New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-31
Mr.. AND MRS. BARNEY WILLIAMS AND
THEER DRAMAS.

hams az the Broadway Iheater We nave oeen CON-
Iel,d to observe what progress has been lately made
in the growth Of a species Of theatrical qusckery
which has lately come tito vogue. We refer 70 a
class OF al Mess pointlesS sided pieces now pop
ulsr simply on account of their fantastic and unwsr
rsntabe e1sggeiation, aud which are propelled down
the pubic gullet by cne-man power-there being in
each Of these literary weakngs but one single indi
vidua whose part of sufficient dignity to attract
notice. The Broadway Theaer has no occasion to
resort to tbere tricks of the trade. The Legitimate
drsma when properly presented here has never fsed
to draw. The unequivocal success which ttended
the production OF Midsummer Nights Dream
should teach the managers where their strength lies
The WELDING mp of tn establishment for the past few
weeks to the so-cailed " Irish and Yankee dramas
is dereliction which merits notice.
The Yankee line of business had of late years be-
come unpopular. and consequently unproftable and
hoped the race of Yankee comedians extinct, but
we had fu,ae branch of the family has lately made
it, appearance and Yankeesm in petticosts IS now
al the rage.
Most OF Us can remember those exiravagant carica-
tuiists of everything human, Yankee HILL yam
"kee" Silsbee, or Yankee somebody else, who
were wont to "skir the country, anogating to them
selves transcendent arts ic merit with much gray
ity as il they were not the veest mOuniebanks that
ever dsgraced the boards Disgusting their humanity
with fsxen wig a bel-crowned hat cowhide boots,
sv alow-tailed coat, psntsloons OF some barbarous
pattern and hideoUs amalgamation OF coors, misfted
in the most ou,landish fashion imaginable, by some
dabolically ingenious tsor, strapped up at the top
with listing suspenders and strapped down at the
bottom with buckskin thongs armed with pine Single
and portentous jack knife with which to illustrate the
national popularity of whiting these people
siruttes upon the sage-which should be sacred from
such clcw1ish profanaton-and there protested to
give illustrations of the national pecuarities of
Z" the Americans at home
As if a costume never seen upon the person Of any
sane man outside theater nasal drawing of few
rgua monstrosities unhead of in actual life, aud a
caIrsge anc behavior so loutsh and unc0uh il would
disgrace a savage, are Characteristic ofthe Yankees
or any other people the has ever shone upon
Ard yet the green curtain has hardly goue down upon
the last Of these distorted exhibitions which not
only tolerated but actually received slight degree
OF applause.
Although this particular phase OF dramatic extraya
gance has faded into disrepute the public taste is not
We, satated with inane balderdash but is feeding
its doltsh appetite upon a new species of mbeciIe alb
surGiiy. rev style Of double-headed drama has
sprung up which contains not only applause p
olizirg hero but heroine to match, though of diff
fcrent breed-an Irish prodigy and )" Yankee"
female nondescript as a comprehension monsters in
the same cage.
Mr.. Barney Williams and his wife first set up as
stars upon the limited capital of exaggerated MINI
icry of certain pecuarites of speech manners of
"IIishmen" and Yankees" but abundant imitators
have sprung mp none, of course p ssessing the
questionable merit of the originals description Of
one will answer for OIL and the shorico nings which
we here ascribe to Mr.. Williams and his wife APP
pcable in a more intense degree to all those who
have followed in their wake.
The Irish comedian as each one vain-glol ously
styles himself, once seen is easily remembered-he
preserves his identity under all circumstances. His
external appearance may be slightly modified by
breeches Of different cut wig of different color
from the last; but the same voice, the same manner,
the same attitudes the cock OF the hat the at
fcia brogue totally unlike any dialect ever spoken
since the poly glo troubles at Babel the same roll Of
The eye and twist Of the tongue, show plainly through
ali fimsy oisguises. dress OF congenial livery may
make q shade of difference for moment, or the garb
of gentleman may conceal for an instant Mr.. b.
Williams proper but the instant the lips opened
an distinction vauishes, and from the mouth o. master
old unmistakabe bastard brogue the same condensa-
ton OF backgusrdism.
Destitute Of the skill Of the true artist, unable 10
modify voice. manner feature address, to suit the
varying emotions be intends to represent installing
for psthos, and profanity for humor, he is the
same in all characters. literally "himself alone
without tie least danger OF being tahon Tor anybody
else.
III 49, - 81 opJ4 he hafta hat y
stract the "poteen" bottle, cut out all illusions to
fighting" and whisky, eliminate the constantly
recurring damn and /" dyl" and 4" the Irish Com
"eoian' would be left without pin to stand upon
and, for all his artistic merit would do to hinder it, he
might be Lissed from the stage an intOeTably bad
actor. We have now in New-York members OF
"our regular stock companies who better delin-
Gators Of Irish character than any Star that has played
heIe since the days OF Tyrone Power.
With Mrs. Williams we have little to DO. IL has
never been our misfortune to encounter ia real life
any thing even remotely resembling the class Of maid
ens ;be proftsses 10 represent.
II there are, in some hitherto unknown region,
females who dress in patchwork garments and talk
through their ncses and whose general department Is
charac cried by brazen imPudeDce and chronic i'm
mocesty her imitation ia uneeniably done to the life.
From Der vIvAcity, sehpossess0n and grace we
have no doubt she might ornament some more agree
able In in the profession.
The low character Of the sentiment and the Ian
guage perysdrg their plays is OF course rather the
fault Of the drematis then the actor, aud it l. with
he phys ard their effect upon the taste Of the pub
lie that our quarrel lies, rather than with the per
formers
TIE Irish element Is Of course the predominant in
gredieut in these mes-es Of theatrical trash which are