The New York herald., 1862-01-20
THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL.


The short season of opera that we have had during
the past been sufficiently prosperous should
think to determine the plans of Mr. Grau for three or
four months campaign in connection with the two Aca
denies. In the four nghts performances sum little
short of thousand dollars was netted and this in
spite Of weather, SO inclsment on one occasion that
nothing but the strongest passion for music could have
drawn people out Of doors. Notwithstanding
promising Mr. Grau has taken his troupe to Philade
phia and Washington leaving us in the dark as TO his
future intentions 1t understood however that he ia
awaiting the arrival Of Maretzek before Issuing fresh
programme Of operations. With the accession Of strength
that he will derive from tho new artists
whom the latter will bring with him, he may, we
should think, venture on protracted season.
The apprshensons regard the effect of the upon
the prospects Of the Opera have been abundanty dis
proved by the experiments that have been made well
by the general prosperity Of the theatres There
why, with company Of full strength, and due
attention to economy, heightened season Of opera
should succeed hcrs. We insist this latter point
because believe that the major part Of the failures in
operate management arise from maladmnistration.
Nothing be more fruitful Of annoyance to manager
vexatious to artists injurious to tho int,
rests OF ITSELF than system that looks upon the
traction Of business engagements FORM binding
one, and involving no consequences beyond tempo
rary loss Of credit. is only management that
utey sets its face against impossible rents and equally
impossible salaries which can, in times like these mako
both ends meet.
At wallacks the " reviva' vein has turned out what
miners call " lode" The theatre is nightly crowded
70 overhowng. and this the third and fourth repo
ton Of the resuscated pieces On Monday was given
she Sleeps to Conquer; on Tuesday, Playing with
FIRE. on Wednesday, "T The School for Scandal" on
Thursday Love for Love-" Friday, The Road to
Ruin" and ON Saturday, London Assurance" To-
night will be again played She Stoops to Conquer to-
morrow, "a Cure for the Heart Ache (nrst time) Wed
nesday, "a Bold Stroke for q Husband" (also first
timed and Thursday Tobins fine old comedy Of "The
Honeymoon" The splendid in which these
pieces mounted adds Of course, greatly to the ecc
tvensss Of the casts which embrace variety Of talent
such as few theatres boast Of
AZ the Winter Garden tho combined attractions Of
"Dot" and Tho Naiad Queen" have also been drawing
very full houses. there any fault to be found
with these entertainments, II was In the management
giving the public too much value for s money, the
performances necessarily occupying more time than
people living distance conveniently bestow
tho theatre. This will be rsmedisd by the substitution
this evening for Dot" Of one act military pisc
by Morton, entitled Tho Sentinel Of the Night" in
which Mr. ]. 8. Clarke win play tho part Of Cocoa
drunken soldier In notice of the Naiad Queen"
forgot to state that the scenery painted BY Mr. Gstz
Baltimore painter. II but just towards the artist to
repair this omission; for nothing be more beautiful
than the effects that b has produced.
"Our American Cousin" still holds the boards at Laura
Keenes The popularity Of this piece 10 extraordinary
That should continue to attract such good audiences
after losing two Of the principal actors Of the original
cast--Mr. sothern and Mr.. Jenerson-is testimony
alike the sterling merits Of the play and to the talent
Of the remplaqonta
Al Niblo's the heavy businss' has usurped the
place comedy nearly the whole week. On Monday and
Tuesday The King Of the Commons" dull enough
piece was played good houses better than ts merits
deserved. On Wednesday "Julius Caesar" was splon
didly brought out, and repeated on Thursday
and Friday. On Saturday Banm's hnc play OF
" Damon and Pythias" given, with Mr. Da.
venpors and Mr.. J. W. wallack In the two prin-
cipal parts. It capitally performed, there being
no better representatives Of the two friends than the
actors named. Tonight there will bs performance,
the theatre being engaged for the Fremsn's ball On
Tuesday will be Produced for the first time here the
tragedy of "Jane Shore" and the nautical drama Of
"Back Eyed SUSAN which Mr.. Davenport will appear
IN the character Of Williams part in which he such
great popularity in England.
As sometimes necessary to separate fun from fact,
even in connection with such eccentric drces tho
members OF the Board OF Direction Of the Brooklyn
Academy again repeat the statement contradctcd In
local papor which has taken up tho cudsels for them,
that they other day sndesvored to got Mr. Grau to
withdraw tho "Travata after publicly announced,
the ground that Of the people that were
toned TO patronzs tho Opera would 10 hear it. Wo
have shown the letter Of the Treasurer, Mr. White
putting forth this argument, and we have the authority
Of Mr. Grau himself for stating that he obliged 60
over with the committee the subject Tho
public can form Its estimate Of the competency and
consistency Of tho moral who accept their ethics
and views Of public cxpcdiency from opera manager,
capable though he doubt 10 to snlighten them on
the subject with regard to tho pleasantly Of ther dis
tributing circular against tho Travata In the city
cars every one win understand II. was but satrca,
commentary ON the condrot Of tho seven directors
who signed the celebrated appeal against tho
introduction Of the drama, than which q more
shameful document was never psnnsd By any Get
Of calling themselves gentlemen. II, 10 the nrst
place, asserted palpabls fslsehood, conradicsd i'm
msdatey after by the action Of the Board Of Directors
tha. the writer's represented the general feeling Of tho
Board; and, in the next, Il was made the nstrument
of personal canvass induce those who had signed the
memorial in favor tho drama to stultfy themselves By
voting against It, The result was that this fanatcal
clique got soundly whipped by the sockhodsrs and that
several Of thom compelled TO resign In consequence
We do not profess the conduct Of the Board
refusing accept the designations OF these persons
in again slecting Mr. Chittcnden president neither do
the proprety Of appointing another Of the famous
"scven" on the Committee Of Dramatic Censorship
These are matters for which we presume they
will be by-and-by held TO an accountability
by the stockholders whose interests they are sacrificing
by their crotchets. Were the establishment managed
consistently and moray-that s 10 say, in due regard
to the morality taught by rational Christianity yt would
return ton per cent interest the money invested BY
the refusal Of the Board to allow Mrs John Wood to play
the sum 81 400 lost to the concern 10 be followed
by much larger Losses, owing to the reluctance Of re-
spectacle managers to bo taught their duty towards the
public by the brokers' wholesale grocers dry goods
mon and carpet dealers who set themselves up
as Judges Of art, morality and public policy. II
win not do for these parties TO delude themselves
into the notion that they represent eithor the
feeling Of the stockholders or the public sentiment
Of BROOKLYN The action Of tho shareholders In regard To