New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-10-30
TIE DIANA.
4. sELEo AT RURTON,s THEATER.

SELF" AT BUTTONS TiEATER
AT Burtop's Theater on Monday evening pro
Iuce, for the first time new play IN uree ac:s, BY
Ms Sidney Frances Baieman, entitled " Scf." Tho
scene Is said to be laid in Now-iork, and We are n.
quesed to Aeve that the incidents have their coao.
terpa in the daily occurrences Of NewYork high life
and that the Manners conversation, and bearing OF the
various persons of the drama give accurate idea OF
the social condition and intercourse OF our eos' e.
cety." Il would he a matter OF curous speculation to
INQUIRE whence The auhorcss Of Self and the writers
of kindred dramas derive their conceptions Of the
manners and usages of refined society nfrcm actual
obsery alton they are acquainted with the things %
which they profess 10 write, then the osrlcatures hey
produce owe their gToss distortion to dthbeno male
ifthey have never been admit ed within the charmed
circle then is theirs The sin Of ignorance, md We can
only despise their presumption 10 attempting 10 tesch
what they have never had al opportunity h Iearr.
We ore DO apolos ists for wealthy snobbcry; there
enough of it, That there are cases where mans
money has bought him admission to fashionable cir-
cles, m spite OF his vulgarity and ignorance, caA-
moi be doubted; but these instances are the rare eh
cer.ions and the general rule - iar otherwse.
We protest against putting into the mouths OF adios
and gentlemen vulgarsms and slang which no respesi-
be landlord would tolerate Ia his barnard, merely be-
the ladies gentlemen De
copied from life. II however seems TO be euTeGt
idea with dramatic writers that of those they saearngy
term fashionable people, the females arc az
choppers and social spies upon each other and The men
AL blackegs and swindlers. According TO their stand.
ard, mans grossness increases with his u.oneyfhy
thousand dollars makes him BLACKBOARD and rowdy
and hundred thousand col sttutes him rufian b.
You'd redemption. We weary Of this miserable
stuff but must perforce swallow yet another dose, for
Self Is drama built upon the invarable Old model
he plot s based upon that old idea, immortal among
dromasts, that merchants always the verge Of
bankruptcy and only saved by the Dterposton d
dome fortune, who daily works money miracle
heir behalf, from going 10 everlasting smash. Then
another old and inconceyably snobbsh idea Is pressed
into the service and we are gravely shown that among
people OF wealth and leisure not only IL there tN
refinement and elegance, bat that there exists lH
versal disregard for the absolute deccnces OF civilized
lie These two notions, which the sole foundsta
upon which has been reared every play for the psx
ten years which purpotcd to show up" Nev.Yas
fsshionabelie are the play Of Sell, again tro,edou
sndtheatergoersere for the nine hnndredh time regs
Herewith Mr.. Apex is the merchant who is trembling
Oh the brink Of rum" he has eItrsvagan. wife
ond gambling SOD, to both Of whom b. refases money
because, as he says, he hasn't got any. Ho hss also
daughter by former marriage who hsppo TO have
the snug little Of $l5 900 in bapk circumstance
which Is known 10 al the rest Of the household wbS
make simultaneous grab for it. The father Ses the
daughters check for the amount, but the e,.rsysgsp
mother and the Young America son forge check and
draw the money behro Mr. Apex gets to the bank.
Then follow several stormy scenes such ss are sup
posed to be Of daily occur among the families Of
New York rich merchants, AID the daughter Is GnsNy
olId bsr ia
COMMON among the gentry, and may be witnessed in
Fifth avenue any day, in the edge of the evening" s.
after dinner. The discarded daughter goes 10 board
ing house and is making preparations 10 teach mu..s
and earn her bread and butter baunonioasy, whec
she il interrupted by vituOus retired banker wko
Gomez in, makes his viii, leaves her half his property
pay her $4,000 in anticipation Of bis speedy deoeas
and then takee himself out Of the way after the msr
ner Of al viruous retired bankers. Then the Dis
carded daughter goes home and there il O grand e.
paneton; then there Is about 10 b. explosion wien
be virtuous retired banker resppears and rnos VIZ
uousy assists to compound the felony and the curtain
goes down on the family party VII, oil in rcper.sr
carr This Is synopsis Of the events Of the secosd
and third arts. There Is first oct, composed Of sdg
goods store, which il very finely painted, ard .
.ot OF peoIle Who talk, and who are alec WI
nlely painted, but they have more % 20
with the play Of Self" than with the tragedy
Macbeth. There are some hangers-on 10 the nAs
persons Of the drama, who bsvo been introduced
Ill up the scenes, but who also have nothing 10 "
with the story. These ore Mrs. Rsd:rs, an env0zs
Jealous, curious, pying malignant, tsttsg, fssho'-
able lady, who L very nicely personated By MT
Charles Howard and Mrs. Codlver, who y orij
Mr.. Masprop worked over again and sp0ied, SD
who ia very badly played by Miss Polly asrssah
As e mirror Of our fashionable life, Self Sac
toted carcature and tho moral or, rather, hnn'''ai
tsson woud teach, if the common sease and ccrsnn
honesty Of people did not rebc! ageast it, (. vay
reprehensible As an evening entertainer. ass
failure the plot is destitute Of interest; the lsnga
lie generally dull and commonplace; AID tho whole "
ieir il three borrs weeriness.
That it s rot successful is essentially tie fscf Of,
play itself, for the acors all make the most Of ue-
,rinps parts, and do their best " make the piece u
patchwork please. Mrs. Davenport, Is the r)ofea
heroine, nves,s her with considerable ineres., ard
tires r.ses stoy the dbl level Of the nero isnge'
and wiDs G rornd Of applause by tho e6or. M
Clarke Fishers par. " unworthy Of hp, asS tSes