New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-17
THE DRAMA.
AFTER DARK AT NIBLO'S.

AFTER DARK AT NIBLOS.
On all the available fences and dead walls OF
She city there appeared hast week extraordinary pic
ture 1t represented the distance, large white moon
shining through dirty slaecOOred clouds, over
collection of msshapen church spires and In the fore
ground. an ugly squinteyed woman, very thick at
the waist projecting herself with much devotional
eOmpOsure Of aspect, toward sheet Of blue and
white water. inclosed by numerous pieces Of timber
The legend around this Of art, after Dark or,
London by Night" connected the picture with Mr. Bouc
oaults play, and made it, to speak, word Of
promise portendug ample displays OF metropolitan mis-
cry and female suicide Distributed far and wide by them
dIsrOus and energetic pOster TO whose manly efforts
the modern drama is largely indebted, this grim emblem
moved the mighty heart of the people that great
multitude last night TO Nblos Garden TO Mr.
B0uecaults play and to have its soul narrowed Its
young blood frozen and its susceptible back refreshed by
cold chis, in conformity with the promise of the susp
eous play-b. Expectation thus arfully excited, was
artfuly fulfilled after Dark" introduced ITS audi.
tors society of thieves, bushrangers convcts
And scoundres generally together with representatives
Of the YOrkngclasses Of Londoc ans enc English
racy Also it fabarzed the spectators mind with such
Impressive objects railway station the arches under
bridge over the Thames music hall, and the dark un.
mel OF an underground railway. Still further, on the
Bqueers principle Of educaon-whch as tho reader may
remember was TO make the pupil spell "winder,' and
then and wash tit fixed these objects In the memory
practical to the perception Of the observer From the
Bridge for example, lady sprang overheard dt
pretty interesting and talented lady Miss Louisa Moore,
who has before acted IN New York. but who is
TO become fsvOre) and rescued from the pers OF
the deep. the hail. a sOlder-guardian angel in
trousers of the artOcratc cabman who figured hero
of the dramawasidrugged into Dsensble condition,
robbed, and thrust into cellar In the underground
railway tunnel this drugged soldier put upon
the track and left to be run over and killed. as GER
tsinly he would have been, had not "Old Tom," an
individual with name that is strongly suggestive Of
London gin, burst through q neighbOring wall and
dragged him of just the nick OF time when big train
OF cars, engine and all, went laundering BY in high
state OF energetic velocity. This reconcile object |
Immediately recognized by the intelligent audience.
and greeted with vOcferous applause. Indeed,
have iutimated, all the "real tubs" were borne |
upon the popular understanding by association with
phatc Incidents The result was Of course, gratifying in
the extreme Perhaps it would not be too much 70 say
that in every direction knoted and combined locks
10 part. and hairs particular and otherwise to
stand end Thus Mr. Boucicaut and Messrs. jarrett
and Palmer and all concerned in the matter have their
reward. After Dark" can be played with profit for
opg time Those among Its spectators last night who
seriously inquired what all this frantic stagecarpontry
and scene painting was about, must have been little
dlsmayed Oh meeting many old theatrical acquaint-
Anccs long since quietly inurned There res TIA lost
heir to fine estates driving cab and waiting to be found
~
would come by his own. There the bill that
he forged in his time OF distress There were the scoun.
oreS VINO knew OF his crime and puIposed make the
knowledge lucrative whenev be should become rich
-ney came as MI >nsfellov observes, "the shapes
u ~! Snu we airy ghosts Of Ions ago" Only-they
O ''' airy. Ponderous, rather it seemed TO u.s.
- or heavy, there they were; and they proved
~. Boucicault has good memory. Let as also add
nat trey were grouped and managed as 10 show that
nj nj lOeti its
sruction spirit hls After Dark is the Quintes
oence of the commonplace and the vulgary romantic E1
sep scene does not rse above the level OF those
story papers in which all the cloaks and ra
pers and have their hair cured and all the
slk and diamonds and expose fat bosoms and recne IN
lovely Ian guor upon satin sofas But construction
uncommonly neat and compact. The exceptional scene
to which have alluded is one which shows the heros
WIFE who has been saved from suicide srrayed in the
clothes OF the lady whom he is 10 We'd and receiving from
HE lips the assurance that his heart is with the wife
whom he supposes TO be dead There atouch OF
here as well touch OF dramatic art which shows Mr.
Touccaults talent. its hoOdtde. Exception should
also be made IN favor OF the in which Old Tom
eognzes daughter The style of the piece throughout
90 far as language h concerned is clear and sharp The
sxpenenced dramats Of makes his people talk
character This literary virtue but tits not OF much
account where all is literary In AFTER Dark We
have old materials skilfuly worked over, and
fashioned into effective theatrical form; but
the result IL a drama Of a kind that has greatly
injured the stage. by Wrestling II from its true
purpose-the illustration Of human nature in the course
of its development under the pressure OF natural ercum
stances and moral discplineand making 1t tributary TO
the photography Of the CUTTERS and the scenic iu
mnation OF the police reports Everything needful has
been done at Nibos Garden 20 give the piece good
setting The scenic pictures strong and had all the
appearance Of faithful copies Of the original locates
The railway effect was not telling as IL might De,
owing 10 hitch IN the machinery But that defect was
merely accidental The acting quite adequate 10
and Mr.. MarlOwe won the hon0rs Of the performance
Bnt this portion Of the representation shall advert
more leisure.
DRAMATIC NOTES.
"UDder the Gaslight" may be seen al the
RewYOTk TbeateT during the next Two or three weeks
Tho WorreL Sisters 10 reappear early IN December.
The Countess Won BaerndOrf, who made her
Ars aupearanoe here the eth met at the oadt Thea
Ger Is s playing there, and has been warmly welcomed
by the German theater gong population
II should be remembered that matinees are
given az the Olympic Theaer Wednesdays as Wen 40
Baturdays the young folks have the benent OF tnee
day OF the pantOmms The INTRODUCTION
90 this piece by the way, ought 10 De cut on s lnlo
srably weak, bald, and pOntess. 80
A Humorous Reading and Concert are to be
given Wednesday evening at Apollo Concert Hail,
Mrs wilkins, who used 70 play At Walacks ana at the
Winter Garden, Prof KOrhener HgDorina fenDger snd
Mr.. Carl FeDinger win participate.
After Dark" goes on at the BoweU, The
tgspS'op Iaiq upop MY Jpess RaFpsGQ h@ psee ~