New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-03-11
BURTON'S THEATER.

Though the biting wind outside tells us sousewhae
sharply that Spring still delays to smile away too
lingering Winter we may be said TO be abo1s the
Midsummer of the dramatic world, when is lie at
It's prime. Audiences have grown in the past week 10
their proper dimensions, the heaers marx with como
novelty the completeness of their gathered strength,
aud the Italian Opera starts again from its temporary
repose to full day. Mr.. Burton prompt in catch
ing the spirit of the hour, produced last nigh. new
Comedy and Extravaganza, which, if not alto
gcther new, comes to this generation OF hew-forS,
with face of pleasant freshness
"Helpng Hands," the comedy, is of course
from the pen OF the popular heroes Of the day, Tom
TAYLOR and Charles Reade. ito have the children u
their brain impait delight and win admiration from the
private theater of Windsor Castle, where Sill Wa
tiers Run Deep" within the last few weeks COM
handed TO the Theater of Honolulu where, we see By
our files il was performed before King Kane -hame-
ha and his friend Yankee Sullivan, be not fame, IN
what mortal soil does il deign to grow Hero again
we have two flowers from the same uxuriant garden
sprnging up in rapid succession 10 lure the town. The
hero of last nights piece Il old German musician.
reduced to poverty by blindness with other blessing
tan a precious devoted daughter, and Stradamius
violin His love for this violin is the principle Of the
DRAMA Rent being overdue, as usually the case
with poets, editors and artists busting, heaaieas
aLdady of the usual breed of that article ntroduoes
cunning jew broker, who, knowing the value OF the
VIOLIN apprases Il with the other furniture at tribe
not to buy it himself, but of course he has Won
friend" who will. Now the landlady has a clumsy,
differing. drty-faced but kind hearted maid Of al
work, who oyerhearng the jew and landady, be-
comes Disguised, and luckily at the right moment
meets a sweetheart-once thief, but now reformed
member of the Shaftesbury Shoeblack Corps-who
shares her sympathy pays the rent and becomes tbs
possessor Of the fiddle, which he dsposes Of for q
good round sum to the jew. With this he destines
TO procure a Winter abroad for the gentle and con-
sumptive daughter of the old musician, who is de-
voted in her womans love- The fiddle il replaced by
another, and it is hoped the old artist will not know
his gone, but he discovers from the touch
of the wood and great is his dispair. The negotiation
TO cell introduces q brother Of an amateur who
fond Of folding, had purchased the old mans de-
light; and this brother endeavOrs TO seduce tho
daughter, but though fop and rou6 he has some
heart and contributes toward the happy denouemeot
in which every body usual gets exactly what they
want We cannot think this production of Taylor and
Reade exhibits that thrOng reality and knowledge Of
actual life, as distinguished from stage convention,
which is their great virtue. That an artist mag
become as maddened this old Gcrman
with passion for his art, is possible, but it Is not
universal enough to appeal to the heart Of the null
titude, and becomes little wearyng at times, when
Hartman holds forth in fiddle dissertations, and ex-
Iands nero anecdote Of distress and reiel--some-
what Ike that of James Triple in "Masks and
Faces'-into a very heightened drama. There can
not be much sympathy with plot which turns on an
old fiddle the center Of pathos. Whatever faults
there may be in the ethical portion OF the piece are
Al. t,a
maid Of all work and the shoe-black who has once
been athief and who though he stands respectable
specimen Of rugged school reform, retains little
ooseness Of principle and of the old leaven st about
him, are not only admirable types, hut are we'll
placed and secure in ample measure what is denied
to the hero Thoee who cannot feel for o fiddle
can enter into the hearty benevolence with which
these two personsges, poor and weak as they are,
contemplate distress and give with Joyous
hand and delicate generosity thor little means
to relieve it. They are pair OF WICK
ens portraits full Of mithfuness and kindness. Do'n
parts, too, were played with refreshing natureiheSs
by Mr. and Mrs. Burton Mrs. Burton looked hon
noved moor Tilda TO the life and Mr.. Burton made %
| sbcckey. for by that name we best love MN, ono
~ those strange and truthful ndiyduaIities for the
creation Of which Nature has granted him patent.
Uelnno Hands, il il lives, will owe to Tilda and
sboekey whatever tack il may hold on memory. 1t
was emineny successful and the performers were al
called TO receive well mented crown OF applause.
After this came an extravaganza, the gonus Of
classic burlesque, which whlom presided over the
Broadway and Walaeks, having been announced
TO DO his comic biddipgs at Buttons. The story o.
FortuDo Of stolen from Of the enchanted
chambers Of the Countess DAunois through which We
have all wandered by childhood with wonder, and ave-
and towns the possession by mortas-the Van Am
burghs and Hernes the Hunters Of the past" eA.s-
ordinary faculties. Reservoirs drunk up haanches
eaten and the wondrous feats of lot Of iay
shown in so lively manner as to fasfy tho AXIOM;
That what's impossible can't be-,
And never never comes 10 psss"
No mortal ever had such followers as Fortune, and
We would have been glad ourselves 70 have enlisted
under such Fortune as last night. We do not won.
der that one who played archy, sang 50 mery. ~
looked 20 lovely as Mira. Howard last night, with n@
small hgh-bred head and lively electric msaner' PEI
formed all the charms she did. Mrs- HOLMAN too. was
most pleasant Princess, and sang and played well A.
| this hour We can ssyua more