The New York herald., 1867-03-28
THE SOUTHERN RELIEF FUND.

Private TheatricaIs at the Jerome Theatre.
An amatenr dramatic performance one OF series In
aid Of the Ladies' Southern Relief Fund. came OIL
Tuesday evening at the elegant little private theatre
Twenty-sixth street. Il is the first that have bad
leisure to attend, and have therefore not had chance
Of giving Impressions OF the material OF which the
company is composed Before doing on this occasion
We have word say Of the class Of entertainments Of
which these performances may be taken as the type
The low condition which the stage has fallen Of late
10 this country ID doubt the cause 70 which owe
the rage for drawing room performances which
now prevails % much in fashionable society.
Good taste = well a. propriety shrunk from
the patronage Of establishments conducted
the plan pursued In our leading theatres II their
artistic attractions could have spread thin veil
the ndscency Of their performances there might
have been found, even among people Of cultivation,
some excuse for them Ir France they arc tolerated
because Of the asthsc forms In which the prusncy Of
what called Sensational pieces clothed But hero
have diseuiss to cheat into sanctonng
that Of which our judgment disapprovea There u
neither ART poery, decency conventional stage
merit in what is presented to Is surprising then,
that people Of education and refinement should With
disgust from H. and seek In their those
opportunities Of enjoyment which hissronc
when properly presented we'll calculated to aords
Another thing which has conduced 70 this growing
taste for the domescaon Of the drama s the that
In private society there exists largo fund Of artistic
talent, which otherwise find no development. How
many excellent tragedsns, how many inimtabe como
dians do wo not recognize among our acquaintancea
But these "heaven.born" geniuses to the phrase
applied 10 William Pitt all Of position and
means and do care so fret their hour upon the
stage for the delectaon Of the general public. They
have been content to shine the pets Of tho drawing
room, or the jokers OF the club although yearnng for
wider Geld for the exercise Of their talents occasionally
seizss upon them. This has at last been presented
through the mundcenee OF few wealthy gentit mon Who
foreseeng the important influence which the movement
Is calculated TO exercise upon pubic TASTE have not
only furnished it with the opportunities that it lacked,
but using them for objects that command general
sympathy.
or ths'characer is the purpose for which the per-
formance Of Tuesday given. We own that we at
tended it with misgivngs not to the pecuniary
but as to the artistic result Although the
achieved in the amateur line in England by people OF
society," proves that what has been accomplished the
stage by training is frequently attanabe in pri
vate life by observation and natural aptitude,
not prepared for what we witnessed on this occa-
Tho taste for private thearicals comparatively
now ono with our fashionable circles, and we,
quenty did not expect to end things to the level Of
ordinary stage routine. We most agreeably
disappointed Not only did everything of smoothly
but the acting OF character to keep the interest Of
the audience perpetually the qui vive OF course,
amateur performances, people como prepared to mako
allowances; but there claims their indulgence
on this occasion In the two conditions essential
to satisfactory dramatic represenation-confdence
the part Of the performers and perfect knowledge Of
the ext of their parts-thers but little for crit
icsm 1t would be we'll II in the latter respect the pro-
fessonals regular theatres would condescend to
be equally careful.
Tho pieces presented were the lively comsdieta Of
The Four Sisters and that cepal De bataHe Of private
theatricals, Betsy Baker. Mrs. Kennedy Smyth sus-
tanned part Of Caroline Merton in the former; and
very clever impersonaton 1t was She possesses all the
essentials Of excellent comedenno-spirit archness
grace Of person and manner and great mobility Of fea
lures Her by.play all the more charming from the
with which sho diversified in passing through the
different DISCUSSES Of the character. She divided the
honors Of the piece with Mr. Walter Cutting who gave
inimitable version Of 'SnaDie. the English
groom, evidently studied from the life. Mas
G. Ogden played spiritedly tho part Of Susan,
and . far share Of applause. Mr.. Camp, az Mr.
Merton did all that could be expected in Insignificant
part The farce still greater Mrs.
Kennedy smyth and MI Cutting As Betsy and Mouser.
kept the house convulssd with laughter from the
mencement 70 the close We have seen better rep.
ressntaton OF these creations the regular STAGE
In the part Of Crummy, Mr.. H. Thompson made a very
favorable impression With little study he will
make an excellent comic actor
The evening altogether was . thoroughly enjoyable
one, and the company manifested their Of BY
calling the amateurs before the curtain. The per-
be followed up this week and the next
and are likely produce considerable amount for the
fund