New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-03
VALLACKS THEATER.

Last evening was produced play ehtteu Ino
Italian Bride" which written for Miss Eliza Lo-
gan by Mr.. s. Yates Levy of Savannah, Ca, which
has been frequently played BY her in Southern CITES
but was performed in NewYOrk for the frst time ass
night 1t is tragedy with incidents and action enough
for three acts but which, by the arbitrary require
ments of old time stage superstition diluted into i've.
Why homicide must perorce be postponed untiithere
has been talk enough about it to I'LL five long acts,
instead of being satisfactorily accomplished at the end
of the second or third, has ever been an Egyptian
mystery to those unscquainted with the footght des'
potism of dramatic composition. Tho case Of inc
Italian Bride" is not the only instance "
which Q modern audience, who are satisfied WIN
lese even of good thing, than their insatate grand
fathers have been compelled to do dismal Penance ior
the sins of their dreary old ancestors, who always
wanted great deal for their money. the nanan
Bride" wasconstructed after the old fve-act model
without the least regard to the slightly important
fact that had it been concluded at the eno
of the third, it would even then have lived to
ripe old age. The timid difference which
the author has paid to the taste of century
ago. is not bis sole fault poverty of invention a. 70
incident is also too plainly apparent Bits nom Fazio
and Venice Preserved and other familiar plays are
plainly recognizable not to mention plagarzed
which makes up nearly the whole Of the fourth act We
can easily account for this not unknow phenomenea
by supposng that Mr.. Yates wrote his play at first IN
three acts or four with an innocent though absurd
idea that when the whole story was told the play
should end and afterward peppered in quantity OF
scraps of other mems dramas until the ve-act bulk
was complete. Making due allowance for the lack
of pluck in young author to write fouract tragedy,
and thereby defy all stage precedent, "The Italian
Bride" is not a bad performance.
II is founded on q love story which is as follows:
Venetia, noble lady, is betrothed TO Codio, with
the full and free consent Of her father Giovanni who,
in advance of the wedding, gives into the possession
of the bridegroom that is to be q document making
over to him and her all his wealth. Giovanni is that
night murdered by Lorenzo, another asprsnt to the
hand of venstia, who, provoked by tho
refusal Of Giovanni to Give Venetia to him,
snstches from the old man a dagger which
he carries and Stays him, leaving the blade
sticking in the wound, and throwing the sheath
away. Clodio finds the sheath and is thereby incrmi
mated, accused of the murder and condemned to die
by the wheel Applications to the Doge for pardon
fail; Clodo is visited in prison by yenetis who has
provided means of fight which he refuses to avail
himsef Of and he Is at the proper time led forth to
die. At this juncture an intimate friend of his.
Lorenzo who in bis death agonies ccnfesses tho MUIR
der Of Giovanni and exculpates Clodio, who ID, Of
course, saved from impending death by the timely
rival of Venetia and Hugo with the proof of his limo.
cence. The language Of this play is deliberately
rhetorical and redundant with highly-wrought ina
gerry, which gives much of it, particularly the first
two acts, decamstory rather than an actively dra
matte character. II is, in fact rather moro ornate
than tragedy language ordinarily and therefore falls
further short of any standard Of pure naturaness than
many other plays. It is however, interesting and.
on the whole, an effective piece.
Miss Logan, who personates the heroine, venetia,
plays with good deal Of power and psthos and
earned the applause which was freely bestowed. Mr.
II. b. Philips always excellent in Odd men, was char
acteristically good Mr.. A. H. Davenport and Mr.. j.
b. Howe, who enacted the lover and his faithful friend
played with spirit and energy, and were both, with
Miss Logan, deservedy called before the curtain. Mr.
Canoll represented Lorenzo-the Isgo of the drama
admirably; that, to person sympathizng with
the wrongs Of the heroine, it was really pleasure to
see him killed and out Of the way.
Miss Charlotte Thompson, young lady with dec.
ded talent for her profession, and who daily surprises
us by the development of some unexpected ability or
accomplishment, had small part, Of which she made
the most.
Many bouquets were thrown TO Miss Logan. and the
audience, which was large one, gave unmistskable
tokens Of qualification. The play will be repeated
every night this week.