New-York tribune., 1868-06-12
THE DRAMA.

BROADWAY THEATER-A FLASH OF LIGHTNING.
The sensational drama, subject only to
higher law" which prescrbes the production, either By
legitimate other means the most startling effects.
eliminated Wednesday evening in the presentation Of
genuine electrical play entitled al Flash OF Lightning
or City Hearthsides and City Heartaches 1t is direct
AnSnsin Daly who claims II as AM entirely original fash
Of his genius. 1t indeed just such work We had
right to expect from writer OF his experience. He ap
pareny believes and acts upon the belief that he has
pampered the public taste with speiy seasoned cond
ments,
Who peppers the highest is surest to please"
He accordingly causes us to sup full with the vices
ground horrors Of metropolitan lie He introduces US TO
engineers firemen and clerks Of steamboats, Greenweh
ST. arstocrats fremen, policemen, postmen, minstre
school girls and others equally familiar and commonplace
With such domestic materials he the texture OF
his plot and dialogue Like the hand OF King Lear these
common personages "smell Of mortality" but though
less elegant than classic distractions, they
when faithfully deneated too human not to enlist our
sympathes We require. however, that they and their
life and surroundings should be to nature The rep
resentatOn Of ordinary character OF OF an eyerre-
the poetcay created heroes and adventures located in
myhic antiquity; Mr.. Days drama turns some Of
scenes Of narrowing perils Few of ts characters
GNs on tue afe & 0us 'f M and as an % an1
thny cOncatenated plot which, not devoid OF continuity
and interest and artifciay wrought at the conclusion
Of each act TO pictorial and highly effective climax:
The basis Of the plot which is needlessy involved and
ampllted, simple and peculiar IL turns ON the
trc conduct Of fash OF lightning which seized upon
costly golden chain, left surprise and birthday gift
by rich, Irish hating Hbernan, Mr. Garry Fdllon H. II.
jack the bedroom of his pet daughter Rose Miss
Kitty Banchard). 1t is quickly missed and Miss Bessie
FdO Miss Blanche Grey is supposed TO have stolen it,
Her fathers dislike her possession Of diamonds given TO
her by her sisters suor, whose donor she will not
fess, and the mpuations OF her rejected lover SkBy,
detective o. Cardin confirm this suspicion She derive
little satisfaction from the necessity she is under OF
pecng the real thief to be another lover OF hers Jack
Ryer, a ruehearted fireman u. X Mortimer who. to
avoid her father, had escaped by Roses chamber win
dow but, being turned into the street by her father
her only hope is to find the culprlt and induce him
confess the truth. Hereupon follow the adventures
a long and tOrtuous chapter OF horrors, including
the squalid depths Of night-odging cellar IN ths
First Ward imprisonment in stateroOm OF a
burning Hudson River steamboat, and Other cruelties
which finally drive her TO attempt suicide just at this
the dramatists heart melts with compassion lJdek
Ruer allowed prove conclusivey that the gold chain
and Bessie restored to fe TO her lover and 70 happ
The piece is thrown together loosely and greatly
needs pruning and cOmpacess IL Is presented IN the
most and elaborate style OF scenic art and in
panoramic views Of the Hudson. clog Dancing street
mnsrelsy, and many other popular appliances OF tho
modern domestic drama. 1t is played unusually
we'll Mr.. Mortimer was at home aud efficient
IN his part, not new one 10 him; Mr.
Cardn has a less conventional one, TO which
ne did full Justice Mr. Jack Garry Fdilo as for
steamboat clerk and the most genuine creation IN tho
play. dashing, happy and full OF life. Miss Bancn
ard portrayed the arstocratic aspirations OF Rose Win
graceful and vivid fidelity and Miss Grey interpreted tne
of Bessie with feeling and effect Mrs Gilberts
Mrs FdllOn q genial representation, and the Mrs
DOtcdery given by Miss Amelia Harris, was overflow
ing with Irish impulse and humor The moral OF ms
Flash OF Lightning" is good, and the dialogue 9cca-
siOnally brilliant; but 1t is altogether too long ana dlne
and shall be unable TO give just opinion OF It's merits
whole, until IL is reduced TO Its proper proportions