Escaped from the Law

ACT I—COMEDY They started out all bright and gay, The circuit they were going to play; The manager to each man said— “We’re dated forty weeks ahead; Next week we play at Omaha, With our great play, ‘Escaped from the Law.’” ACT II—ROMANCE At Omaha you hear folks tell, Actors came to a hotel, Hung their lithographs all around, Played to empty seats and jumped the town; Left their trunks all filled with straw, And that same night escaped from the law. ACT III—PATHOS Everything seems to go wrong; Actors’ shoes are almost gone. Trudging down the track alone, A thousand miles away from home; Counting ties the last we saw Of the company called, “Escaped from the Law.” (Curtain)