The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-24
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.
"a Flash Of lightning nt the Arch.

"a Flash Of Lightning at the Arch. .
Augustin Daly's drama OF a Fi0sh Of Light.
ring was produced last evening at the Arch TO
full house. The work OF preparing the effects
OF the piece continued up TO the moment OF the
rising OF the curtain, and IL was even feared
thai it could not be got ready In time. Not.
wIthstandiDg this. the play went Off very
smoothly for first night, and II the applause
OF the audience is to be considered as an
evidence OF success, IL may be pronounced
decided hit. The success OF the
piece, however, is 10 be attributed
entirely TO spirited acting and fine scenic
effects, for, considered by itself, 1t IL mass OF
unmitIgated trash and OF all the worthless plays
that have proceeded from the pen OF Daily IL
presents about the leas: claims to favorable
notice. We do not look for nature or prooa-
biliJy In such o production as this, but the
story should be told in an underst andable man.
ner. The author of Under Che Gdshgh. how-
ever, has considered his plot merely as soms~
thing upon which to string as many sensa-
tlonal effects as possible; and II we take this
view OF the case, and estimate the merit
of drama by the number OF startling sltua-
tions it contains. Il Fash Of Lightning might be
considered very superior production. The
plot turns upon the fact that gold chatu dis
appears mysteriously from room where It hal
been placed A young lady suspects That her
lover, who had just quarrelled with her. is the
thief and to shield him she allows the suspi-
cion to attach to herself After various adven-
lures In an all-night cellar in the First ward,
New York, upon a burning steamboat,
and submitting to indlgnities innumeraOle,
IL is discovered that flash of
lightning was the purloiner OF the missing
chain; and the minds of the young lady, her
lover. and her family are relieved by finding the
gold OF the chain melted by the lightning and
scattered In fragments among the coal in a
scuttIe. There are some tolerably good popular
hits IN the dialogue, which serve to keep !the
audience amused, but there is vast amount of
irrelevant matter which is tedious, uninterest"
ing and so utterly absurd that it ought to be
ruthleSsiy cut out, and the dimensions OF the
play reduced by one-third at least. For In
stance. what can be more ridiculous than the
gay and festive clerk, on q crowded steamboat,
singing q serenade outside of young ladys
state.ro door? The characters in the piece
are commonplace in the extreme, aud the
actors are entitled TO considerable credit for
giving them recognizable human likeness
Mr.. Maokay, in particular, plays
the part OF "Mr Classy Fulton"
the Irish American citizen. with much
ability. The other parts are fairly represented,
as fol.ows:-"Jack Ryde," Barton Hill; Fired.
Chauncey," l.. L. James, "Shiffley," A. Everly'
"Sam. Pidge," r. Craig; "Benedetto." S. Hem.
pie; "Eugipeer of the Daniel Drew" Mr.. Wallis;
"Terry Dowber1y," I. A. Creese; "Bob" Mr.
MeagheI; patsy" Rowland Reed; "Davy,"
Little Giuseppe; "Dan." Mr.. Snyder; Med"
Mr.. Norton; "Gammit," Mr.. Osborne; "The
Nervous Passenger" Mr.. O'Brien; "Caotain of
the Vanderbilt" Mr.. Collins; "Bessie Fallon,i
Miss Price; Rose FellOn," Miss Davenport:
miss DowDerry," Mrs. Z. F. Maeder; "Ann,5
Mrs. Styles.
A rash OF lightning is placed upon the stage
in the best style. The scenery 10 good aud the
effeoLs are very well managed. The STEAMBOAT
race, in the second act with the panorama OF
the Hudson, and the burning boat in the third
very fine sceupN