The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-07-11
AAUsE N ENTS.


The operate extravaganza "Africa"
drew large house to the Seattle theater
last night. and all went away with weary
risibles and . sense Of satisfaction. These
being just the effects IL was intended TO
produce. il can be pronounced complete
success. The company Is made up OF
funny men and clever women. good sing
ers and dancers with few exceptions, and
has . band OF acrobats who continually
surprise one with some new contortion.
The plot. which il just strong enough to
hang upon it all the jokes, songs. dances
and general funny business without being
% strong - to require any mental exertion
to follow, opens with the return from
college Of Maurice Merrill. who 10 accom-
panied by several members Of the gradu-
sting class and Who il eager 70 earn fame
BY exploring Africa and finding Tippoo
lib whether he will or not. The first
scene 10 Moses Merriil's vilia, on Staten
island. where the college boys come
Maurice Merrill represented BY John A.
Coleman. Matthew Miller by Rsymon
Moore. and Mark Mansfield by Otis
Harlan. oil b1mful Of love for Marion
Morton. whom Emma dc Berger imper-
sonates; Maud and Mabel Merrill, the old
mans twin nieces, represented BY Helen
and Henrietta Byron, and accompanied
by Mike Miiligan. . pugilist. represented
by George w. Lewis. and Menander
Nudge, college professor. who is H. w.
Frillman. This scene 10 . roaring farce
from beginning to end, Moses Merrill.
Charles J. Slime. being the good-humorsd
butt Of all the tricks Of the boys and girls,
while his maiden sister, Millicent. Blanche
Hayden. makes love to all in turn, from
the professor down to the pugilist. Otis
Harlan keeps up continual run Of funny
business. in which he mingles the song
1.-THE Cat Came Back" and several others
equally absurd and side-splitting. Mr..
Coleman gives another song describ-
ing The Explorer au Fait" and
dances such dance as was never seen, in
which he twists his legs and arms around
in seemingly impossible fashion. He
Joins with Miss de Berger Ia the duet,
The Art of Making Love-" which won an
encore. The three deuces. r. J. Jose
Thomas Lewis and John Daily, give some
good songs. Mr.. Jose winning an encore
for after the Ball." which he gives in
fine voice and With much feeling. Then
the scene 10 changed TO the Mapledaie
Hunt club house, where the doctor. in the
person Of Gearge Thatcher, appears and,
after being impressed with the idea that
the whole party is insane. proposes the
s,ratagem by which Maurice 10 cured Of
his exploring mania
Then the whole company 10 transported
20 the island which 10 the young hero rep
resents Africa, the doctor who il really
manager Of burlesque company. taking
all his performers with him. Mr.. Jose is
nov the queen. Gus Harlan the king and
George Thatcher the prime minister. A
,roup Of negro acrobats tumbles in the
most astonishing manner among the
palm trees. takes girl prisoner. scares the
wits out Of the pagi!ist, takes several
Others prisoners and after . chase such As
was never seen in Africa or any other
country captures Maurice and takes him
before the king TO DE cooked. Mr..
Thatcher gives some exquisitely ridicu-
lous chatter and winds il up with a