The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-06
JOHN OxENFDRD, THE THEATRICAL
CRITIC OF THE LONDON TIMES.
Tho STAGE i'm New York.
M WHY


LIVERPOOL, Oct. 10, 1867.
Having now completed my tour OF the New York
Of letters will think, be an enumeration Of the results
deduce from my observation and inquiries. l give
ss ~ as WITH o. tho risk
recton this letter be compared with those that have
/. with tho exception OF the Bovery, the Now York
theatres considered edinces furnish models which
the London architect would do we'll TO initiate they
are light commodious and so arranged to allow
nearly whole the audience good Of the stage
The theatres in London that most resemble them
Asleys In its present condition and the small house
at Hghbury Barn. But far better imi,aton-one
indeed. that exceeds the orignalsis the Alexandria
theatre. Liverpool in which the ightness OF the Amer
scarcely TO be matched anywhere.
2. rhe New York audiences are. for the most part
seem devoid Of the decidedly plebean element This
deficiency, which, perhaps, more than any other pccu
English visitor may attributed partly TO the arch
tectural arrangement by which the gallery, with It's
owprced seats is kept out OF sight, partly to dispo
figure their fellow citizens II is quite probable that
aworkingman may DO among the arstocrats OF the
house-a contingency which s scarcely possible at .
fashionable London theatre. The sedateness OF the
New York public may, however, be suddenly broken up
when . change seems ioast TO be expected, and an
assembly that has apparently been composed OF stern
judges will oil at once be tickled with . straw
OF shs We had on. nee ~ the delight
tho Puritancal element OF the population all control
the moral tono OF the theatre as 1t does in England. It
TO smuseums and concerts; but those who have once
passed the Rubcon that separates the playhouse from
the rest OF the world will endure gazes proprey that
would scarcely DO tolerated In London.
s. The people Of New York are . rule, rcsoluts
ascorous are quite as Steady in their PATRONAGE
drama - those who make noisy demonstrations OF de-
light and the theatre necessary social institution in
America to degree which scarcely be conceived by
the ordinary Londoner. The merchant Of the British
capital who retreats from the neighborhood OF the
Exchange 10 mis- handsome suburban villa, and there
-otiu
Laudai rura sui,
has quilted the theatrical world altogether and II he
or IL as TO one OF the venal OF his youth. The
commercial grandee OF Wall street, the other hand,
who performs an Analogous operation BY moving from
hours OF business are over finds theatres his
vicinity. Fancy two big playhouses at ciapham, or
Tottenham, or Holloway, sufficiently paironzed to per-
init the engagement Of the rst actors in the country
4.eWth all their ardent love for theatrical amusc-
ments have no hesitation In saying thai the Americans
care much FOR the actors than FOR the merits Of the
play ITSELF This predilsction Is consistently accompa
q the 10 S Ss
almost impossible Of theatrical critic devotng the
whole OF his notices to tao exclusive exaaton OF
ofths profession, New YORK would osr ns Geld for
his exertions with, however, this drawback-ihst he
up" kind Of STYLE totally unlike anything in the old
country Youth and personal appearance have much 10
40 Wan y, o. female artist and rear arc
Al the present day performer who is regarded as
rdsse In London should look for In America
less backed BY reputation sufficiently large to awaken
universal curiosity
AZ consequence Of the fact recorded in the last
paragraph would however, mention another, which II
Of ngh importance 10 the English public, and that s
that the star system" prevails In America 10 extent
elsewhere. unknown. wallacks regular company
stands indeed apart from the rest but an actor al any
other theatre who has only appeared one Of ths
"stock," never ~ starr has obtained no testmo-
NAL Whatever Of the estimation In which bio IL held by
the American public. The present houses for tragic
"Harrngv are Niblo's and the Broadway, 70 which
wouids be added the Winter Garden, bad Il not been
Destroyed oy Ere The houses for comic sarrng" are
the Broadway (Which 10 dedicated both muses. the
Olympic and wallacks the last during the recess For
exceptional dspays such ~ those OF French and Italian
talent there 10 the Theatre Francois, In extremely
gcnteel but somewhat outof.ths.way quarter. Here
Nine Rissor drew crowded audiences and hers unless
am greatly mistaken, Mr. Batsman's French operate
troupe 70 drawing crowded houses still Mrs Lander,
who performs In high tragedy, selected, indeed this
theatre during her recent sojouru AT New York, but
must be borne n mind that she played in translation
q Ellsabss and wished 10 be regarded g me English
Ristori. But for ordinary purposes "etar" would
scarcely choose Mo Theatre FrAnoaia
Though The regular theatrical season scarcely begins
tll september the Epelsb artist who wishes 70 Ut his
fortunes u ths New World should q any rssA make bis