The Book for Playgoers.

A series of bright, clever sketches of plays, actors and authors form the basis of an interesting review of the theatrical year as published in "The Playgoers' Year-Book," just issued. The stage in Boston is described, but as all the leading attractions come to that city, and as the history of each play is given, the book is practically a review of the American stage. The author, Mr. Charles E. L. Wingate (H. U. '83), is the dramatic editor of the Boston Daily Journal, and his treatment of the subject has been marked by soundness and brightness. He gives the plots of all new plays and operas in such form as to make a series of short stories, interesting in themselves, presenting the views of many of the authors and leading actors on the merits or experience of their own play, sketching the history of prominent plays from their origin; offering many data most valuable for reference in after years; analyzing the drama and the acting; recording the full casts of characters of the principal first performance and revivals; and giving very entertaining biographical sketches of the leading actors who visited Boston the past years. One of the most attractive features is the fine collection of engravings that adorn this work, portraits of Booth as Iago and as Hamlet, of Ada Rehan, of Augustin Daly's company, of Mr. Lewis and Mrs. Gilbert, of Mrs. Vincent, late of the Boston Museum and of other actors and actresses in costume and in street attire, besides pictures of scenes from the most noted plays.