capricious and
dramatic heroine. Nor was the support
any better Jock Dcring was an
uniamcd butchers boy. who made
love with his hands in his
pockets. Col Sam Buucy had a
marked down est accent and used a
lot Of slang never heard in tho south or
anywhere near IL. Miss Ffisbc, the
maiden aunt, WIS a genuine New England
| spinstor. while Martha Ellen, whose face
was dycl "a ch,nlcaly,llow. hada broad
English accent and intOuation. aud had
| probably never seen darkcy In her
/ lie. She certainly could no, have heard
one talk. 4 small scncgambiln from the
classic precincts Of sullivan street was the
cupid. and he made the only approach %
q bic that WIS visible. There Is one unnn-
imous verdict on the play-ii should DO
taken oil, and the quicker the better.
"Zic Zag," musical farce comedy, was
| produced on ,lc sumo evening at the Star
ihcaicr lt'sby Frank Tannshil, the son
oi an old-iime Memphis manager, aud u
has certainly caught the popular fancy.
Its pretty music anl roaring farce clement,
together with some altogether novel and
catchy cfcslf, make u quite 20, and the
young actor viii doubtless DO both proud
aud satisfied over his success
"Hattl, tie Fan i'y Heir" IAN Engli h
adaptation oi Mcilkacs' "Iotio." and h
also iarcical though susceptible Of some
good nciing Marietta Nash does it fairly
well 1T the Biiuu and attracts big au-
dicnces there She is supported by q
moderate company Of players st ange TO
this city.
The great event ~ next week Is The up.
pcamncc Of Co1uclin Monday night aud
this is 10 be- followed Tuesday 10y the iirst
appearance " Janc iladng. On the same
evening Daly's thcaicr will open With
new play, the title OF which has not Yet
been announced. Mrs Potter begins her
season IN Philadelphia on MONDAY IN
Twist Axe and Crown" and allgcthCf
the forthcoming week promises TO ec inh
Of intorsl 10 playgo -. W. v n
.Ha=a ===aas=-=--
How Co stop Needing.
ffum The to,ton Transcript
Some ppfaoug have n tendency 10 blccut