The Washington times., 1894-03-27
FROM ONE OF THE BOXES.

Even the grave and reverend gentlemen
from up on the hill like to see themselves
caricatured. 1t was Congressional night at
the National at the first performance OF "The
Texas Steer" Also everybody else nearly was
present. We have gotten into the
habit Of going to see this wonderfully clever
character sketch Of Tim Murphy's and can
not get over it. The 'Texas Steer" is still
in his prime, and the new Bossy Is quite
skittish and cute yeailing. II 1t is not SO
that of the many, many thousands who
have seen this most Hoytian OF the
plays of this funniest Of farce writer's,
every one is most firmly convinced that no
one will ever fill the part OF Maverick Bran
der, of Texas. to our complete satisfaction
except Mr.. Murphy.
Mr.. Robson's people go long way toward
making us forget the humorous tmpossibility
on which ShaKespeare's flrst and drollest and
comedy is founded. Really, when in the
last scene the two brothers Antipholus stand
facing each other, one cannot any more
than Amelia tell which is the husband.
There is not the chanceefor makeup in the
smooth-faced Drmios that the other twins
have, but Giles Shines imitation of Robson
is as clear as possible, even to the voice,
which We had until now thought alone and
unique in the universe. Except for this pleasing
probability OF the impossible, and except for
Mrs. Robson's Amelia. il seems to US that MIR.
Robson's COMEDY of Errors" is disappoint-
ing and ought to be Considered misfortune.
II we had never seen ..The Comedy OF Errors
given by Robson and Crane We should
have right to think this performance
good one mot a great one, because it is
not but fairly satisfying. The other perform
ance was as nearly perfect as can ever be,
and in many things this falls behind it. There
is not Crane. THERE'S not such magnificent
stage setting. There is not such supporting
company.
How many-well, certain number OF
years ago, Lillian Russell Perugini began her
career under the chsperonage of a man who
has started a surprising number of
our cleyerest players and songsters-.
Her wedding celebration, that 1 spoke
OF yesterday, quite curiously happened
within a few days Of the thirtieth anniversary
OF his career as theatrical manager. Tony
Pastor had his celebration on Thursday night.
This manager and humorist received thou
sand congratulations and good wishes. Won
der il you know what this anniversary
means; that it also commentaries
the beginning Of the variety form OF amuse-
ment in this country? Before we had Tony
1aSlOf we UdU shakespeare anu tHt cidSslco
and the rather discouraging beginnings OF
playwriters of our own. but We didn't know
about variety shows. He began them. Be-
sides Lillian, Francis Wilson, Nat Good
win. Helen Dauvray. Neil Burgess.
Denman Thompson, Jefferson De Angels,
Matte Vickers and others with just as we'll
known names, ence did vaudevilleturns.
Here's what Gilbert says of the shores of
Lazyland in Utopia Limited, just over from
England:
The song of birds
In ivied towers,
The ripping play
Of waterway;
The loving herds;
The breath of flowers;
The languid loves
H turtle doves
These simple toys are all at hand
Upon tn! shores, o Lazyland.
This other Of Hoyt's farces. the one that has
cllnked most coin into Hoyt's strong box,
reaches its Tooth performance tonight. Just
what the souvenir will be they have not dis
closed. but they give their joint assurance
that it will be the handsomest and most ap-
propriate memento ever designed. And they
have given some themselves before that were
not half bad.