The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-09-11

ss there Is little of isterest in public atfiss
low going on, and as there is always some
thing pleasing about " dramsticais., even when
their history Is not very gracefully written, L
could not do Anything better than give some
account Of what has been done in Boston In
theatrical matters " from the beglaningu r.
some, what shall have to state most probsbyx
will not be new, but to others il may be "a:
while to all. from the nature of the subject. il
must present some features of interest.
The Puritanical character Of New EaRi md
long had an adverse effect on the drama bore.
The first settlers Of the country shared fulir
in those sentiments Of abb ,rrence to the stage
that led the English Roundheads to shut
up the theatres and to drive away lie
actors. The stage was looked upoa. In
Boston, as weA as In London, AZ q vorv
especial device of Satan's to secure the
possession of immortal souls Still there h
such foDdness for dramatic amusements in an
communities, that as far back rs the last wears
of the seventeenth Q7th) century stage plays
were talked Of as things likely to be introduced
into Boston. But they do not seem to have
been attempted until more than sixty yes,s
later. About the middle Of the last oentury
they were introduced here, and Otwsy's 'sOr-
phaa' had the honor Of being the first pinA
performed in Boston. It was acted at the
coffee house on King (now State) streets L.
locality where the part Of Shylock has often
been play ed since--with great success. The per-
formers were two young Englishmen and sone
Bostonians. The General Court promptly
passed law to prevent repetitiOns of sush
conduct. This was in 1850, and though there
were subsequently some private theatricals
had, all attempts to procure the laws repeat.
or to have public performances, were unavaH-
ing, until 1775-6, when the British of3oeug
then commanding . besieged army, performed
at Faneuil Hall q piece called "The Blockade
of Boston," written by Gen. Burgoyne, who
was soon to figure so prominently In real ira
gedy. The object OF the piece was to ridiculs
the besiegers, but the jest was soon converted
into bitter one, at the perfOrmers' expense.
Other plays were acted by the officers IN the
same venerated buildings, one Of them beiag
CARA" These proceedings did not tend %
make the English more popular
The shock given BY the occurrence Of the
revolution to all received opinions had its eject
on the drama. The law against dramatic en-
teItainmeDts was evaded, under the sanction of
not q few of the best people Of the town, and In
1872 doth August there was opened what was
called the New Exhibition Room, which had
what Is now Hawley street, then known q
Broad alley. 1t was under the manage
ment of Mr.. J. Harper. Monsieur
Placfde was Of the company. There were
dancing, singing, feats of activity 30. Among
the daLces were the Minuet de la Cour aud tho
Gavot, things much better known to the grand
mamas of our bellies than to the bellies them
selves wonder they did not introduce tho
stately Pavon.
At first, plays were not performed. but finally
they were commenced, under the name Of
Moral Lectures. The first was Garrick's "Lethe,'
which was followed by Venice Preserved" aaA
other standard plays. This reused the fanatics,
and strenuous efforts were made to put An end
to the lectures. Gov. Hancock was at tie heaA
of the opposition. The attempts to enforce t&e
law, which was no longer supported by opinion,
were very energetic, but failed Of success, tie
higher law prevailing. The exhibition room
proved 90 successful that it was resolved to ereet
. new building,by an association of disting1isAed
gentlemen. This edifice became quite famous e.
the Federal street theatre, and was opened On
the Sd of February, 1894, tue managers being
acted in ii were 'sGustavus Vasa" and 'MOdeEn
Antiques" Among the company were Smelling
Powell and his wife, who are still remembered
here, Mrs Powell surviving until the close a
1913. Performances were given on three eve1-
ings of each week, and the theatre was veg
successful. The second season ended In tbs
bankruptcy of Mr.. G. S. Powell, then sole mana
ger. The management was then taken by Gel.
J. S. Tyler, q Boston gentleman, who resigned
the business before the close OF the season. g.
S. Powell proposed to build q new theatre, aud
received much encouragement. 1t WAS called
the hay market The two theatres were the
means Of causing large assc1nblage Of COED
actors In Boston. There was great dead Of
competition and Ill feeling, and the Federal
street was compelled to reduce its prices Bat
little money WAS made by either house. In
1898, I'd of February, just four years after
its opening, the Federal street was destroyed
by FIRE. MI. Cooper made his first appear
ance In Boston at the Haymarket, July
"a, 1898, as Hamlet. The Federal street
October, 1898, by Mr.. Hodgkinson, who had
| engaged a powerful company. The season was
short and the management passed into the hands
Of Mr.. G. L. Barrett whose son GeOrge-sgen-
| tleman George'-came out in child's part ON
| the nth of October, 1898. This was the ssm-
mencement Of dramatic career destined to b
| very long, and marked by various fortunes, but
always distinguished by the display Of emin.nt
! talent. The new theatre endured for more than
half century, and was torn down only two
| years since. Mr.. Barrett withdrew and was
! succeeded BY Mr. G. T. Wbitlock, who brought
out, among other novelties, "PizarrO." Party
spirit ran high, and . song In Lock and Key,s
speaking Of Che bravery Of the English saiisra.
gave much offence to one portion of the audi
ence and led to rows Mr.. Whitlook failed,
loeing several thousand dollars In 1904
Mefsrs. s. Powell and Harper took the theatre
which was tolerably successful The Haymax
ket continued 70 be occasionally opened during
all this time. and 80 injured the other house.
Mr. Smelling Powell took the theatre In Ne
autumn of 1902, ard kept il for four years, prev
ing very fortunate. John Bernard commenced
acting here in the seasou Of 1904. IN 1906
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