Criticizes a play he saw that starred John Brougham. Transcription: and drawing hard. [Charles] Welden called. He ?s been sick for the last two or three days. Evening writing hard, to [William] Boutcher. Had a visit from [Charles] Damoreau. He ?s ill content with [Frank] Leslie ?s employ, that cat like little knave ?s business being rotten throughout, money not forthcoming, and Leslie having rows with [Joseph] Brightly. 15. Thursday. In doors drawing busily. Finished letter to Boutcher. [Alfred] Waud called, on his way up town to see Darley. 16. Friday. Took a pile of blocks to [Thomas W.] St
Criticizes a play he saw that starred John Brougham. Transcription: and drawing hard. [Charles] Welden called. He ?s been sick for the last two or three days. Evening writing hard, to [William] Boutcher. Had a visit from [Charles] Damoreau. He ?s ill content with [Frank] Leslie ?s employ, that cat like little knave ?s business being rotten throughout, money not forthcoming, and Leslie having rows with [Joseph] Brightly. 15. Thursday. In doors drawing busily. Finished letter to Boutcher. [Alfred] Waud called, on his way up town to see Darley. 16. Friday. Took a pile of blocks to [Thomas W.] Strongs, & met him at Wells & Webbs, preliminary. Returning to room by 4, Creecy called. He, daily employed at Army Office State Street. [Frank] Hillard came. Supped at Taylors with Creecy, then to the Lyceum to see [John] Brougham ?s new play, The Game of Life. Trash; ? mouthing sentiment, stereotypic twaddle and melo-drama, like nothing that ever occurs in life. Not a spice of truth or reality in it, only the buffoonery and Brougham ?s excellent acting, good. Nevertheless I ?m glad the play is successful, though tepidly so. I ?ve heard worse stuff applauded to the echo. Now I ?d wager anything the author of the piece is the dupe of the land sounding virtuous clap trap he puts in the mouths of his characters. nay, that he has an indistinct sort of belief that all virtue is but that. Abuse of ?ǣthe world, ? cant about ?ǣtaint of slander, ? twaddle about ?ǣthe country, ? scandal rebuked in stereotyped phrase, Lester [Wallack], as a sort of returned Australian in Gipsy King costume, doing the melodramatic villain to a tedious extent, Blake as the good old man with a young wife, ? Title: Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries: Volume 6, page 218, December 14-16, 1853 . 14 December 1853. Gunn, Thomas Butler, 1826-1903
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