187

A Dissappointed Audience.

The Buffalo Bill combination opened their season most [inuspiciously?] here last night. The audience which greeted them was a large one, the parquette and dress circle being filled, as well as the gallery, which was jammed, but before the close of the first act the tortured spectators began to leave. Mr. W. F. Cody, in whom, of course, all interest settled as Buffalo Bill, the hero of "20 Days or Buffalo Bill's Pledge," was laboring under a severe indisposition, [saperimduced?] by a too free indulgence of intoxicats. In the first place Mr. Cody was not up in the lines, the close study of which he neglected and his staggering condition of inebriety, had a supremely painful effect upon the audience. Notwithstanding the fact that his condition was so pronounced that the smallest boy in the gallery knew what was the matter he gave some specimens of fact shooting and though about one-third of the shots were missed, he made some fine ones. The play of course suffered, and the support, nearly every one of whom were strangers to the star until a few days ago, were necessarily at a great disadvantage. The ladies particularly were extremely nervous, yet they did well. Miss Mary Tucker gave a very acceptable Grace Weldon, though very much prostrated with nervous excitment. Mr. Jule Keen the Dutch comedian succeeded in getting the audience into a very good humor in the first act, but the star's utter incapacity soon destroyed the good effect. The play is a good one of its kind, and with a little judicious cutting of the dime novel language, which intersperses it here and there, will take well. The situations are good, and one or two are strong. A little less "business" of the trick mule, a villainous looking specimen of asininity, with an inordinate mordacity and kicking propensity, and fewer songs by the Dutch comedian, will greatly benefit the piece. Mr. Cody has a good company and a good orchestra, but he can't run a successful show unless he keeps sober.

The company were to have left by special train for Milwaukee last night after the performance, but had to postpone it and cancel the first night of their engagement there.

This was done in order to give the company additional rehearsals, as the play is new to every one, particularly to Mr. Cody, who never studied a line of his part until he reached Janesville. The fact that he had not mastered his lines was the prime cause of his unfortunate cordination last night, The company left on the 10 o'clock train for Milwaukee.