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Buffalo Bill.

Hon. William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) with a strong company, commenced a three nights' engagement at the theatre last evening to a pretty fair audience, which made up in enthusiasm what it lacked in numbers, and frequent rounds of applause greeted the hero whenever he appeared in his several characters.

The play is a melodrama written and dramatized expressly for Mr. Cody by Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. It possesses considerable merit and abounds with numerous comical and pathetic scenes. The field of action is laid on the plains of the far West, with the exception of the second act, which lies in Chicago and introduces the heroine, Rose Melton, whom Buffalo Bill had met and saved from death some time previous, but in doing so had lost his heart and fallen in love with the fair Rose, the feeling being reciprocal on her part.

Complications arise through the action of the outlaw Ralf Royston, who is ever seeking to take the life of the brave and noble scout on whose death his safety and fortunes depend, but a happy culmination is reached in the final act in the overthrow of the outlaw and the triumphant vindication of honesty and justice, with the union of the two loving hearts. The scenery used in the production of the play was made exclusively for use in its presentation. That used as the background in the first act is so arranged as at its close to vividly and strikingly represent a prairie on fire, with a herd of maddened buffaloes rushing wildly before it direct upon the Indian camp at which the scout is held a prisoner, bound hand and foot. In the last act the representation of the stage coach stopped by a gang of robber outlaws is very lifelike, and adds much to the effect of the scene. It can be truly said that since his last appearance in this city "Buffalo Bill" has greatly improved in his character of an actor, and where he is called upon to act a thrilling scene of border life his interpretation of the part is so real and true as to call forth a marked acknowledgment of his talent. His feats with the rifle are truly wonderful, but must be seen to be appreciated, as it is impossible to draw a pen picture of the situations under which he sends a ball true to its aim.

Miss Nellie Jones' acting of Rose Melton is well performed,and the Wild Nellie of Miss Lydia Denier could hardly be improved. Being the wife of Royston, wronged and deserted by him, her strong love turned to hate, and living the same wild life as her male companions, she carries the sympathies of the audiene with her until his tragic death from her own hands. Mr. J. J. Loudon as Ralph Royston is somewhat deficient in force, and his execution of the character is rather labored. Mr. Alf. Beverly as Judge Chincapin Shyster and Mr. L. R. Wilard as Moses Molock, the scheming Jew, create considerable amusement, and they are continually getting out of one scrape only to fall into another. The negro Buttermilk, by Mr. Harry Irving, together with his obstinate little donkey, also comes in for his share of applause. Anoher feature of the play is the introduction into the first act of a group of genuine Indian chiefs, and their war-dance and other antics seemed to be highly appropriated,especin the gallery. In view of the immense success of the programme last evening, "Knight of the Plains" will be repeated througout the week.

Buffalo Bill.

The Hartford Courant has this to say of the appearance there of Buffalo Bill in his new play, "The Knight of the Plains," which he is to present at the Opera House to-night:

Col. 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, 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, good costuming, and a spice of reality was added by the introduction in the opening act of a troupe of Nez Perce and Pawnee Indians and their interpreters. The galleries were crowded, as might have been anticipated; but for that matter so were the dress and parquette circles, and indicative 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."

AMUSEMENTS.

LEUBRIE'S THEATER.

The late arrival of Buffalo Bill and his Combination prevented them from giving a matinee yesterday, as advertised, but the crowd that assembled at the Theater last night, in spite of the miserable weather, to witness the "Knight of the Plains," proved that a good performance was expected; nor was the audience disappointed. Buffalo Bill has a good company, and the scenes depicted in the play presented last night are realistic in every sense. There was a refreshing absence of the bloody murder business, which so often renders plays of the kind stale and unprofitable. Buffalo Bill alone is well worth seeing. He is no pretender, but a man who has faced death on the plains a thousand times, and knows the pathless plains better than the painted warriors that roam over them in search of buffalo or scalps. His acting is true to nature, and his shooting with the rifle was really wonderful. He was well supported by the members of his combination, who are far above the average of traveling actors.

Miss Lydia Denier, as "Wild Nellie," well deserved the hearty applause she received. Her enunciation is remarkably clear and distinct, reminding one of Kitty Blanchard.

Miss Nellie Jones is the ideal of the part she played. Her "business" is correct in the minutest detail, and her voice alone would entitle her to no mean position on the boards. She is not only distractingly pretty, but a true artist.

