New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-09
THEATRICAL.

" If powerful interest 1--WE quote the bis IL three
sc.s Tie title is Lies Troubled Tides" which is
perhsps a name IS appropriate as anything else.
res, many very practical people have objected TO
the u,sdern French school Of plays that the lessons
they So, forth arr immoral and at variance with that
,inb, tcs-king which should be the trst object ~ q
nm and Aeathful drama. How ias these practical
peisors are right + no. Necessary now TO discuss,
bus should on. Of them be persuaded to witness ths
representation Of this last new powerful! interesting
domestic drama" a. Laura koenes Iheater, be weust
beg III. world to forgive hm all the harsh things he
had ever spokeu q the absurd French plsywrights,
and world AZ once acknowledge the overlapping
Je,rtiousress Of Al English play for, by the
side If tie heioiue of " liies TroSbled Tide.
Marco. the marble hearted, would shine forth
a rarsccn of moral brightness, ssd nothing
short Of SANITY luuors could do justice to the re-
.,Ieuder; Virtues o. CamI =. the Queen oi the Ca
uellas Tie practical man would say, II the whole
aim Il the sathor of this new piece bad been 20 oN'-
zane a. tie probabilities of social he. snd to co9u'e
M set It characters who could not by the most
remote possibility exit in any state o. society ever
vet knawE 30 the civilized world that we have 10
cotyratu'ae Inn On bis uumistakable Success. aud
that from lis dramatic argument but one moral
can be dedu,,d that adult,rors wife who deIbe-
rately wrecks the lle-boppiress OF lovicg husband
and cnlv child may nnder ceItan Circumstances de-
I'VE the sympathy aud the pityu team osthe world.
TLerractcal man would doubtless observe that had
tlis play been written for the latitude Of Utah. to Do
performed before the pous elders of the Mormon
Chmch. tue sealing of a mans wife to another
uerson nght not to tina, audience he Objectionable
feature but the practical man would continue seen,
tome that the PRONUNCIATION OF such doctrine is slightly
premature for this particular neighborhocd, even IN
the nest startlr of the eespoken dramas of the day
But practical man Of purely ulitaIiaR views could
rot be expected to comprehend the h9hreaehing ideas
Of writer Of genius or to square his absurd notions OF
moral tr1piie,y with the elevated ethics Of a great
dramatst; therefore DISPOSE of the practical man.
stubborn objections by giving in few words the
thread Of The story in language as delicate as the 10
dtcercy Of the circumstances will permit, that all
those to whom these presents shall come may judge
for Themselves whether the practical man is right.
A merchant, named Arthur Morton, who has for
many years lived happily with lis WIFE, suddenly fluids
himself on the brink of ruin in consequence of losses
which have swept away all his property and le0 hun
heavily in debt. The knowledge of this calamity
cones To his wife who hold. in trust for their daughter
a large sum of money--a legacy from deceased
friend This fortune shs instantly places in the con-
troll of her husband that he may quidate his debts
lie draws check on his banker for the entire amount.
ana the money paid away past the possibility OF re-
coyery again. When the funds are AL gone and Nor
tor has lost all control them, the banker Thorn
ton produces document showing that the money had
never been formally aud legally transferred to the
Morions and that Morton, BY using this last sum- be-
longing To another 8ud which he is Fable to replace,
has unknowingly committed crime which may send
him to prison. Thornton has long been a persever-
go -. haa
scoitfully rejected his advances and he now, ia
private interview with her, shows this writing, aud
tbreateps 10 send her husband dungeon unless she
COMPLIES with his wishes. This she coolly makes up
her mind to DO and she does enter at upon life
Of shame with Thornton at the same time remaining
IN her husbands family and retaining her position ia
society This interesting state Of facts finally comes
tothe knowledge of Morton, by means OF al inter-
eeuted letter and lie forthwith makes known to his
wife that he is acquainted th her guilt, at the same
time informing her that he desires her 10 continue in his
home aud TO receive her lover as before. This little
arrangement appears to be agreeable, but finally Nor
ton takes II into bis head TO inform Thornton also that
he il cognizent of the facts Of the case. Thornton
Acknowledges the soh impeachment, and offers to lead
the way to vacant los there to give the husband
the " satisfaction Of gentleman" Morton will not
90 out but invites Thornton to porsist in his visits TO
Mrs Morton until both Satisfied. For some mex
pcabe reason this is not agreeable to Thornton, who
leaves the house, and messenger presently comes ~
and says TINT be is dead but why he dies or In what
manner the audience never Informed. The inter-
estirg MIS- Morton faints away, while her husband,
who seems perfectly content with the turn things have
taken, stands her end announces that he shall
still continue TO love ard cherish her as bis wife.
The practical man. looking at this sort Of thing 10 an
everyday sort of manner would pronounce all this 10
be bosh and rot only unnatural and impossible, but
not it to be represented before an audience which
cannot be supposed to be prejudced in favor Of big
any. For Ourselves, we make no pretensons 10 the
delicate sebsiyeness Of our friend, and presume
not to assert as he does, that LIES Troubled Tides
is play which. on account Of its bad moral, should
lever be repeated but heartily acquiesce in the
last clause Of his condemnation for strong reason Of
our own.
We hold the play 10 be unfit for representation On
account Of is iuness for II is most intoeraby dull
not even what the slang papers would term its spiel
pes i sufficient to redeem il from the charge Of sleepy
s,uuidty The dolefulness Of the first two acts has
probably never been matched In the whole weary his
tory of dismal dramas. We hav. means Of ascer-.
tariIe the anne of the uckess author, but we place
an humble trust in the nterposrg bands Of mercifui
Managers to avert from theaters ell similar dramas,
both because Of the depressing effect they have upon
the spirits and because a. the practical man says the
lesson they teach is too gross to be endured. ~
WALLAcK's THEArER.-Nrs. james w. Wailack
commenced an engagement at this house last night,
before an eppreciatiye audience. The play was TIE
Ganaestey, in which Mr.. W. supported by Mr.
Dyott q. Beverly" and Mr.. Lester, Mr.. Lee, DR.
Philips and Mr.. Allen. Mrs Wallack made some