The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-09


The habass Of Irving place would be quite distressed
should Easter Monday come around and the Opera fail to
appear with It. The spring Opera commences this
evening as naturally as people move the 1st Of Nay
Old and Young New York, expected, Will convene in
great numbers at the Academy to night Adelna Patti,
the prime favorite with metropolitan Opera goers
turns to Irving place with second crop Of provn-
cial hures. On Wednesday last, ct Philadephia,
she added "Don Pasquale'' 10 her repertory, and
achieved Of her greatest successes In the role
Of Norma. She win sing, on this evening,
Rosina in the :" "Barbere," considered by the daetani
her very best role Brsnon will sing Amaviva, and
the remainder Of the cast viii be before There
degree Of personal interest attached to tonghs per-
iormance from the fact that the prima aains the nte
resting age Of seventeen to-day. Hne mas no~ been
months the stage, and her career has been
Of uninterrupted trumphs. The annals Of opersc his
tory offer but few parallels to the Of Adeina Patti
The Opera at the Winter Garden, under the able
direction Of Max Maretzek, Rn commence Wednes-
day Of this week with Lucia di Lammermoor' Madame
CASTER sgnor Erran and Gaasier will sing. The debut
Of Madame Fabbri lin Ernani,) will take place on
Friday.
In the theatrical world the week has been fair one
all things and especially the end Of Lent, considered
Mr. Bourccauls Colleen Bawn increases In attraction
and will doubtless be played at Laura Keenes theatre Up
to the end Of the season, (May 49, when Mr. Jefferson
takes possession The engagement Of Mr. and Mrs. Bar
ney Williams at Nblos closed Saturday, ami Cookies
circus, which has rather astonshed the Bostonans
turns to the Garden on this evening, with ell the
former attractions and cr's Is may be seen
by the Some Of adr4rers Of Mr. and
Mrs. Barney Williams intend to give lem ovsi,n at
the Winter Gden next week. No artists In the country
deserve R recognition in . greater degree than Mr..
and Mrs. N1Dns. They have contributed during the
last twelve or fifteen years TO the entertainment Of
thousands both sides OF the Atlantic, and have ali
the material rewards Of veritable marked
dorsement Of this fact the part Of the public every
way proper and just
The arrangements for the benefit Of the American Ora
s.ic Fund Association have nearly been completed Inc
affair ia To take place the l7th Of this month 1t the Aca-
denny Of Music There win be dramatic entertainment Of
the first class and al the principal artists both Italian
Opera troupes win assist The programme has been
ranged by Mr.. John Brougham whose devotion TO the
Association s always has been, OF the warmest cha
racter. Without doubt very handsome addition 70 the
fund will be made
On Saturday Mr.. wahack changed the programme ofhs
theatre for the FIRST time in ten weeks, and gave 70
the public three act comedy called Leading
Strings" and first produced In London In 1857 The come
dy is quiet, pleasant picture Of English lie and
at wallacks. Tho hero, Frank Levson (Nr. Lester
waDack), is banker, young rich and oodooking. He
is devoedy attached TO his mother and has profound
affection for Edi Belfort (rs slosn), 70 whom Mrs.
Levson (Mrs Hoey) has given homo Edith 10 young
person Of good family but without money and desires 70
marry Frank chiefly because he is rich. Mrs. Levson,
however, has other views for her aam gate, desiring TO
marry him 10 his cousin, Mas Mackenzie, young Lady
Of lively char Acter and just out Of boarding school,
The main point Of the play found in the exceedingly
clever way In which the mother manages 10
keep her son In leading strings, and, At the
same time, 10 direct all his affairs, and
finally to marry him TO the woman Of her choice. The
Hrst act slow; the second little more agreeable, but
much lis in the third act that the ntere Of the play
really begins It s here that the shrewd widow having
exhausted all other means TO prevent the distasteful
MATCH tries the experiment Of shutting up the loving
couple In . country house. The gentleman ID very soon
bored to DEATH and the lady reduced TO the extreme
despair by ascertanng that Of her discarded, be-
cause heretofore mpecunious lovers has fallen heir TO
great fortune Frank has fallen in love with Mackenzie
In the meantime and the object Of his primary AZ
fections n almost detested by him. She Is detected
by Bnnius (BlAke) old servant Of the family, making
love 70 her former admirer, and thanks to his mothers
mee Master Frank relieved from bis engagement, and
marries his cousin.
This comedy Is not remnKably well constructed, nor d
the dialogue exceedingly brilliant Here and there may
discover smart thing two but they few and far
apart SIN the play Interesting whole, and some
Of the characters, such Mrs. Levison and the antique
butler, and well drawn. Neither Mrs. Hoey nor
Mr. Bake gave any special artistic individuality 10 their
characters Mrs. Hoey was agreeable and ladyike AZ
ever, and Mn Blake ezCeednay amusing. Mr.. Lester
wallack played Frank very clcvery is part so well
suited him that he could well do wrong The best
performance Of the night was that q Mis- Gannoa In
me flx snospse. was charming, sunny, nasarsi sat
of acting, And Ryed the play, whch Was received ~fh