New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-24
AMUsR MRNTs,

! OLYMPIC THEATBR.--A now English cO,rNIy
entitled "Pauls Return" was last evening performed
for the first time at this theler when originally nm
duced id London, a few months ago its succesa va.
sufhcicss to provoke those amsbe accusatiops n
wholesale piracy to which the yirtuous English critic
always rorscd upon occasions Of prosperous dramatic
novelty. NJ. Watts Ihillips ind gnantly repudated
the charge u tlsft Tor adapationl aad clsimed IN,
credit Of orig!ity for every line Of "Pauls Return
It's reception in Few York hast evening WINS not ,,fi
cienty brilliant tc make the authorship matter of m,
slightest public uscrest TIE writer's name will h.
remembered only asthat Of gentleman VINO bored a,
Intelligent audience dmost beyond endurance Dunn,
two weary and funeronI hours 4 less happy first nixb
setting aside actual sailurcs amng which this rcp,s
sentation certainly could not be rrckoned-ve 10 10
! remember 10 have seen.
Z" Psus Return belongs TO tho class Of fenesi
comedy. Of which Still Waters Rua Deep is pso.,,
bly, the best example 1t represents sasy and agree
able course of vice. during two acts and fraction
which is at last interrupted by the stern influence
aesthetic morality aud turned abruptly into virtuei
triumphant channels Without being especially fres
striking, the materials Of the comedy haxnless-
pleasant. and wrought together with considerable.
dextery. But tho language is 80 ponderousand over
strained, that nothing but tho utmost naturaiDess o.
and felicity OF expression on the PAT Of th
actors can maintain unbroken interest. These wen
not vouchsaed at the Olympic On the contrary. the
stilted and artificial character of the dialogue Wa
heightened. rather than otherwise. Tho occupant, o
tho stage were at times Lady Macbeths in moires an
ques Richard the Thirds and Hamicts in peg topsCar
dina Woseys in white necktcs. The presentations wen
often those OF tumnuous meodrGma. instead OF easy
unaffected comedy, which they should have been. With
one or two captions which shall presently Indicate
the behavior Of the ladies and gentlemen concerned
was that of collection OF respectable pumps pIantee
here aud there in Irregular groups, and gusbins
forth streams Of bah0s undeiied.
| The performance which received tho most applause
was that OF the part Of Abe. Honeydew. rich
steathy rogue by Mr. Stoldart. II the audience ha
been moro critical the applause would not have beef
bestowed The name OF the character, the sentiments
he uttcrs his description OF his personal demesnor
indicate a totally different person from that repre-
scented by Mr. Stoddart Honeydew is tho craitiest o
villains as insidious and ubricous Uriah Heep liz
is constantly declaring tina; be never suffers himself h
be angry reused to forget his sefposscsson. and
yet Mr. Stoddsrt Whenever the opportunity could be
imagined rayed and rent tho air like mailman. TIE
Queter portions of his performance were excellent and
contrasted sngulary with the iDaccuracy VI the re
maindcr. Next to Mr.. Stoddart, Mr.. Barron (wbC
made his first appearance at this theater) most
frequently complimented by the house. We give Mr.
Barron credit for earnestness, and sincere desire
faithfully satisfy the conditions Of his part but earnest
ness in the wrong direction is only aggravston. and
sincerity misappled almost bad unconsccntou,
carelcssnes Mr.. Barron shed the happy honest.
simple nature of Paul lurid glare Of tragedy. WHICH
utterly perverted 1t from the authors obvious intention
Instead Of modern maniDeSs. he gave Us the stale
heroics Of meiiDval melodrama. And we feel
bound to go farther in Mr.. Barron's case
and say-not unkindly, we trust-that even
his meodrama not good. I. was targidy
monotsnous throughout. Nr. Barron has three omni.
capable gestures the first is The stretching forward OF
one arm a direct right angle to the body: the second
the stretching forward OF both arms in direct right
angles to the body the third is the projection OF one
arm and the folding of the other across the upper part
of the chest From these Mr.. Barron never varies.
which would not be Objectionable il only three sets OF
ideas had to be conveyed in the course nj an evenings
but when we see the same attitudes doing duty Tor
despair and hope love and anger middleton and sup
pcaiion mirth and sadness not TO speak OF variety
Of other emotions the spectator begins to feel the need
Of variety We cannot therefore. follow the audience
in compimentine Mr. Barron.
". u
His personaton Of the irng and not interesting
part of a mild.braned spooneysh yong gentleman
timidy in love. and subject to family snu5binC was
neatly and faithfully done. II was the best perform
anco Of the evenng-which by the way is not a. all 81
overwhelming expression of approval Miss Irving. at
first gracefully natural fell into Mr. BarrOns error a.
the close Mrs Sedcy Brown had little TO do, but did
that little carefully. OF the others in thCess we do not
care to speak particularly. Their share in the repre-
scntation distinguished by hearse ike species OF
exuberance The audience seemed moderately
pleascd aud some OF the principal performers re-
ceyed special tokens Of appreciation. "Pauls Return
Will be repeated every evening this week
Mr. Thomas Bakers orchestra played last evening
among other agreeable selections OF music capitl ar
rangement Of some OF tho best melodies from Oaen
bach's "Orphee aux Enters" with air rom Gucks
"Orpheor intermingled Ofcnbach Is always welcome.
even though only in orchestral form.
WINTER GARDBN.-The burlesque Of era
Diay q" is not new but II is OF the beet ever writ
ten and always welcome on that account. Especisly
welcome when the principal character is 80 well repre-
seRtcd as by Mr. W j. Florence Better burleslue act
ing than Mr. Fl0rences is not often seen and the gro
Of his various that OF the sword com
bat above all excited last evening the greatest possioe
merrment " Fra Diavo0' was IN all respects very
fairly played but Mr. Florence is OF course in pieces
Of this kind the particular attraction There VIII he 10
change for the present in the bill the Winter Garden