New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-21
A REALISTIC PITY

The one thing which seems 10 commend itself
most 20 certain class of theatre goers-who nm
fortunately, II would appear are in the majority
is The number OF real' things introduced in tine
play. Real tanks Of real water, real horses real
fre-engncs. real baseball Players real dogs real
prize fighters and real burglars are but n few NJ
the real persons and objects brought before n
long-suffering public in a certain sort OF plays
Aboat the only real thing that has been rigidly
excluded frcni this class OF plays has been real
actors
The great SUCCESS Of Messrs Spike IIennessy
aud KID hcCoy, the real burglars now playing
a profitable engagement in a local theatre. led
them, 80 Is understood, some time ago 20 think
seriously Of producing play OF their own shortly
in which everything will be real Accordingly
they began to colhborate, and il Is reported that
their play is practically complete, but little re-
mining except 20 arrange part OF the cast and
map out the route. Mr.. IIcnnessy himself will
manage the play. while Mr. Mccoy win assume
the part OF the leading burglar and star The
play will open with a splendidly mounted tank
scene in which the tank VIII cover the entire
stage and be fairly OVERLOOKING with real water.
High above win be real suspension bridge. A
real tug will be steaming about the back OF the
tank and a couple Of real barrels and n real silk
hat lost by q real Brooklyn man win float past
Suddenly Mr.. Steve Brodie will appear on the
bridge and leap into the tank, Mr.. Brode having
been secured as first jumping gent as Mr..
Henuessy puts H. The engaging of Mr.. Brodie
as leading jumper Mr.. Henncssy, with pardon0ble
pride, says he considers remarkable managerial
enterprise. lie trusts that II will not materially
reduce the receipts OF Booth, Barrett and Modieska
in their contemplated tour. Mr.. IIennessy desires
Il -. H.. g. "a
may appear.
The other acts viii follow in rapid succession.
A smaller tank win be introduced in the third
In which some person from the audience who
really wants 20 commit suicide viii leap in and
be rescued by q real policeman There will be
a street scene In the second act, In which n real
strcet-sweep.ng machine will be introduced II
viii be the first appearance OF the sweeper on any
stage though IL has been rehearsng for some
time There win be real letter-box fastened
20 q lamp-post, and the audience eau step forward
and mail their letters as real lettercnrrier will
come along and get them in the last act. real
strect-car will have collision with real ash-cart
and the drivers will indulge in real fight
man who has swung bunch Of shoe strings at
Broadway and Ycsey-st for two years viii appear
MS q shoc-string pedler He will be blown up
DIV u Ithi hNbNNl tApiVnioh ~ -"
There will be real cocking-main, ana real
Texas stage robber will hold up the orchestra.
Az the end Of the hst act there VIII be real
fire scene. A man now serving tcn-years term
for arson ut Sing Sing, but whose sentence VIII
expire before the first night, will come in and IN
full view OF the audience set the theatre on hre'
Il will be burned TO the ground, ana as the
delighted spectators escape their pockets VIII DC
picked by real piclpoclets, those having orchestra
seats being sand-bagged in the lobby, while pa
irons OF the dress circle and balcony viii be run
over by the real fire-engincs coming to attempt
10 spbduc the conhagation The cost oil pro
curing new theatre for each performance Will
be great, but Manager Spike is not a man 70
falter at expense.
The only fear which we have for the success
Of this play Is that il does not present enough
novelty There have been plays here this winter
that have gone almost as fur. Would 1t NOT be
better for American actors TO pray to be pro-
teeted from the baseball player, the burglar, and
the woman whose engagement rests solely on tho
number of her divorces than from their foreign
brethren who may come here from time 70 sme'