The New York herald., 1868-02-20
Operatic and Dramatic Progress i'm Ne,
York.

Operatic and Dramatic Progress in New
York.
The progress Of opera and the drama in this
city for the past ten years or more is something
extraordinary. There are, perhaps, no elements
of busy life and advancement peculiar to our
society which can show so many evidences Of
the progressive ideas, the growing tastes and
the increased requirements in the matter Of
recreation which pervade the metropolitan
community. A few years ago. comparatively
speaking, the theatres were in the possession
Of an occasional star, fitting now and then
across the dramatic horizon. The star was
usually supported by s;rolling company, the
accidents Of the hour. With the exception Of
Wallack's, Burton's and Mitchell's Olympic,
there we're no good stock companies. But all
this is changed now. The rule and not the ex-
ception is q stock company OF fair and some
times Of excellent quality, with whom the
people become familiar. No matter in what
costume the actors may appear, or what
character they portray, the public welcome
them cordially and are determined to be
pleased with them. Let us take Wallack's at
the present time as an example. 1t has grown
to be an institution, because people know that
there is q fine taste exercised in the production
Of plays put upon the stage. The scenery is
good and appropriate. In getting up the CO.'S
tunes there is evidence Of pains:aking in order
to preserve the subject Of the drama as natu-
rally as possible. Everybody knows that the
legitimate drama can be found almost always
at Wallack's, and everybody goes there to meet
friends Of like tastes-t0 hold, a. IL were, q
pleasant reunion. There is not q theatre in
London to-day more comfortable or elegant
or more judiciously conducted than our Wal
lacks. In initiating the English style the
management has really succeeded in excel.
ling il.
We are gradually recedine towards our
original tastes in the drama. For Q while
we ran mad after Black-C -Crookism, and some
people pursue the ignis Jatuas still in the
more attractive form Of the "White Fawnn
But il 10 true, nevertheless, that although
the cost Of producing the latter piece may
be greater than that Of the "Black Crook
Il does not possess the attraction Of it's prede-
cessor The costumes may have cost good
deal Of money-no doubt they did, for they
are all Of Partisan fabric; but the effects are
not so astonishing, because people are more
used to them. The whole thing reminds one
Of a parvenu displaying his diamonds, real
or fictitious, as the case may be, the price Of
which was cheaply earned and the display
easily made. Tinsei 10, in fact, the prevailing
quality Of the spectacle at Niblos
Now, as TO progress in the opera business,
| we have the addition OF new house, the rival
| Of the catacombs, the slaughterer OF the inno-
cents. There 10 not on this Continent nor
with the exception OF Psris-in Europe either so
beautiful and perfect iheatre as Pixies Opera
House, and if Mr.. Pike only exercises little
prudence there may not be any theatre more
successful. II he supposes tha' the house will
run itself on .ts beauty on its own merits he il
grievously mistaken. He must give the pabiic
q frst class order Of talent II The Eighth avenu,