New-York daily tribune., 1866-01-10
AmVsEm N Il NTs.
:" soIou Shinglco nt the broadway Theatcr


To 90 70 the thcater in such nights as we are
enoying-or sulIcrng-just now is omanifest remark
able courage. No person. We fancy can doubt tnS
who has realizing Of the profoundly despondeht
state Of the cotemporary Thermometer Courage
hoabe is one of the virtues OF the going com
munit, and hence. as We are glad to record large
audience was assembled at the Broadway Theatef GU
Monday evening. to greet MI. John L. owens In
"Soon Shinge." The greeting extended to nun was
genial and hearty. His first appearance was nai'ea
with stormy and oDg.continued applause, ana he was
called before the curtain at the end OF each act
will be readily aud correctly inferred that the oceSion
was very pleasant Mr.. Owens's Soon Single is tue
same that it ever was and yet not the sa'he' AZ 10
equally true TO life, and equally amusing, YET II 10
ampler in substance more bufnan and more iehheu'
The difference is due. in part to tie revision OF
the piece. and in part to the more scrupuious
| art OF the actor. In the Old version vi
"ths Peoples Lawyer" formerly played by liiIl ana
by Charles Burke. and lattery by Mr.. Owens SCION
Shige is merely coarse, inquisive, bunghns couo
trynnn Charles Burke the first to represent MN
as an old man-and Mr. Owens has copied Burke. but'
In this version Of the paywhich attributed to
Mr.. owens himself and which is vast improvement
tie old OncSOlon ShiDge il depicted. not merely as
inqusitvc. and garrulous and bunglng, and uncouth
but curiouy generous and mean. noble and sordid
narly and foolsby serylle-in short. as character
fuof contradictions. And certainly he gains by this
device. He is now. not merely person to be laughed
at; he wins sympathy. well as laughter. He ID kind
to te young-n the queer fashion Of unpoisted old
mar-hc succors an old friend in time OF sore distress
and lac displays both manness and pathos, In his
reblke of insult and in his pleading against cruelty and
Injustice. or the circumstances that surround
him more real and more cxacting than those IN
which he used to appear. The watch-casc. through
which the old man blunders, is now subsidiary aud
incidental matter. A bundcr OF his. In copying
promissory note and leaving the copy friends
table. has-among other concurrent circumstancesled
that friends arrest and trial. charge Of forgery
and Soons evidence in this proves TO be at once
relevant and effective than in the case Of the
stolen watch. "T were long to tell as Sir Walter
Scott remarks the incidents OF this new story. It's
central point Of interest has already been indicated
Mr. Owenss version Of the play narrates plausible
tale with but little violence to probability. 1t lops off
much that absurd in the old piece. and introduces
matter udicousIy and couches the whole in simple
and appropriate language 1t may indeed be objected
that the first act little cumbrous that the motives and
movements ofthe dramatic villain Mr. Elsley. are slight
y unnatural and spasmodc; and that the court room
wanting in similarity to the court room scenes
of this civilized period. Even in the country the Clerk
OF the Court does not the functions OF Judge
nor do lawyers quite ignore the latter functonary
Tie first act OF this piece would bear condensation, and
tho court room could easily be made more con-
sistent with fact As to the villain Of the piece lie IL
incoTrigibc. and must be endured n necessary evil
Few liberties have been taken with the text OF the part
Of Solon Shng.e himself He las words TO speak
and they are often more pointed. Mr.. Owens person
atcs the character to suggest the whole. lifelong
history Of n shrcwd. eccentric. i-bred kindly Amer
farmer Of what appears to u to be- distinctly the
New England pattern. His makeup TO speak tech
nlcaly pcricot. his dialect s admirable his portrat
ure Of prying seniliiy wonderfully truthful We are
glad t. observe also that he Goes not he formerly did,
cInggcrnie the vulgar poini. In the performance He
longer cApccoraes about the stage, nor cherishes
bis qud Of tobacco dwclls with needless elnbora
on Bis pct points. This is wise No person OF taste
could possibly wish 90 every popularity OF such
Scion Shinre reproduced upon the stage. with
In a certain limit. be Is acceptable and. indeed. ad'
mlrabc bat that limit. which taste prescrbes, ought
never to be passed Mr.. Owens did not always remem-
Der this. he seems 10 do Yet in one point, lie
might still increase the refinement Of his acting The
Nhich ShlnHie cents worm OF
clans aud the picking Of the teeth In which he
dulgcs while giving his testimony. are highly disagree
able and ought to BE- omitted To make your CORE.
spondent wish there more. is-according 10 old
Tony Weller" The great art o letter writing So
In acting-the triumph OF art is to fall short Of
satlatng the spectator. Mr.. Owens. remembering
this will undoubtedly leave 10 the stage the
recollection Of Of the finest pieces OF character
acting that have originated in the soil Of American
art
His support" at the Broadway Theater is very
bad il being. apparently. part OF Mr.. Woods poll.
cv to have good theatrical company. Solon Shinre
will be played every night.
MISCELLANEOUS.
"IIcnry Dunbar" viii be acted at Wallack :
to night for the first time In America An Of tho
types on Monday caused to alude TO II of the
"bcsi instead of Of the last of Tom Taylor s
productions.
Mr.. Chaniraus performance OF " Nose and
"San on Thursday will take place at the Brooklyn
Academy Of Music
The French Theater tonight Mt the Academy
ought TO be remembered by the lovers Of polished and
elegant acting.
Musical.
The third concert of Nine. Parepa took place