101
OPERA HOUSE.
Buffalo Bill, in "Knight of the Plains," will appear at the Opera House to-morrow evening. The entertainment is of the character which is immensely popular, especially among the younger portion of the male population. His company is an excellent one.
102
The Buffallo Bill party in their drama of the Knight of the Plains drew an immense house last night. The audience was largely composed of people who are not in the habit of looking with a too critical eye upon dramatic efforts, and the result was that shouts of approbation were heard all evening.
The drama is of a higher order of literary merit than those formerly presented by Mr. Cody, but it is a question whether it is, after all, an improvement on the old drama full of realistic and imaginary effects. People who delight in the dramas treating of far Western life were last night surprised and disappointed to see their hero of the buckskin suit and ready rifle and knife walk the stage during considerable of the evening in the habiliments of Eastern civilization, and notwithstanding these were worn as disguises, it was while in his old-time character as the dashing hunter and scout that the hero won his chief plaudits. The people wanted "blud" in border dramas, and while the "Knight of the Plains" enables the hero to stab and shoot one man during the evening, instead of a whole tribe of Indians, as formerly, the people did not get what they expected.
The piece allows some rather thrilling situations, notably the gambling room scene, the prairie fire, and the knife duel.
The company is, on the whole, a fair one.
103
Opera House.
Buffalo Bill - To-morrow night the original and only Buffalo Bill (W. F. Cody) will present his "Knight of the Plains" at the Opera House. He has this endorsement from the Baltimore American:
"Buffalo Bill, with his new and singular attractions, that form so strong a combination, can not be denied as being one of the best drawing cards that visits our city. The rough, wild border life he illustrates is not without specific attracting power. The dramatic company, composed of some twenty odd people, are above the average that generally comprise a traveling organization, and sustained the different roles assigned them creditably. No doubt this, the last appearance of the combination, will be greeted with a packed house, as it has been awarded with crowded houses all during the week."
104
Opera House.
Buffalo Bill - The Buffalo Bill troupe is at the American Hotel, and will appear at the Opera House this evening in "The Knight of the Plains." The leader of this party is the genuine Buffalo Bill (W. F. Cody), who has made such a conspicuous record as a scout. The general verdict is that the play to be given to-night is a decided improvement, dramatically, on the plays formerly given by Mr. Cody, though not less attractive as depicting border life. The Hartford Courant gives it this endorsement:
"Colonel Prentiss Ingraham's new play, written for Buffalo Bill, was submitted at the Opera House last evening to public criticism for the second time. It is essentially a drama of the plains, in its salient features, resembling those with which theatre-goers are familiar, yet far above the average in plot, in situations and in dialogue. These merits were brought out by a company of more than the excellence ordinarily found in performances of this particular character. Last evening 'The Knight of the Plains' was presented with special scenery and good costuming. The galleries were crowded, as might have been anticipated; but for that matter so were the dress and parquet circles, and indication that Buffalo Bill and his combined novelties in his new drama has a fascination for adults as well as the youthful portion of the community."
105
Opera House.
Buffalo Bill - The Buffalo Bill troupe is at the American Hotel, and will appear at the Opera House this evening in "The Knight of the Plains." The leader of this party is the genuine Buffalo Bill (W. F. Cody), who has made such a conspicuous record as a scout. The general verdict is that the play to be given to-night is a decided improvement, dramatically, on the plays formerly given by Mr. Cody, though not less attractive as depicting border life. The Hartford Courant gives it this endorsement:
"Colonel Prentiss Ingraham's new play, written for Buffalo Bill, was submitted at the Opera House last evening to public criticism for the second time. It is essentially a drama of the plains, in its salient features, resembling those with which theatre-goers are familiar, yet far above the average in plot, in situations and in dialogue. These merits were brought out by a company of more than excellence ordinarily found in performances of this particular character. Last evening 'The Knight of the Plains' was presented with special scenery and good costuming. The galleries were crowded, as might have been anticipated; but for that matter so were the dress and parquet circles, and indication that Buffalo Bill and his combined novelties in his new drama has a fascination for adults as well as the youthful portion of the community."