193

THE DRAMA.

Buffalo Bill at the Academy.

Hon. W. F. Cody, familiary known all over this country as Buffalo Bill, appeared at the Academy last evening in his new play, entitled "Twenty Days," before a large and enthusiastic audience and supported by a full company, under the management of Josh Ogden. The play is the product of Charles Foster, at present a member of the company, and tells the story of the adventures of Buffalo Bill during a twenty-days' leave of absence from duty as government guide and scout on the great plains. It is of course, hightly sensational, dealing as it does with gamblers, assassins, outlaws, Indians, border men and scouts. Hairbreadth escapes, bangings, shootings, etc., are scattered thickly throughout the play, as might be expected. The plot of the story is something like [word?] Buffalo Bill, while on a twenty days' leave of absence from his duties with the army, fally in with a hanging party, headed by Dan Miller, who are in the act of drawing up a [Capt.?] Nortlake, and Englishman, who was to have married Grace Weldon, the belle of the plains, and an heiress. Buffalo Bill cuts the rope and liberates the Captain from the time being, but the latter is again captured during his protector's temporary absence, taken to a canyon in the mountains and buried alive. But Buffalo Bill is again on the trail, and rescues his new friend just in time. In the meantime, however, the arch villain of the play, Montana Mike, passes himself off as the genuine [Capt.?] Mortlake, gets possession of Grace, and carries her off to his gambling hell in the neighborhood of Denver, where the scene is located. They are tracked and followed by Buffalo Bill and the real Captain, who arrive just in time frustrate the designs of the villain, who [ineets?] his just deserts at the hands of a confederate, accidentally. Capt. Mortlake, and Grace Welden, are united, virtue triumphs, while vice perishes ignominiously. This is a brief outline of the play, which is well suited to the purpose for which it was written - the exibition of Mr. Cody and his associates. Mr. [word?] as Buffalo Bill indulges in some excellent rifle shooting in various positions, and is really the life of the play throughout. Miss Mary Tucker as Grace acted naturally and gracefully, and Mr. Donaldson as Capt. Martlake made a very agreeable impression. The rest of the characters, including the humorous [Teuton?], from New Hampshire, represented by Julo Keen - were in competent hands. There is a great deal of variety in this play, which must be seen to be appreciated. The company has just started on the road, and some of the members were not quite familiar enough with their lines, but a steady improvement will probably follow. This afternoon and evening the usual performances wil take place, and on Sunday the series will close.