New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-12-07
WINTER GARDEN.


The main cleept Of tragedy on the stage 10 insers-
rsble from hereditary social distinctions Equanyp
are the eontrsrieties and disappSatneus al tho mss
passop love- Leading 70 mortal resus- All the TRACE
dies OF the tbeaier from Shakespeare 70 the NOS
eor,paet aDdhear rendng Of modern dramas, Ia dsss
oux Cemeas are bs,ed radically upon the truth. The
only tragedy that is left whether for the stage or The
,or1sne novel in this country must be connected with
he .le remaining hereditary privilege in this country
Slavery. With thst for basis il may DO made
fierce a. ten ftIries terrible hell" wthous s We
can have only individual aspiration acts, triumpss
and defeats on the stage, which are iasaihsiens
for tragedy, or serious drama, requiring ~ s
does tbe Yatalisc element-or the force q
socie,v controlling the single person. The ep-
pos,;op Of Smith to Browns marrying his dsush-
Ter cannot evolve a tragedy; both are on the same
,lsne socially. and If there be difference In fer
tune money is made or los, here, that nothing
s,upendous dramatically can be made Off Nos sosss
fierce hates of the MOniagues and Capule,s, which
fetch about the secret interviews Of the lovers she
death of Tbsult and all the subsequent woes SO.
too the hereditary honOrs of King Duncan create TIA
ambition end s.pguinary character Of Macbeth who.
if lived now, would to CRAFTY bis AMBITION merely
turn into Tammsny II that institution be no, extncs
4
ment on the stage being identified with the hereditary
privilege which remains that of Slavery, we Ind tss
sole national playas well novel whence is "a DO
riyeJ--is Uncle Toms Cabin, which was representsa
uninierrup,edly in this city for whole year. The
success which attended this might well induce man
aper to try a second play the babarous, murdorous
or tragic entity whose hdeous head Is reared among NJ
in the form Of Slavery.
II was safe experiment therefore, for the directorsf
the Winter Garden TO put on the stage ivescs drsms
called "The Octoroon." In this the idea taken ron
one or more French uoves-whcre the ove-the iu-
possible love of a hgh-soued generous young nan,
for one damned among women, though lovely, femis-
inc and with all the eterntes Of love glowing in The
eentost of bosomsbeeause out Of eight parts OF her
nature one was derived from African bood-eives rise
TO tragic drama, with some tremendous scenesisis-
some which should grind TO the last triturstion 81
shame and horror the bsrbarsm which clsimssnprszn-
acy ofthe Government Of this country from the head
Of the White House down to the tide-wsiger-dowH 70
below low water mark Il is not intention, at this
late hour. to present detail Of all the Safcs
to say this much of the plo.: Southern family, with
the attachments to old family slaves which may DO
readily imagined becomes after the death Of Ito nsseu-
line head involved through the rascaliy Of one Yankee
oyerseer and one New-York coadjutor in bankruptcy
This youth. the nephew of the widow, returns frem
Europe. He falls in love with beautiful Octaroon
ON the estate whom his late uncle had liberated IN
writing. but, as appears through legal nformsiiy.
abe still remained slave the estate being bankrupt
f. including the slaves comes under the auetionsers
hammer. rich young lady who has fallen IN love
with the Young man induces her father TO buy the es-
tate, and her sensib,ies being acute she seeks 10
save the Octsroon beauty from the bestia grasp OF
the oyerseer who however, outbids her, giving 10
OOO for the prize The other overSecr, whe
is travelling photographed, is also ensmered
If the fair Oc,oroon curious occurs in which
the villain overseer murders boy-gets certain pa
perspd laws the Soundation for his detection In be-
ing accidentally photographed while in the act OF com
mno the crime. The tragedy Of the piece consists In
the Ocaroon taking poison TO avoid the embraces Oh
Der new master. sub-trsgedy is the pursan ana
}, death Of he villain by an Indian
We have sad there are some tremendous scenes In H.
The sale of tho slaves the Octaroon included, 10 20.
Ofts kind II ia unequaed. Greater hustle and "buai-
,essv are only required for it. The whole pies,
however. gives evidence Of haste in being
-. on the stage. There dragging and
u-.,o,-s, and some ridiculous blunders Or"
audience is good-natured, and makes allowance for
things corngible on second third performance.
In France such haste would ruin work. for the pub
lie there demand clean bill of dramatic health on the
first night. In addition to this better rehearsal IL win
be necessary TO cut down the piece. COMPRISE certain
scenes, and hurry the action, gaining thus an hours
brevity. With these Improvements the drama viii
please as well at the last act a. IL did
at the third and fourth, which created I'm
mense sensation, raising the bouse with excite
ment. No grester enthusiasm could be asked.
The defects Of the dicton are a want Of more pas
sionate element in the loveanguage and in the dsn
cations Of the ghsstly wrongs Of oppression There 10
q certain depth Of conviction which brings ts own
wordsthis we did not find 70 the extent needed but
what we did observe placatory tendency 10 the
saveowner But let this pass-ihe tragic facts Of tbs
piece remain. beautiful creature-whte, except 10
the eye Of an EXPERTS sold like dumb beast To
crafty brutal lust; we need more terrible
tary on the system which reigns nearly three
fourths of the United States and Territories proving
their civilization TO be mockey.
The actng-less tho drawbacks Of which we have
spoken-included brilliant deneations. Mrs. Bourdr
cault was sweet and interesting the 0caroon. Mrs
Aliens Dora Sunnyside was the best thing she ever
did. The Old Slave Pete, by Mr.. Jameson, was the
strongest porTaiture in the piece-t was marvelondy
fine. Mr.. Jefferson is always good, and eminent to
the extent the character allows Mr. Johnston was
capital and has the most effective melo-dramatic char
aeter. We have beside these, some less prominent
characters done well by Mr.. Davenport, Mrs. Blake,
ar. Holland, and DIR. BOurcicsul.
Some Of the points, scencay, most striking and
electives so. too, the groupings. The auction sale and
the events Of the steamboat under this head. We
ra 81 orinon tha, tha Mace aahiact IN Additional rs