The daily critic., 1890-09-18
REALISM RgALIzgD.n
The Great Aquatic Drama and Miss
Stnddard's Fanny incidents.

The Great Aquatic Drama and Miss
Stnddardis Dive-Funnv Incidents.
Perhaps the greatest Of all efforts
towards realism on the stage is to be
seen this week at the New National
Theatre in "a Dark Secret" II IS
realism realized, as one gentleman
put il last night But the vast audi.
ences who are now witnessing the per
Torrance nightly can scarcely form any
idea Of the wonderful ingenuity. me.
chanical skill and great expense in
volvcd in the production. The tank
containing the river of real water is
twenty five feet wide. sixty feet long,
and from two to seven feet In depth.
II Is constructed Of rubber and plate.
glass and holds about ninety tons Of
water The company. in addition to
its heavy cast and accessories, carries
with IL a skilled engineer aud twelve
assistants, who, with many laborers EN-.
ployed in the respective cities. are solely
occupied in the placing and unplacing
of the tank.
A CRITIC man was in the wings dur
ing last nights performance and wit
messed the work Of the great army en-
EuENA III hhnhAluk AAE lthl SltNlA
launch. the real" boats and "real'
rainstorm, and saw the real ducking
Of May Joyce (Miss Belle Stoddard) and
her gallant rescuer, Martin Brooke (Mr.
E. B. Tilton). Miss Stoddard remained
under water nearly two minutes and
Mr.. TiltOn and herself splashed about
Tor minute OF so more while the audi
enCe cbeered itself hoarse, and then
rrhru ftfs r,4vfofv Fs11 tha v,afr IoFf 4,
trail Of very real water from the stage
10 the dressing room.
A little later Miss Stoddard, who is a
fascinatingly beautiful young lady and
a clever artiste, told the TIE Critic
man all about tank life d" "Oh, !
really enjoy my dive" said she, as her
eyes sparkled merrily. II know that
many persons In the audience believe
to the contrary and think l suffer great
hardships, but they are wrong. Over
and over again, every where 90, ] am
asked, %, how do you stand itY DO you
often catch coldp and Are you not
afraid you will get pneumonia Why.
these warm nights / really LONG for the
fourth act, and then you know in cold
weather the water Is heated 20 com
Portable degree. Ihave enjoyed greatly
improved health since | Joined the
Dark Secret Company, so you can
see there are no evil effects" The
glow Of health on the young ladys
cheeks left no doubt Of the truth Of her
words.
Some people think I wear rubber
clothing" Miss Stoddard continued,
''and | would wish you to dispel that
Illusion. No, / really get as wet as n
were to fall into the river Just now. At
one time we had double, lady whose
only part was to impersonate Nay J0yce
in The water, and she wore rubbers, 5ut
I don't" said Miss Stoddard emphati.
cally.
The young lady was enthusiastic In
her praise Of the beauties Of Washing
ton. There Is only one dirty thing
about your charming city" said she.
land that Is very, very dirty-your
water.' and THE Critic man sadly
| bowed In acquiescence
Many funny incidents occur In con
nection with the mammoth tank not
listed on the programme. Recently Il
became necessary 10 send a colorcd
super into the flies with gas for the cal.
ciums When he was over the seven.
foot part Of the tank his foot slipped
and he fell with splash Just as he
disappeared beneath the water MIy
Joyce appeared upon the stage, exclaim.
ing, Great goodness, what was that?"
The ebon-hued swimmers head coming
up Just then, he shouted ~ Dark
Secret" Since then his exclamation
/ has stuck TO him as a nickname.