New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-30
LAURA KEENE'S THEATER.
TILE nCOLLEEN BAWN.n

those who always 30 carefully search ont the pedigree
of his nroduetious and has saved some research by
bm,aIf Announcing in the email bills Of the evening
that he IN indebted 10 Mr. Gerald Griflins novel Of
"Tbo Coeeans1 for the leading incidents q this last
drama We also learn from an enlightened Irishman-
all the dictionaries being at snt this point-thst
"Cclleen Bawn" means the White Maiden-whlch
discovery we announce with triumph.
The new play is quite as decided a success az has
been made this Winter the audience being reused 20
the unusual enthusiasm of giving the leading actors
complimentary call before the curtain at the end of
every act The success Of the piece ress not much
on sharp Characterization as on stained interest in the
plot which is elaborate and most carefully managed
It possesses the rather unusual element of uszpeced
ness the successive incidents in the progress of the
story being unfolded in the moot unlookedfor manner
No dramatic prophet howsoeyer skilled in She conven-
tional DRAMA could foreel The catastrophe-he inter-
eft increases to the final unvailng of all things,
merit of the piece which commends it to the enthusi-
astic attention of all psygoers 1heprocpal incidents
are as follows: Hardness Cregsn the hero, has con"
tracted secret marriage with Ely O'Connor, the
Colleen Bawn IL afterward becomes desirable, Tor
family reasons, that he should marry another-Anne
Chute, an heiress-but of course he s barred by his
fret marriage. One Danny Mann, devoted and un-
scrupulous servant of Cregan seeing the trouble Of
bis master, volunteers TO put the Colleen Bawn
ont of the way II Cregan will bit give him the
word. Cregan liz shocked at the proposition, but after
ward Mann is given to understand that his master
has repented bis opposition 10 the nefarious scheme,
end desires that the murder of the girl be
accomplished. Accordingly Danny inveigles her
into a boat, rows her into cave into which the
sea penetraes and throws her into the water. This
cave is the resort of Illicit disler, Mylesna-
CappaleeD, who, ndisiinctly seeing Mann moving
about in the cave shoots him. installing him for an
otter-the girl is rescued by Myles from the water
and concealed in his cabin Meantime intelligence is
taken to Cregan that Ely O'Connor has committed
suicide, and preparations are made for his marriage
with the hsiress. Bot Danny Mann, though mortaly
wounded by the shot, has crawled home, where his
confession to the priest and his mother Of the murder Of
the Colleen BawD, duplicating Cregap is overheard
by one Carrgan, an enemy of the Cregsns Carrigan
at once lodges information against Cregsn ss an
accessory to the murder of Ely Conner, and be is
arrested in the presence of the wedding guests. Car
rgans malice s however defeated and the innocence
of Cregan established by the opportune production of
Ely herself all alive and in a state of serious objection
to the marriage of Der husband TO another woman.
And her husband to his credit be it said doesn't marry
the other woman but the other woman finds hu 3band
the spot, in the person of old lover whom she
had wanted all the while but who had been kept from
her by an unfortunate Misunderstanding.
These are the main features Of the story, about
which are grouped many minor incidents Of interest,
which all add TO the beauty Of the play, and make it
one Of the most intensely interesting of meoiramas.
IL ia ore of Mr.. Bourcicau masterpieces, and is a
fitting and symmetrical climax to his labors of the
Winter.
II is put on the stage with all the care that always
the stage management at this theater
the scenery which is all new and painted expressly for
the play by Messrs John Thone and Minard wis, is
beautifully appropriate. We would particularize
" The Lakes of Killarney by Moonlight" by Thorne,
" The Gap of Dimloe,' by Lewis, and "The Water
Cave" by Thorne.
The acting is as near being thoroughly excellent as,
under the present administration of mundane affairs,
we can hope to zee. Miss Agnes Robertson, as the
Colleen Bawn, has to undertake the personstiOn of
one of those characters in which she 80 far exces all
coupetitors-a pretty blushing, bssbfu country gir
her success is perfect. Mr. Bourccanlt as Myles Ma
COppaleen vas abond dster of Surspttious whisky,
displays alarming symptoms of most capital talent
talent for playing Irishmen-a talent hitherto unsus-
pected and latent; he is excellent Mr.. Burnett, as
Carrigan, is admirable. Mr.. Wbeatleigh, az Danny
Mann, played with much earnestness and excellence
For Messrs. Fisher DAY. and Leeson, we should have
special words OF commentator, but our vocabulary
s somewhat exhausted just at present.
Mics Keene, as Anne Chute, won new laureis and
Miss Wells, as Shelah Mann, was acceptable.
In the company were glad to zee the new face Of
IL
welcome from The audience, and who acquitted herself
o admiration.
The music nterspersed by Thomas Baker, is all that
an be desired.
We are enthusiastic Overthe new drama, but we have
title doubt the public viii indorse our ecsaces to the
NIL
AT the end Of the piece Mr.. Bourcicault was called |
mt, when he spoke follows:
LADIES AND GEsTLEMES: thank Won all for your !
ery kind reception of drama this evening think
will be admitted by you all that Irishmen do most Of .
be hard work in this counry-l mean real, hard mau-
vi labor. l myself have worked very hard for the |
ast months and don't believe that for the next
hrea months you coud get anotherides ont of with
derrick. l have written Irish drama for the first
me in my life. The field OF Irish history and romance
40 rich in dramatic suggestions that am surprised
bat the mir has never been regularly opened bfore
had long thought OF writing a play from material
athe red from my native country, but this is the first
inc tried il. The story of the piece ia founded
l. fact which, as yon all know, was selected by one
the greatest of lreiaBds geniuses, Gerald Griffin,
s the foundation for novel. I encouraged to
ope that our little drama of to night, though perhaps
OF u;h in Itself may prove the small door to let
theirs into big house, aud that other greater men, of
rer genins and abilities than possess may hereafter
i've you plenty of Irish plays, which, l am certain,
viii be appreciated by YOU from my experience OF
our intelligence as American citizens and of tho
earty welcome you have eser extended 10 everything
rish since the country has been a country. loud
pplaufe.l
FIRES.