The Indians introduced in the first act are genuine red skins of the plains, and their war dances and other savage ceremonies excited great interest.

Buffalo Bill

This hero of many fights with Indians on the plains, and for the past ten years a successful actor, will appear at our theatre to-night with a combination in the thrilling drama, "The Knights of the Plains." Buffalo Bill is a wonderful shot with the rifle, and the Indians give a realistic effect to the play. He will be in the city until Sunday. An exchange says:

The Opera house was crowded last night, on the occasion of Buffalo Bill's first appearance. Every nation has an actor--a play which represents itself. England has her dramatic dukes and kings, and Austria her Philips. All nations have plays and characters peculiar to themselves. The true---the original representation of America is wild plains and uninhabited forests. A hero of these scenes is purely American, and his name is Buffalo Bill---W. F. Cody. Mr. Cody is not only the hero of a drama written for himself, but is the hero of a broad drama written by nature and by fate. He, as Eliza Cook would say, is one of nature's noblemen, and richly deserves the name.

The play last night was good, and the audience was peculiarly demonstrative. There is not so much of the blood and thunder as one would imagine, but it is ereplet with fine dramatic and "comedienic" points.

In fact, there is not a poorly selected character in the troupe, and we advise our people to patronize a purely American drama and more purely American actors.

Buffalo Bill.

Music Hall was packed in every nook and corner last evening, and what a cheer went up from the gallery gods as Buffalo Bill jumped upon the stage and pointed at the heads of a band of cut-throats two highly polished revolvers. And during the play, how opportune were all of B. B's arrivals when virtue was to be protected or a life saved. "Buffalo Bill at Bay" is like all his previous pieces, varying only in language and in the working up of startling incidents, yet intensely interesting to the crowd that always attend. The supporting company is a good one, the Indians are hideous looking, and Bill shows his remarkable skill at shooting. The orchestra is excellent. There will be a matinee this afternoon and another exhibition this evening. There is no gun firing, except when Bill gives his exhibition, and no slaughtering, so that timid women need feel no aversion to attending.

There is no humbug about Buffalo Bill's Indians, and their war-dances and camping scenes are well worth seeing.

Buffalo Bill.

Hon. William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) with a strong company, commenced a three nights' engagement at the theatre last evening to a pretty fair audience, which made up in enthusiasm what it lacked in numbers, and frequent rounds of applause greeted the hero whenever he appeared in his several characters.

The play is a melodrama written and dramatized expressly for Mr. Cody by Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. It possesses considerable merit and abounds with numerous comical and pathetic scenes. The field of action is laid on the plains of the far West, with the exception of the second act, which lies in Chicago and introduces the heroine, Rose Melton, whom Buffalo Bill had met and saved from death some time previous, but in doing so had lost his heart and fallen in love with the fair Rose, the feeling being reciprocal on her part.

Complications arise through the action of the outlaw Ralf Royston, who is ever seeking to take the life of the brave and noble scout on whose death his safety and fortunes depend, but a happy culmination is reached in the final act in the overthrow of the outlaw and the triumphant vindication of honesty and justice, with the union of the two loving hearts. The scenery used in the production of the play was made exclusively for use in its presentation. That used as the background in the first act is so arranged as at its close to vividly and strikingly represent a prairie on fire, with a herd of maddened buffaloes rushing wildly before it direct upon the Indian camp at which the scout is held a prisoner, bound hand and foot. In the last act the representation of the stage coach stopped by a gang of robber outlaws is very lifelike, and adds much to the effect of the scene. It can be truly said that since his last appearance in this city "Buffalo Bill" has greatly improved in his character of an actor, and where he is called upon to act a thrilling scene of border life his interpretation of the part is so real and true as to call forth a marked acknowledgment of his talent. His feats with the rifle are truly wonderful, but must be seen to be appreciated, as it is impossible to draw a pen picture of the situations under which he sends a ball true to its aim.

