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Show Theatrical Offering Not Highly Popular "The Beggar's Opera" was the first musical play presented on the American Ameri-can stage. It was written by John Gay, and was produced at the Nassau Street theater, New York, 174 years ago, January 14, 1731. A large proportion pro-portion of the 10.000 people then comprising com-prising the population of New York attended the performance, although there were not a few who protested against "the godless affair" and threatened "to have the law' on It. The Murray and Keene company, a hand of comedians who came to New York from Philadelphia, were respo:-s:ble respo:-s:ble for the production, which was a bene'.t performance for Thomas Keane who personally called on the leading citizens and sold tickets. The performance began at 6 o'clock snd was over at 8:45. One of the lines , from this light opera was "Uow hap- j py could I be with either, were t'othi dear charmer away." Chicago Journal, Jour-nal, j |