Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-04-25
"SHE" SLAUGHTERED.
The Dramati.atfon or Hagxard .
Famous Novel Butchered by a Gang
Af lmn0afAra and Rarn Sfarmers

The Dramatination or Hagxards
Famous Novel Butchered by a Gang
OF lmp0st0rs and Barn Stormers.
Manager G. A. Steel, of Harper's
theatre. was shamefully imposed upon
last night by gang OF barn stormers
claiming to be the famous Gillette COM
pany. which has produced the dramati>
cation of 'She" throughout the country
with such signal success. The company
made an engagement with Mr.. Steel q
week ago under the -guise of being Gil.
lette's company, and ny the use Of Gill
lette's name. The company sent its ad
vance man here and the Autographs. bills
and other advertising paper was the same
as that used by the Gillette company.
Mr.. Steel had no reason therefore to
doubt the genuineness Of the company as
the first telegraphic inquiry from Chicago
for an open date and all contracts were
signed "Gillette She Company" But
when the company put In an ap.
pearance yesterday morning composed
Of twelve people. including the man
ayers, instead of thirty. and having
few trunks and drops instead of two
car loads of scenery, Mr.. Steel had his
eyes opened. He had a conference with
the manager during the day and could
get no satifaction out of him further than
the scenery and remainder of the compa>
ny would arrive in the evening. Al
though Mr.. Steel did not believe this
he could do not hing but
avail: developments. However, when the
time came for the theatre to open last
night, and there were no acquisitions to
the company or property, MIR. Steel de-
mauded an explanation, when the mana
ger acknowledged that his was not the
Gillette company. but it would give sat
isfactory performance nevertheless Mr.
Steel became righteously indignant and
he informed all who entered the theatre
of the facts. telling them that he had been
deceived and they might act according
their own pleasure about going in. A
large number accordingly changed their
plans and turned away. Others went in.
however, just to see how much humbug
would be perpetrated. They saw.
The play was butchered in frightful
no coot u,oo ont opd ha rr1
logue entirely omitted, one or two of
those who took part did fairly we'll. but
the majority stsmmered through their
lines. An Irish character was substituted
for the part of Job and the entire affair
was of the burlesque order and rather
poor at that. The scenic effects were
dismal failure, few ancient looking
drops constituting the only company
property. All attempts at spectacular or
other effects characteristic of the Gillette
presentation of the piece were attended
by rank failure.
The company was made up largely of
the people of the My Geraldine" com
pany. which disbanded in this city a few
months ago. 1t played in Galesburg
night before last and the members were
hOoted on the streets afterward The
barn stormers went to Clinton from here
They should be enjoined by Mr.. Gillette
from playing the piece and prosecuted by
the scenic artists. Albert and Lsycock. for
printing their names on the programmes
as having painted the scenery. Mr..
Steel has telegraphed Mr.. Gillette of the
facts and has wired all theatre managers
in the conpany's route to look out for
them as they are impostors.