New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-20
HALLACK'S THEATER.

If prize were offered to the most impudent appro
pristor of the brains and toll that other men have
expended in paywriting, there can, we think be no
doubt that Mr.. Oliver S. Leland would be able 90
establish his right to that premium with less trouble
and in less time than any individual now extsnt There
might be an active competitions doubtless there weuh
be, but Mr. Leland could be backed by 40 many, and
such III questionable proofs of his unbushing assurances
in attempting TO impose on the American public French
plays As the productions of Mr. Leland, that any i'm
partial umpire would be instantly convinced, and It
would 20 hard, indeed, if jury even of competing
rivals did not give Mr.. l.. a unanimous verdict. All
the plays of late certainly that Mr.. Leland sells TO
managers, are French to be sure he translates them
into English; they'd be much better if he didn't; but
that is all he does with them, except to sometimes Kill
most of the life and dash out of em in which pleas-
ing accomplishment he far exces all rivals that he
could take another prize that score, if one eee
offered for competition.
And the best Of the joke is that he doesn't seem TO
be in the least sbashed by being instantly detected
and exposed in his literary peccadloes on the con-
rary he seems to rather like it, Judging from hs per-
sstence in his pratical amrsements He has 1t is
said by the papers had original French plays produced
in Philadelphia He certainly had an original play
acted in Boston the other day that discovered to be
q
was announced with appropriate comments next morn
ing in the papers. But Mr. Leland is at it again. he's
always at it; he seems be perpetually engaged in
writing original plays by TRANSMITTING them from the
French; it would seem that, in fact TO Use popular
phrase of somewhat questionable elegance, he doesn't
do anything else"
The comedy produced sst night under the bichro-
matte title of Blue and Cherry is the last instance
of Mr. Lelands industry, in which he has preserved
more Of the spirit of the original than is bis wont for
it is It'll play of mach merit of peculiar sort, and
was very successful. Its Frenchness was however,
perfectly apparent had the audience been ignorant OF
Mr. Leland's predilection for that language, aud
had the name Of Scribe been unknown in the land.
We doubt that more than reader in ten Pc
ruses newspaper sketch Of the plot of play AID
while we honor their discretion entertain great
respect for the peiuices of intelligent minores, and
therefore we sha tell the leading Incidents Of Blue
and Cherry for the benefit of the units and ths tens
may kip it if they choose.
Lord Alfred Dorset tiring OF the nonoseuy of
welded bliss coceves desire to rival the romantic
heroes Of hs iavite plays and novels by stirring
adventures of his own, and therefore attempts % do
little in the surrrphous love-naking way with GER
tain ward of his. He addresses her very ardent note
requesting her to meet hin at midnight in q certain
ero,to in the garden. To this modest reqs. the lady
does rot accede bat tells Doscts wife, who does 20 to
the erto and there meets her husband and gives him
knot of blue apd cherlyiibbon "a . keepsake, a
convenient thunder. storm hiding Ter face 50 that
her recresnt lord does not discover tbs mistake.
Cpcp this circulnstance hangs all the seton o.
the play Lady Emily Dorset" thus having
her husband 10 her power, wthou' his being aware
it. contives by the aid of pretty waiting 'n.d' to
whom she reveals only snail part o the "yrtery Of
tie affair with. ut giving hcT the key, t" "tsu'aze and
tcrmeu', ard irigbcn Ter sIsuse into gratifying her
most '..ravsgsn, ~isaes. Among other 'nres' she
J makes pm givr hes esriag- aud sof..s. and h