A Parlor Match

Parlor Match, A (1884), a farce‐comedy by Charles H. Hoyt. [Tony Pastor's Theatre, 16 perf.] I. McCorker (Charles E. Evans), a not‐too‐principled book agent, and Old Hoss (William F. Hoey), a tramp who was once an auctioneer's assistant, combine their dubious talents to gull Capt. William Kidd (Daniel Hart) into believing he is a natural medium at séances. With the help of Kidd's mischievous daughter, Innocent (Jennie Yeamans), they call back from the dead a motley assortment of figures who sing and dance for them and who also speak up in McCorker and Innocent's interests. Old Hoss finds time to rummage through the Kidd household in search of items for an auction, and once, fearing detection, hides in a drawer; this scene became quite famous. The typical late farce‐comedy used its elementary plot as an excuse for an evening of songs, dances, and specialty acts. It toured for many years, and during its tour Hoey introduced “The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo.” An 1896 revival served as Anna Held's American debut.