The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-31
DRAMATIC.
'FOuI Play" in Philadelphia.


dramatization of Charles Reade and Dion Bou
clcaults sensational romance of Foul Play will
be played for the FIRST time in this city. "Foul
Play,n which appeared simultaneously in the
London Once.d- Week and the Boston EUery
Sdhirddu was certainly one of the most pro-
foundly tragical novels of the century; and yet
there was an air of refinement about 1t which
made it quite acceptable to the most fastldious
of readers, despite the many bloodthlrsty scenes
and over-wrought sentimentaisms which 1t
contains. Its publication kept both the weekly
serials on the high tide Of success for months,
and tens Of thousands of readers on both sides
Of the Atlantic impatiently awaited the piece
meal appearance of the story. 1t seems that
there was anything but harmony between the
celebrated novelist and dramatist whose names
were conjointy predxed to it. BY the original
understanding between them and the
publisher of 0nce-d- Week, Mr.. Reade
was to furnish the entire manuscript of the
story, the name of Mr.. Boucicault being given
rs one of the authors, merely for the sake of
keeping at bay the horde of piratical play
wrights who would have pounced down upon
such sweet morsel of trs gedy, as soon as the
last instalment was placed before the public,
and the denouement ascertained beyond all per
picking doubts. Not content with SUCH O rare
opportunity of heading off all competitors In
She production of a 6rst-class dramatic sensa-
tion, Mr.. Boucicault requested of Mr. Reade the
privilege of writing one instalment of the story,
which was granted him. But he did not stop
here, and continued to send in chapter after
chapter, until the publisher of Once.G- Week
protested against this violation of the contract
and refused to accept any more copy, excep
from the pen of Mr.. Reade. This caused MIR.
Boucicault considerable chagrn and he had his
revenge upon both publisher and novelist by
secretly concocting a dramatic version Of the
story, which he placed upon the boards Of one of
the London theatres beiorei Its serial publication
was completed. Mr.. Reade resented this dis
courteous conduct by turning playwright him.
self; and IN few days Foul Play, with slight
variations in the progress of the plot and the
denouement, was duly heralded upon the bulle'
tins of rival establishment. Both versions of
the drama achieved considerable popularity, the
public being led to witness them because of the
unseemly squabble between the two authors
But, in consequence of the extreme haste with
which both versions had been gotten up, neither
of them, according TO the London papers, did
full justice to the capabilities of the subject,
Bouccaulps version being characterized as ex.
ceedingly bad, and Reade's as still worse. Of
Judge, having as yet seen nothing of either.
About a month ago Foul p oy, with all its
elements of dissension. was transferred to the
American stage. One Palmer appeared, claim
ing the sole right of its production in this coun
try, and in consideration of the daily payment
Of $50 consented to Its representation at the
Worrell Sisters Theatre in New York, under the
Joint management of Mr.. James I. Lloyd and
Daniel III. Harkins MIR. Lloyd acting as business
manager, and Mr. HaIkins assuming the leading
role. The first representation was on Monday
evening, August 3, the version produced being
claimed, at the time, TO be the joint production
of Reade and Boucicault. 1t was only mode
rately successful, and for couple OF weeks
scarcely drew paying houses. After paying for
two nights performances, Mr.. Lloyd refused to
settle the claims of Mr.. Pamer's agent any
longer; whereupon Mr.. Harkins, who attained
the rank of major during the war and was not
TO be frightened by his partner into an act of
downright dishonesty, took from the treasurer's
box part of the proceeds of the per-
formance of August II and paid it
over to Mr.. Palmer's agent. Tnis proceeding
on his part caused the closing of the theatre
the next evening by Mr.. Lloyd, and for day or
two Foul Play was suppressed. 1t soon reap
peared on the boards of the Broadway Theatre,
to which nearly all of the actors in the original
cast folio wed Mr.. Harkins. MIR. Lloyd likewise
went to work, and with new cast again placed
the drama on the stage OF the other theatre.
He then instituted legal proceedings against
MIR. Harkins to prevent him from continuing to
represent the play. On Monday evening of last
week four or five deputy sheritfs visited the
Broadway Thestre effected an entrance by the
rear doors, aud before they could succeed in
discovering the whereabouts of Mr.. Harkins,
did succeed in raising a disgraceful row, during
which man and boy were shot by them, and
left at tie point of death. Despite, or rather
In consequence of this unhappy DIS
turbance, both theatres continued to be
visited by immense crowds of people every
evening, and the same version Of the romance
was repeated at both places several times, until
Nr. Harkins was finally enjoined from proceed
ing any further. He then dropped the first
version of the story, and announced for per-
formance Dion Boucicault's dramatiEati)n IN,
which, as performed at the Holburn Theatre,
London, had been published in pamphlet form.
But he was suffered to proceed in this direction
for day or two only, and then an etfec.ual stop
was put to his playing of Foul Play by fresh
injunction, the Court holding that the substitu
terfuge by which he sought 70 show his con-
tempt and deGance of It's orders. So much fol
Foul Play in London and New York.
The version of the drama which is to be pro
duced in this city IS that prepared by Charles
Reade, and the right to produce it here wa
Durchaspd of the author by Mr. John 9 CLARK q