Miss Nellie Jones' acting of Rose Melton is well performed,and the Wild Nellie of Miss Lydia Denier could hardly be improved. Being the wife of Royston, wronged and deserted by him, her strong love turned to hate, and living the same wild life as her male companions, she carries the sympathies of the audiene with her until his tragic death from her own hands. Mr. J. J. Loudon as Ralph Royston is somewhat deficient in force, and his execution of the character is rather labored. Mr. Alf. Beverly as Judge Chincapin Shyster and Mr. L. R. Wilard as Moses Molock, the scheming Jew, create considerable amusement, and they are continually getting out of one scrape only to fall into another. The negro Buttermilk, by Mr. Harry Irving, together with his obstinate little donkey, also comes in for his share of applause. Anoher feature of the play is the introduction into the first act of a group of genuine Indian chiefs, and their war-dance and other antics seemed to be highly appropriated,especin the gallery. In view of the immense success of the programme last evening, "Knight of the Plains" will be repeated througout the week.

Buffalo Bill.

The Hartford Courant has this to say of the appearance there of Buffalo Bill in his new play, "The Knight of the Plains," which he is to present at the Opera House to-night:

Col. 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, 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, good costuming, and a spice of reality was added by the introduction in the opening act of a troupe of Nez Perce and Pawnee Indians and their interpreters. The galleries were crowded, as might have been anticipated; but for that matter so were the dress and parquette circles, and indicative 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."

AMUSEMENTS.

LEUBRIE'S THEATER.

The late arrival of Buffalo Bill and his Combination prevented them from giving a matinee yesterday, as advertised, but the crowd that assembled at the Theater last night, in spite of the miserable weather, to witness the "Knight of the Plains," proved that a good performance was expected; nor was the audience disappointed. Buffalo Bill has a good company, and the scenes depicted in the play presented last night are realistic in every sense. There was a refreshing absence of the bloody murder business, which so often renders plays of the kind stale and unprofitable. Buffalo Bill alone is well worth seeing. He is no pretender, but a man who has faced death on the plains a thousand times, and knows the pathless plains better than the painted warriors that roam over them in search of buffalo or scalps. His acting is true to nature, and his shooting with the rifle was really wonderful. He was well supported by the members of his combination, who are far above the average of traveling actors.

Miss Lydia Denier, as "Wild Nellie," well deserved the hearty applause she received. Her enunciation is remarkably clear and distinct, reminding one of Kitty Blanchard.

Miss Nellie Jones is the ideal of the part she played. Her "business" is correct in the minutest detail, and her voice alone would entitle her to no mean position on the boards. She is not only distractingly pretty, but a true artist.

The Indians introduced in the first act are genuine red skins of the plains, and their war dances and other savage ceremonies excited great interest.

Buffalo Bill

This hero of many fights with Indians on the plains, and for the past ten years a successful actor, will appear at our theatre to-night with a combination in the thrilling drama, "The Knights of the Plains." Buffalo Bill is a wonderful shot with the rifle, and the Indians give a realistic effect to the play. He will be in the city until Sunday. An exchange says:

The Opera house was crowded last night, on the occasion of Buffalo Bill's first appearance. Every nation has an actor--a play which represents itself. England has her dramatic dukes and kings, and Austria her Philips. All nations have plays and characters peculiar to themselves. The true---the original representation of America is wild plains and uninhabited forests. A hero of these scenes is purely American, and his name is Buffalo Bill---W. F. Cody. Mr. Cody is not only the hero of a drama written for himself, but is the hero of a broad drama written by nature and by fate. He, as Eliza Cook would say, is one of nature's noblemen, and richly deserves the name.

The play last night was good, and the audience was peculiarly demonstrative. There is not so much of the blood and thunder as one would imagine, but it is ereplet with fine dramatic and "comedienic" points.

In fact, there is not a poorly selected character in the troupe, and we advise our people to patronize a purely American drama and more purely American actors.

Buffalo Bill.

Music Hall was packed in every nook and corner last evening, and what a cheer went up from the gallery gods as Buffalo Bill jumped upon the stage and pointed at the heads of a band of cut-throats two highly polished revolvers. And during the plays, how opportune were all of B. B's arrivals when virtue was to be protected or a life saved. "Buffalo Bill at Bay" is like all his previous pieces, varying only in language and in the working up of startling incidents, yet intensely interesting to the crowd that always attend. The supporting company is a good one, the Indians are hideous looking, and Bill shows his remarkable skill at shooting. The orchestra is excellent. There will be a matinee this afternoon and another exhibition this evening. There is no gun firing, except when Bill gives his exhibition, and no slaughtering so that timid women need feel no aversion to attending.

There is no humbug about Buffalo Bill's Indians, and their war-dances and camping scenes are well worth seeing.