New-York daily tribune., 1861-09-10
WINTER GARDEN.
YRS. JOHN WOOD IN CINDERELLA.

There is something 20 grotesque in American life,
we laugh at everything with such brief but furious
spirit, that good round bureque must be pleasure
10 our audience II it s reaYbnrlesque, and mocks so
syly a. reality that the little difference is the immense
Joke Of the thing it may be mistaken for c)mmon-
place transcript, and neither bad puns nor monstrous
masks will save it from this serious fate. Perhaps this
more generally applied ia the reason why there are
very few exceptions 10 the rule OF modern buresque
writers 70 keep of moden ground. Local allusions
are tho distant recognition Of The tines the theme
itself ia removed safe and far away and IL oitener c-
ton than fact Even the best Of the ancient bur-
cues make faces ct the times through the vail
OF fable Those Of late date ransaok mythology the
fairy lore of the nursery, and romantic episodes Of
history for subjects. The Of burlesque which
is sharp but genial rdcule eyapOraes and leaves be-
hind an atmosphere Of wild and licensed humor which
partially supplies the lack Of keen and delicate wit.
How, indeed, could coemporary life aud manners be
fairly buresquedi The reality 30 far exceeds the
reflection, that we should quite enjoy the picture Of
tho stage ust as honely persons get much satisac
ton out Of the looking-glass the beautiful. And
vet IL 10 an anomaly to burlesque the heather fables
or the Christian nursery yarns II not for "locai
ausions since they are generally either buresque of
the purea sort or that sort Of homely fiction which
becomes a sacred reality-prOOf against jbes.
Mere &" allusions grated upon a foreign stock do
not give the local piqunncy needed in burlesque.
Change the name Of the entertainment, call it local
farce, and they are becoming and smusng, but the
sounding of familiar names fpersODs places is not
significant. Il has always been q mystery to Us 20
lear rrovdg vf people shout with laughter in theatsr
a. the mention Of a name which they never even no.
,ced on the sgnbOsrd on the street. Smiths
grocery. Browns cigar shop Mrs Robinson sminery,
are tho keynotes of prolonged applause. Why should
no, the ministry take advantage Of the same phlOso.
phv and occasionally in their services introduce
such phrases as +" don't see it p Flora Temple"
"Billy Mulliganl" It would not DO in the least
prisipg il large number Of intelligent persons,
sembed together should convulse themselves and be-
come uncomfortable with laughter at literally nothing
Whatever. The sight is as frequent as that OF flock
Of sheep running way. But 1t would be going too
far 10 call the ng of such an exhibition bur-
lesque or any Of the several definite forms Of art.
Il may produce peal after peal Of laughter in
crowded house to mention the name OF well-known
shopkeeptr but surely the effort s not inspired by wit
or srt. The evident tendency Of all such remarks is
that neither bold puma bold ausions TO public per-
sons or things nor monotonous rhymes esseDtial
TO burlesque although these may be ingredients Of
very attractive show.
cinderella s a faT specimen Of the modern bur
lesque There is no buresque in i! except extrava-
gance Of dress and exaggerstion Of manner. Ample
fun s made of the bright little story, if there were fun
to 10 made through Dgng meter but the moral OF tho
bright little story rather the brighter ior being drawn
in this difficult way AMI comes out all right and pleas
ant There are the usual saucy ,hots at the duly
e.
there are the usual opportunities for handsome dis
plays. Which s not to coy that Cinderella" at the
Winter Garden is no, a tolerably amusing entertain
ment It could scarcely be otherwise than lively with
Mrs John Wood; 1t has ali the additional spirit of
number Of other clever actors, Of an uneommonly
snowy lot OF young women, and Of very admirable
scenery and curious effects and lie adaptation TO these
timos is effected by allnsons more pertinent and
witty than usual constructed by professional humor.
lit, Mr.. Charles Stanley Of Vanity FAIR IL 10 fresh
and brilliant and these are dull times II ia not exact
ing, but lets one of with easy and uncrtca adDira
tion II Is very creditsbe 10 the management of the
Winter Garden and 10 the New York stage a
fu and generous production And twill certainly find
great favor with the public
II fell heavily last night, although the house was
good.humored jam, and perfect foretsste Of the hight
Of The season. II was insuiicienty released; Mrs.
Wood insisted on singing in the most serious manner,
and carefully abstaning from even the appearance OF
fun the music was struggled through in heroic dspair,
and the local hits were few and timd But there
were other circumstances affecting the spirit Of the
occasion. The presence Of very large police force,
distributed, in the complete grimness Of but
tons and mace, in all parts of the house,
ofiectualy suspended animation. This demonstra-
ton was an unworthy repetition Of that which
attended tho first appearance, and the last Of
Mr.. Mark Smith. 1t was the same violation Of good
tase the same insult to the intelligence and fairness Of
the NewYork theatrical public and we are surprised
that it should have been sanctioned by the manage
ment of the Winter Garden which has been already
tainted by similar sceneS The large audience Of last
evening, assembled to do honor TO lady fcapivaing
esprit, were profoundly indifferent as to the politics OF
Mr.. A. H. Davenport and were startled in their hearty
recognitionof himss old vorte by the hsamInatory
salute of band Of rough men who swarmed tho lob
bies. Mr. Davenport was magni6ed into On impor-
tance that quite overshadowed the burlesque. we III
sist that the duty Of the immense police iorco
was to Quoll this riotous demonstration what otnes
duty could have been legtimatey theirsf Were iney
there in official dignity TO arrest and drag forth any
pson who, melted BY threat ffoma party Of rowo's'
chose to express dsapprobssOn Of the course hr uav,
snpOrt has seen 1t TO pursuef II hr. Davenport nna