The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-08
The Thcasres Inst Nieht,


BROApw Az THEATRE-- ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA,
Doctor johnson says Of Antony and Cleopatra, while
prasing tho rapidly Of its action which keeps curiosity
busy and the passions always interested" that with the
exception Of the feminine arts which distinguish Cleopatra,
no character is very strongly Disseminated =" The
evente saith the Doctor, Of which the principal
described according to history produced without any
art of connection, of disposition These concu
sons, the verify Of which have always been apparent TO
the critical reader become absolute matters Of exgency
with the manager who attempts to put the play
upon the stage; he ands great many, perhaps too
many, opportunities for scenic efects-some grand
cpeechega great deal of acon-he story passing rapidly
from Alexandria to Rome-from thence to Syria, and
pgan TO Fgyptand situations strong enough
in themselves but too nartstcaly arranged for the
tcrtaiument Of general audience The work, in fact,
be done for the author well as the artists and ar
CANS 10 familiar expression Shakspere's play is
weak il the back. Nor has the subject been moro
fortuously handled, ss whole, by other authors who
have attempted to treat In dramatic form. The Coun
of Pembroke, Sir Charles Sedley and Dryden, made
comparative failures with IT, although Drydens "All for
Love" is considered his best dramatic work just a
century ago Garick oduced an alteration Of Shassperes
play at Drury Lane, AMI IL was acted with moderate
success Since that iim' the play bias been
iu the United States is not within our remem-
brance. Within the past three years it was
produced at the Sadlers Wells London With Mr. Phelps
ond Miss Gyn Antony and Cleopatra, and being finely
done, had coed run Its performance last evening at
the Broad way theatre was therefore, especially interest
Ing In tie first place. the last grand event in the
history or The theatre which, In few weeks, will give
way to tue exgcnces of commerce Then It's elaborate
preparation awakened public curiosity, and although
the play Is but little known TO theatregoefs who
are not, critical readers Of shaSsperc, every one
the Roman Gere and bis serpent OF the Nile The grand
stake be torew away while oasking 10 her bcgdements,
is the ole story again, bet sim fascinating
So the inlay bad due attention from large audience
The text has been arranged, on the whole, sSlfu!y a
portion Of Drydens added to sustain the interest
Of the story. The events have >been marshalled
into something like order and the action flows With
decen regularity from the rising to the falling Of the cur
tain. wubal the play werhty, and must depend for
lis presu. upon tho scenic Illustration OF its
action than upon the action sef Tue performance is in
fact sp endd series OF tabloauy in tie highest style of
theatrical art. The glcres OF Eeygtau architecture
the woodrous beauties or ola Mus The Stored
duced with striking fidelity. The enec. is
grand. Some POI tons Of the panorama OF the Me arc
executed 10 fsr above the ordinary works Of scene
painters and the Interiors general well done Every
scene has been painted expressly for tho play The cos
tunes, &c down to the Sandal latches, are new, and
made after the best classical authorities. TIE eect OF this
particularly 10 give reality to The mimi scene which
is rarely found in American theatres.
After The characters Of Antony aud CLEOPATRA he piece
affords extensive for uc;ng and aad only
number Of persons who came on the stage add went
away again after speaking some dialogue which was u-
diciOcsy into the smallest possible space Mr.
EDDY the antony Of the night played ,hc part spedy
integenty and vigorously Ills performance OF the last
In the third act where Antony amcnts his irrcsou
ton especially excellent. Nine. Ponisi quite
fascinating enough TO make throw away empire to
say the least and the others said their say, have
said before moderately WELL The play went of smoothly
and successful The audience in exceeding raptures
OF the very beautiful scenes and the tone Of
last nights house be test the manager will have long
for bis revival ncd reap due reward in dollars and
reputation .or his faithful, arduous and artistic abors.
"oUT ENGLISH COUSIN" AT THE BowERy.
For sometime past the dramatic changes have been
ringing on our COUSINS" Our American Cousin" oil
the male gender has attracted large audiences Laura
Kcenc's for hundred nights and The relative
OF the feminine class has been fascinating the hdJue
Burtons. Last night piece Of consanguiny, In the
shape OF " Our English Cousin" produced for the
first time at the Bowery, with great success II John
Drougham would only from his fertile brain give US "0u
Irish Cousin, >" the list would be complete.
Ii the extent Of tho audience and the enthusiasm which
greeted the performance be any test Of the success OF
piece, "0ur English Cousin cannot complain of his recep
ton last night The play Ia an imitation OF the popula
one which has had such run at Laura koene's and th
parts generally well susained-that of the Honorable
MI Cec'i particularly so, by Mr. Fox, VINO, we believe,
the author. The house crammed in every part ant
we have no doubt that the piece will have good run