The national Republican., 1866-11-07
/" The Black Crook"

With curiosity sharpened by the abund-
ant praise and inhamed by the small blame
bestowed upon this great spectacular drama
and ballet, crowds are filling Niblo's Garden,
in New York, every evening except Sundays
and every Saturday afternoon, to witness its
performance. The blame cast upon the piece
comes from q single newspaper, and the only
reply Manager WHEArLEY makes is to post
q couple Of placards in the vestibule of the
theatre, bearing this announcement: This
establishment does not advertise in the New
York Herald" The praises lavished upon
the piece proceed from the mouths of all ca
pable of appreciating the beautiful who wit
ness its representation.
We recently enjoyed an opportunity Of
seeing the performance Of the Black
Crook" and looked in vain for the demoral-
izing features so loudly talked of by certain
parties, and concluded that when Mayor
HOFFMAN, or any Mayor possessing common
sense, should suppress the piece he will also
shut up all the "show shops" in New York.
1t was at a matinee, and the large audience,
made up almost entirely of families-young
ladies with their mothers and young brothers,
grandparents with their curly-headed grand.
children, etc.-manifested no symptoms Of
decentralization. The drama has plot Of
sufficient interest to engage the attention
from the rising Of the curtain until the going
down thereof Two lovers are beset in their
path toward matromony by wicked al
chemist and sorcerer, who has a plenty ol
demons at his commando but his machna
tions are defeated by the Queen of the
Golden Realm" who has powerful sprites tc
do her bidding. The struggle between good
and evil ends in the overthrow of the sor
cerer, the triumph of the hero the happiness
oil the heroine, and the general joy Of all the
good spirits in the company. An underplot
OF low comedy, the characters in which are
admirably sustained, adds together with
some excellent songs, to the pleasant interest
of the drama.
In this piece the most costly and beautiful
stage machinery scenery and costumes eve,
seen in America are brought out, and O
ballet never equalled on our theatrical board.
do the light fantastic to most excellent music
The interest of the whole is skilfully appor
TONED between the acting, the singing tn,
dancing nnd the magical scenes and trans
formations. The spectator is bound by
spell in which the romantic and the beautifu
continually fill the mind with emotions Q
pleasure. The danseuses dress in Parisia
costumes, such as CELESTE, ELLsLER and othe
eminent artists wore in the days when ou
fathers and mothers patronized them, but S
airy, graceful, fairy-like are they, and S
much are they absorbed in their cut, thu
the idea of their nudity does not intrude i
self upon any decent persons thoughts.
The effects produced are so magical an
wonderful that the dancers seem like being
of some other sphere, and, as the splendor
ofSthe scenes of enchantnent are unfolde
one by one, eliminating in that most re
splendent transformation spectacle reveain
the "Nymphs Of the Golden Realm" at tn
close of the drama. the audience are avail
ened by the falling curtain from deliciou
dream. If the piece were as naughty as it
beautiful it would indeed deserve to be SUI
pressed, but it is too beautiful to be naught,
and we can assure our friends that they ca
enjoy its manifold attractions without tn
slightest detriment to their morals.