New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-04
THE DRAMA.

uv,,,,rE's TuFATRR-THE BELLS or SHANNON.
now Irish drama was acted at Wallack's Theater,
last evening for the first time. IL entitled Inc beS
Of Shandon" is written in prose- Is conpriseu III iour
aats and is romantic in character fOr Is le the nc"
piece is indebted Father Prouts "ehkhown poem
For its central idea it Is indebted to an ancient 10
Ocpd which also, if we mistake not mas Deen
made the theme of poetry That legend Is
very graceful tender and touching. Years anu years
acothus runs the storya Chime OF Bells was stoie III
time OF war from an Italian church The MAKER Vi 'o
bells mourned for them and would not pe coniior'eu
but set forth geek them throughout the "oru' i'
past and age found him still "ahuercr. nv
length one Summer evening, as NC no''.
down the River shannon, alone ana hstess Al
his boat nigh to the City Of Limerick, he hearu
horne sweey on evening air. the faro sonhu Oh Ms
beloved and longsOught children joy DfOke tno vi"
mans heart and the murmur OF the chme uied away
no too died and was at rest The poem that records TINS
legend appeared we think, long ago, III me Do"-
IN, University Magazine. In TINS urama .no
touching story reappears, but it Is provided WIN
q different climax, and IS piehoeu WIN
distinct and an original Irish story To anaiyze tha
story would be to detect divers incongrutes ana I'M
pobable IL not impossible Incidents But the CLOAK oi
romance permitted to cover multitude OF na"s we
shall describe the story with sufficient IL "o
say that it relates the Vaccinations OF the scoundre
leader of those who stole the bes-against an irish
remove from his pathway to fortune and station He
has recourse to number Of schemes to destroy these
persons, but the memory of old crimes, commt'eo "en
the convent was sacked and she bells stolen IN tay Is
ever present and the sound of the chimes continually
appas him. The bells always sound at the wrong tihe
for this individuals peace and prosperity, and
they are finally the Of causing his DEATH In what
Cousin Feenx would have descrbed-to go to Dickens
as a demd dsag reeabe manner" The principal acuon
Of the piece passes in an Irish rural settlement wherein
stands the church that enshrines these remarkable
bells. cave in the mountains is likewise displayed
and Is the scene OF much merrymaking ana VI soilo
pretty serious business All the scenery employed IN
this drama Is picturesque and pleasing Tabeaus are OF
frequent occurrence and after atte more rehearsal
they will be made with telling effect than they hau
last evening double presenting TWO apartments
i'm the priests house, in many particulars the
most touching effect in the piece, as well dramatic
as theatrical The final effect likewise particularly
graphic Apart fromhe scenery, however, there Is ls
trnsc dramatic merit this piece, although not OF
high order It's language though, is detective III many
WAYS OF the acting with which il was last evening pro-
dueed we have not time TO speak at the moments but II
is lust to say that all the important parts were
personated well Miss Annie Ward, who made
her first appearance here, NOrah, was cordially
welcomed and merited her triumph. Mr. Williamson, as
the inebrated constable manifested genuine human and
lively perception OF character Mr. Bryant in one scene
assumed the character OF Irish simpleton so thoroughly
~ In deceive the most critical His success IN
the now part was ample and his popular reception was
enthusiastic In general The Bells OF Shannon was
very kindly and heartily received We shall recr to the
subject