The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-08
THEATRICAL SEASON.
SUCCESSFUL PRESENTATION or A
STRONG LIST OF ATTRACTIONS.

Retrospective View of the Companies,
Plays and Operas that Pleased or
Dispieased the Theater Going Public
of Memphis.
The Memphis tbcater regular season
Just closed has been quite successful,
dramatically, so far as the public is con-
ccrned, and pecuniarly 40 and satisfactory
to the management Opening on the
3Oth Of September, 1887, and closing on
ftbe 3lst Of March, 1888, a continuous num-
Der OF attractions were presen,ed-thc
only time in which the theater closed, was
for the week after the engagement OF
Booth and Barrett, no company being
willing to take the risk OF booking with
Manager Gray Tor that week. fearing lack
OF public patronage. no matter how good
the attraction might be. This was Mr..
Frank Gny's first season as manager, ami
how well and faithfully he performed his
work, the list Of attractions given during
the season, AMI published below is the
best evidence. ,rThey were carefully and
judiciously engaged by Mr.. Gray during
his midsummer visit TO New York, and
the change from the grave to the gay,
comedy succeeding heavy tragedy and
opera following both, made up an attrac-
tive line OF entertainments which
speaks well for the intelligence and
taste Of the management Manager Gray
feels much fattcred and encouraged by his
success, which he owes TO the kind and
generous patronage OF the thcater-loving
people Of Memphis and surrounding coun-
try, and so much does he feel this that
during his summers trip TO New York he
, intends engaging all the leading attrac-
, tions which will 70 on the road next sea-
son. and he feels assured that they will
gladly make II point 10 play in Memphis
: while on the southern tour, they well
knowing that Memphis IL one Of the very
best SHOW towns in the United States II
place where the dramatic and musical
taste OF the public has been well developed
and where strong attraction-musical,
dramatic orspectacnlar never fails 10 meet
with ample encouragement in the way Of
4 patronage Manager Gray promises that
next season he will give the public u fine
70 list OF entertainments second To no theater
in the southern country. The advantage
: ia the way OF railroads enabled Mr.. Gray
y during the season 10 induce several strong
attractions TO come south rs far rs Mem
phis. from which point they returned
b. northward. Already number Of very
strong attractions have been engaged Tor
next season.
The Memphis thcatcr season OF lSS7-SS
j. opened on the 3Oth Of September under
j., the following management Frank Gray,
manager; j. W. Spears, treasurer; j. q.
Il llandwerker, leader OF orchestra
As usual, n minstrel show was the open
n ing attraction, Wilson & Rankin's troupe
giving the season n musical start, IN fairly
q good style and before crowded houses dur.
ing an engagement Of Two nights and q
g Saturday matinee. While this was the
q seasons opening for all practical purposes
the real dramatic opening took place on
the night Of Monday, the 81 Of October
!, when Lizzie Evans played week. giving
"Our Angel and ''Foggs Ferry" Al
r blossom Jennings in "Our Angel and N
Chip in "fogg's Ferry" Miss Evans was
n quite pleasing and rs soubrctte star &c
. cured strong popular recognition. One o
g the pleasing incidents Of the engagement
was the debut Of 1Iiss Maude Jefiries, o
; this city, who was granted the privilege b,
y. Miss Evans 10 appear in the role AT Mill,
~ Thatcher, the g0yerncss, in Our Angel.
The young lady acquitted herself crcdita
!. bly,, doing the part acceptably not ONLY e
d the public but 10 the professionals OF tn
Evans company. CO
II Another pleasing incident was aflorde,
by Manager Cray who added two instru
u ments 10 the orchestra, n trombone ant
drum, thereby making the number oi mu
" sicians nine instead oil seven, as heretofore
i, Louis James aud Marie wainwright fol
J" lowed with week : engagement, opcninI
A Monday, the 18th Of October, and giving
repertoire consisting oi "Ninsinius,
a Gretchen, or Faust aud Marguerite, ""ln
comar." "liamlot," Romeo and Juliet
4 and Macbeth. The engagement wa
u successful in all respects aud drew larg
and fashionable audiences 10 the theatcr-
III people who admired the vigorous acting O
MIR. James and the pleasing grace Of Mari,
wainwright, whose acting Is always attrac
tive and swcctly natural.
re- During the three fnt nights Of the sue
he cceding week, commencing Monday, IN,
18th, n change 10 comedy was presented II
a. the shape of Natural Gas by three cleye
comedians, Gilbert, Donelly aud Girard
" II was an amusing production, provocative
/ Of laughter. The people sang, danced an'
gave a lot of uprOarionsly funny busi
-, ness participated In by u lot OF clever girl
Misses Amy Ames Rachel Booth, Kat
ie II. Howe, Kate Allen and Jessie Oilcr.
The remainder al the week was fillc,
ont by Agnes Robertson MrS Boucicaultl
who appeared In "My Geraldine" aud il
nc the role May Carroll, supported 10y goo,
l.. company Miss Robertson, an old stag
!" iavoriic and excellent aclrcss, made mos
mo- favorable impression upon the audience
on that attended during The engagement.
The Florcnccs played week Of comedy
" opening ON Monday, October -, and prc
n, scnting during The engagement 9TH
Mighty Dollar ''Our Governor" "Th
IN Fin, and "Dombey and Son, sierlin
s attractions. Mr. Florence ~ Bardwcl
=. Slo,c, Pinto Perkins, Sylvester Sparks
:, aud Mrs. Florence NJ AlpI Gen. Glllory
4. Miss Matilda Starr, Diana Lovington, CAV
fine pieces VI character acting, but whci
&c YOU see Mr.. Florence m Bardwcl Slotc
We aud Ms. Florence ~ Mrs Gen. Gilhury
III with her everlasting Libby Dear" yol
hi see them nj their best, and in fact la al
= their rol,s.
H. 1.-THE Devils Auciion' troupe appcarc,
for four nights and matinee. ID wa
!. amusing, with its man.monkcy, Tobcy. II
m ballcis, pantomime and spectacular dis
he plays The leading people, lgnacio Mar
n. inctlc, Miss Edith Martha, Kate IIowar
&C. and Others nrc clever performers. III
a A.. a -