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THE THEATRE. - "Life on the Border." - The house last night was an immense one, notwithstanding the bad weather; the balcony, dress circle and galleries being jammed and the orchestra well filled. Nor was the enjoyment of the crowd one whit less than its proportions; for they seemed to have carried bottled-up enthusiasm that would gush out at every situation of the play.
Mlle. Morlacchi is a host in herself. Her quadruple rendering of the heroine of the clever farce, "Thrice Married," made a palpable hit from the first; and it was strengthened by the admirable dancing, of which she has long been known as facile mistress. Her singing, too, was pleasing, the excellence of accompanying action filling up what little weakness might else have shown; and her mastery of foreign tongues was musical as her accent in English. The other parts in the farce were cleverly played, making it, as a whole, a decided success.
"Life on the Border" is a rip-roaring, blood-curdling, red-fire and gunpowder impossibility; but it literally bristles with points and situations and tears down the applause. It introduced two as magnificent specimens of manhood as ever trod this stage; and the easy recklessness of their parts did not demand too much of Buffalo Bill and Texas Jack. They have made their hit and were applauded to the echo. Mr. Graham offered up his Broadbrim as incense to "the gods," who sniffed it with infinite nose; and Mr. Arlington's Old Sloat was a capital piece of character acting. He makes it the part of the play and far better than the author knew it. Mr. Moreland gave a manly and natural color to a thin pair; and Miss Fay's Betty was the femine success of the night. The company has made a "big hit;" and the "Scouts of the Plains" will draw another huge house to-night; as will the matinee farewell to-morrow at noon.
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