New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-24
I'm OLD KENTUCKY"

Miss Bettina Grard had an arduous evening al
the Academy OF Music in the play called In GA
Kentucky" In the first act she swung nersei pS
a rope across a stage chasm in order 10 save "e'
hero who is about to be scattered into fragments
10y the explosion Of a dynamite bomb. In the sec
ond act she rescues racing nlly from burning
stable In the third act she rides this hlly to VIC
tory in the Ashland oaks. But If Miss Girard
toiled nightly she had an ample recompense OF ap-
plause An ordinary theatrical gathering would
look scanv and meagre in the big academy bu'
the huge building full OF people and the play
was suitable TO their preferences that the noise
of hands and feet and lips was frequent and clanor
GUS Miss Girard gratihed the vision of the OBJ
servers satisfied their ears and commended her-
self nj big TO their approval. She sang mum
Der of .ongs and the evidences Of the pleasure oil
her hearers in no way doubtful IN GA
kentucky presents ingenious and agreeable
mimcry Of exciting scenes and incidents upon the
race track in the grounds Of Blue Grass estate
and among the mountains of that picturesque state
The scenery is made up OF many pieces ana IL Is
put together SO skIlfully. arranged 80 defty, ana
tinted SO suayey that the stage Is attractive ana
interesting to look upon in every act. so exten-
sive and complicated were the sets that the waits
between the acts far too proix, and the third
act was not over until almost half past II O'Clock
The scene painters, Young. Emens. Marston ana
Vocctlin have done excellent work. and so have the
machinsts and constructors Of all sorts
"In Old Kentucky was written by - l. DAILY
and is in eight scenes and four acts. II Is not en-
dowed with especial literary merit, but 1t repre-
sens faithfully certain Kentucky types. and enisis
the clos. attention Of the that and hear
IT, Its story Is carried forward without dragging
or dulness and II overnows with the briskest Of
action Abundance Of contrast, plenty OF incident
swiftness OF movement. aptness In development,
are among its attributes 1t IS certain To be popu-
lar here. and It's start suspicious. IL Is not
a short-distance race which this play has entered
upon but II is likely to run for a long time. ard
TO MI the Academy with whstling and stamping
thousands for many nights.
The company is well nt,ed for the play. 1t would
be difficult for the managers 70 obtain an actress
who could iil the peculiar requirements OF the
part Of Madge Brcry 20 aptly, gracefully and
readily as Miss Gerard. Burt q. Clark Is a Ken
lucky colonel. fond OF racing, excitement and old
Bourbon. 10 the life George w. DcyO, is young
mOonshincr. does not fail N spirit and force. The
part OF old cOlored gervant, Ncb Is set forth
Charles X. French. The pranks OF band Of col
ored boys. genuine pickaninnies ar" amusing IN
the extreme. IL is certain that In Olf Kentucky
VIII entertain many metropolitan playgoers. al
for the Ashland Oaks. and the struggle Is
therefore not 50 stirring 10 the look"rs-on AZ II
the stccplechase IN The Pr0digal Daughter" But
the whole progress OF the contest for tn. oaks
Is described for the audience In lively vein by
the Kentucky colonel who, like Iaccheus OF old.
climbs tree. but with different motive. Tho
thrilled 10 fever heat Queen Bess. the nlly
whom hangs much OF the story Of the play. dashes
10 the front and carries of the hOnors OF the
oaks. and his hearers are moved 20 eager anticl-
patton he shouts out the changes and surprises
OF the battle for the prize
Here Is the cast OF I'm old Kentucky: