The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-04
A NJ U S E II E rs.

BROADWAY THEATRE.-''Trodden Down." Fenian
drama. was played here for the first time last night
to an audience not so predetermined to be pleased
is usual with audiences at Fenian dramas-to an
audience also that tried the capacity OF the theatre
IN regard to numbers less severely than Ia usual in
these cases. The acting was bad. Even the mild
radiance Of the two stars, Mr.. and Mrs. Watkins, did
not redeem It. II there are any times when said
stars ore less like Irishman and his wife than at
any other times it is at those odd moments when
they collectively or respectively attempt peculiar
lntenaIon ana enuncstion known as brogue.
dramas Commonly are. The reason OF this may
be that Il IS imp6ssibIe for play to fall below that
standard There is the regular fugitive patriot the
regular devoted wife. tho regular dead father and
motes. dragged int the narratve-the British ofcer
ana the soldiers, the horrible villain and the hungry
hangers on; no character In the least degree ind
vdualzed and there is no wit. There are terrific"
situations and some other stale trash But what Ia
there in all this TO put before nofensive public
az August nightf But we note it as favorable sign
that the Fenian element does not come out in such
force and Ia not so vocferous as Of yore. Perhap
this haping on the love OF country OF our Irish cit
zens Ii ''payed." as the boys say. Let US hope So
TONY PASTORS OPERA HOUsE.-This famous tenn
pie Of the Muses. was well filed last night, the
occasion being their temperance upon their
return from provincial tour OF the
company which: under the management OF the
great Tony himself, had drawn full houses during
the whole Of last season. Prominent among the cid
faces. every one OF which was cordially greeted,
that received spec al recognition was that of Miss
Jennie Enge, who fresh from her trumphs in the
Crescent City, where enrapured critics dubbed her
"prlma DONNA" made her rentree here amid a
storm Oh applause Miss Engel is unchanged by her
southern ana Eastern tour and sings with
the same spirit and dash as ever. She is an
p0unced on the bills as serio-cOmic vocalist, but
her status IN the music world can be best appre-
ciated By describing her as a female Tony Pastor
she mas evidently made large additions to her roper
koe, and three e,scoes for each Of which she sang
new song testified to the satisfaction OF the audi
ente with her efforts. Tony himself was the reci-
pient OF an ovation as cordial it enthusiastic,
to the Gsuse by answering their repeated welcome
with o soNg. The bill included the Introduction Of
Johnny Thompson in some OF his famous character
songs and daNces, but, owing to q sudden and dan
gerOus illness, I've was unable to appear. The per-
Torrance closed With new sensation drama, entl-
tied the "Peep Show" which was well received
NEW YORK THEATRE-'FOUL PLAY."-Last night
the New York theatre was filled it is seldom filled
and with class of people Of higher order than
dinarily Irequents that place Of amusement. The
occasion was not unworthy OF the audience. 1t was
the first appearance the stage this side Of the
Atlantic of the greatest literary sensation of the day.
Fou Play" the joint production OF Dion Boucicault
and Wilkie Collins. IL would have been strange II
such piece should not have been interesting the
stage No novel for many years, not even
"Lady Audleys Secret" has been so gen.
'erdlly Tedu anu bO BcueTdly ADMIRED as
" Foul Play" In the dramatic form the story loses
none OF its power. Its appearance on the New York
stage was looked forward to with the greater eX-
pectation that its success in London had been great
It is only just to the managers of the New York
theatre TO say that the piece is put upon the
stage in a manner which does them the
highest credit. The parts are well filled,
some OF them admirably. AS Miss Helen ROLES
ton Miss Hawthorne left little to be desired.
10 wylie. the mate OF the Proserpine. was done to
well nigh perfection by Mr.. j. b. Studey. Mr..
MCKEE Rankin was good as Arthur Wardaw. The
character OF PenfOld, the unfortunate convict was
by Mr.. Harkins. This unquestonaby the
principal male character In the play 1t Is dificut
to do 1t Justice We must make large allowance for
the drst night; but after all allowance Is made we
still compelled to say that Mr. Harkns did not do
the character justice. We doubt whether he Is
able. To our thinking 1t would be q wise arrange
ment to transpose Mr.. Rankin and Mr. Harkns.
Mr.. Harkns would look better Wardlaw and Mr..
Rankin would be more acceptable as Penfold Miss
Mary Wells was capital as Nancy Rows, and the
minor characters generally were well represented.
The scenerywe refer particularly to the Island cod
send-was very good. Altogether considering that
1t was first performance the managers have cause
for gratitude. With care and attention the piece
ought to nave q prOtracted run.