“Fair Play”

Location:

Theater:

Date:

Type:

Sketch, in two full stage scenes, with pictures of the fighter between the scenes. 25 minutes. Written by W.A. Phelen, baseball editor Cincinnati Times Star, who takes the part of the referee, and introducing Willie Purcell, amateur champion boxer of the Cincinnati Gymnasium, and Walter C. Parker, amateur champion of Illinois. It is the story of an American champion going to England to fight the British champion. On arriving there the American hears of a plot to “do him” while in the ring, causing him to lose the fight. He flees, and is place is taken by his trainer, Willie Purcell, the Cincinnati boxer. The second scene is the ring, constructed on the bare stage, 12 ft. square, with posts and ropes. The boys fight three rounds, with 4 oz. gloves. They go at it for fair, and the rounds are exciting, ending with the American knocking out the Englishman, while sustaining several knock-downs himself before the finish. It is a purely local sketch, and each participant received a big advance hand at each performance Sunday. The fight is exciting and was loudly applauded at the end of each round. The sketch is well put on, but the fight, of course, is the leading feature. This fight is a more realistic one than Granville Taylor’s in “The Star Bout”. The act would go good in any house. A tremendous local hit, talked about all over town, with extensive press notices, and will doubtless do us a big business this week in itself. At various performances throughout the week there will appear in the ring the various sporting editors of Cincinnati, and as ring followers the members of local Turnvereins and athletic clubs. Act is not booked longer than this week.

Source: