164

BUSH-STREET THEATER.

The performances of Buffalo Bill and
Captain Jack at the Bush-street Theater
offer matter for comment rather than for
criticism. Their plays and themselves are
without art; they only make pretense to
amuse in an humble way; if they are to be
judged at all it must be by their own standards.
There must, doubtless, be plays for
the million as well as books for the million;
the imagination that cannot grasp Scott or
Thackeray can be pleased, or shall we say
profited, by the gaudy fiction, with thoughts
as cheap as its covers; which finds its way
into the house by the area instead of the
society entrance. We would not place the
border play on a level with the common
border fiction, and do not wish to be understood
as so rating it. Nice distinctions
do not hold on the stage so rigidly
as in the world of literature. if we
judged our plays as we do our books, we
should bring the stage within very narrow
limits and seriously diminish our genuine
amusements. We speak in this general
way not caring to particularize too minutely.
Mr. Cody's second play is a little
livelier than his first, fuller of movement,
and more wasteful of gunpowder, and much
more bloody, otherwise it would have a less
sanguinary name. The characters are not,
perhaps, so well drawn, but the plot is better
drawn out; in other words, it is extremely
tenuous. The action involves
several fights with Indians, a rough-and-
tumble contest with a bear which nearly
ends Bill's career of usefulness, and a bit
of insanity and death that throws a ghastly
light on the scene. Buffalo Bill and Captain
Jack both do some good acting, not
considered as acting merely, but as representations
of real personages and of life on
the frontier. the Chinaman is fairly
played by Mr. Simms, whose language and
action are more realistic than his looks.
The Indians of the play are reasonably
good imitations and the white men are
average trappers, hunters and military
officers, Mr. Brown as the old trapper being
the best. The piece wins the hearty approval
of the gallery, which has been overcrowded
nightly, and is witnessed with interest
by numerous intelligent people who
fill the dress-circle. It will be continued
till further notice.

BUSH-STREET THEATER.

The performances of Buffalo Bill and Captain Jack at the Bush-street Theater offer matter for comment rather than for criticism. Their plays and themselves are without art; they only make pretense to amuse in an humble way; if they are to be judged at all it must be by their own standards. There must, doubtless, be plays for the million as well as books for the million; the imagination that cannot grasp Scott or Thackeray can be pleased, or shall we say profited, by the gaudy fiction, with thoughts as cheap as its covers; which finds its way into the house by the area instead of the society entrance. We would not place the border play on a level with the common border fiction, and do not wish to be understood as so rating it. Nice distinctions do not hold on the stage so rigidly as in the world of literature. if we judged our plays as we do our books, we should bring the stage within very narrow limits and seriously diminish our genuine amusements. We speak in this general way not caring to particularize too minutely. Mr. Cody's second play is a little livelier than his first, fuller of movement, and more wasteful of gunpowder, and much more bloody, otherwise it would have a less sanguinary name. The characters are not, perhaps, so well drawn, but the plot is better drawn out; in other words, it is extremely tenuous. The action involves several fights with Indians, a rough-and-tumble contest with a [bear?] which nearly ends Bill's career of usefulness, and a bit of insanity and death that throws a ghastly light on the scene. Buffalo Bill and Captain Jack both do some good acting, not considered as acting merely, but as representations of real personages and of life on the frontier. the Chinaman is fairly played by Mr. Simms, whose language and action are more realistic than his looks. The Indians of the play are reasonably good imitations and the white men are average trappers, hunters and military officers, Mr. Brown as the old trapper being the best. The piece wins the hearty approval of the gallery, which has been overcrowded nightly, and is witnessed with interest by numerous intelligent people who fill the dress-circle. It will be continued till further notice.