New-York tribune., 1868-08-07
TIE DRIMA.
FOUL PLAY AGAIN.


On q second seeing of Foul Play,h at tbs
New-York Theater, we find it improved in the acting
and more effective as a drama than it first Tia
only portion of it, however, that really makes q yiud
impression the audience the fifth act There are sr
in alb which relates the tracing of the chests OF gold
and to Arthur Wardlaw's attempt 10 murder Joe Wyus
These are matters OF which the original story says moth
ing The material herein is almost entirely new. Ads
tective officer prominent in these scenes and hi. sag.
city and perseverance following along the trail Of the
criminal naturally excite the interest Of the SPECTATOR
and inspire their minds with lively feeling Of anxious
suspense This is the strong part OF the drama We
not add that it is "ovely in its strength" To watch the
clever pursuit OF criminal, under romantic olrcum
stances is to be interested and even excited; but
not to see anything 1ue to feel the ennobBg goWd
generous emotions. Nobody is either wiser better
after this momentary excitement has died away. Moth
ing is accomplished for art Nothing is shownh
even theatrical effect. Hawskhaw is surely novelty
The flash Of the polcemans bulls eye has been DO
fore so often seen, in fact that society has long n
endured, ped and embraced it. The next thinghn
bid 1t farewethOugh dare say the adieus will not be
spoken for long time yet II can still put the public
into fine frenzy, and 1t is already intimated the
cess OF Foul Play" Besides Wyles peril and Dawkns
detective exploits the point that is most applauded ia the
sinking of the PrOseTpae This is deity managed
than at first and reflects credit on the machinit
and dust on the audience But fail to anything
dramatic in stagecarpentry Let us not however, be to-
hard to please. Let cheerfuly swallow portion
dust and clap the hands OF appreciation for this feat
Of mechanical skill. Let admire, also, as indeed
Justly may, the fitness and merit Of most OF IL
scenery. The view OF Hobart Town, in Australia, TIA
view OF Helen's Bower on Godsend Island the VieWd
a London street. and the view OF cellar beneath the
house chancery, very well DONE and are eedtabe
10 the artist But when all Is said In praise OF
these matters we are compelled TO add that the parcu
1raVp avtta
permanent e to be wanting in "FoUl Play That
quality s-rapid dramatic movement, in the Illustration
OF human nature, and I'm the exposition OF natural
symmetrical, coherent plot The piece lags. The chief
incidents unsatisfactory ImprobabiItie' OF event
continually thump against the thoughtful mind The
goodness Of human nature is seen 20 fail Helen and her
father behave brutally feowcreature, and appear
to think they doing very noble deed Joe Wylie, an
internal mscreant appears toward the close Of the
play good anybody else and becomes indeed
quite pleasant and sociable his moral
excellence. The few really dramatic situs
tons (situations, that is, which present
human emotions, passions, and experiences in .
graphic lghp seem to lack vigor The lovetalk Of
Robert aud Helen. on board the ship the meeting d
Helen and her father, the island and old Wardawl
terrible silent agony, in discovering the nfamles Of bic
only son-these surely passages that ought to touch
the heart But they do not in this play. They are
made subsidiary TO the meO-dramatic portion-tO tia
tves adrot maneuyers. and the viIlainy OF Joe Wyk
acting than in the principal characters
the NewYork Theater might it is true bring thsS
situations INTO greater relief. But We doubt it. Tbs
piece is a disappointment, TO all who expected mos
than old-schOol melodrama. Willie, however better
acting would not make IL fine piece better acting would
give fuller exposition and ampler Their
great for improvement in this particular
The best performance, we have previously
al J. r. Studlpy.
sonates Joe Wylie. The conception is clear and
the execution is firm and definite SO with Mr.. Burnetts
Gen. ROleStOn much less important and exactng part
So with another subsidiary character, Mr. W. Harnss
Capt HHdS0n-though this is marred by exaggerah0nh
the makeup OF the head. Mr.. Mckee Rankin, whOPAp
Arthur Wdrdiav. has conceived the part with remark
able accuracy, but is still uncertain and uneven in It's
lneation. Refined, delicate, educated, cowardly weak
cruel this affords really good opportunities for the
exercise Of the actors art Robert Pd s far less pro
pitious for the player Mr.. d. H. Harns personates tina
part, and throws into 1t great deal OF fervent feeling
bu. Mr. Harins although he appears TO be manly and
sensitive in organization, not interesting hero. Be
Sides his art Is rough. He always seems to be acting.
This is true. likewise OF Miss Louise Hawthorne who
walks in aquet, nOnchalan way through the part OF HeH
R0Heston These players intend well, dare say bd!
they create illusion. True acting makes us for
get the stage-and this with the intelligent susceptible
mind is always sure test. To Mr. F.iG. Maeder word
his performance OF DdWkmS, the detective. Let him,
however, avoid the tendency TO excessto oyeress and
to overdo IL might be wished IL the matter were par
ticularly important, that Mr. flanagan, who plays Oh
Wdrdid would remember that he assumes 10 persona~
heavy, dgnifed, emnently respectable, and very hgh
toned British merchants parsonage OF whom. alPt"
eut, he does 20 have the remoes idea. To hear
this gentleman cry out Mercifu Heaven :" on being m
formed that his son is dying is just now, luxury o'
we shall put the point mildly, In saying that "
is not a luxury OF Miss Wells plays NAVY
Rouse; but, though Miss Wells is always an agree
able performer, her Nancy Rouse might as wen /"
Polly snooks for all the individuality there is about H.
Finally, protest, with all possible feryeucy' asan''
the singing OF the song OF The White squal "hi'hs
Mr. Lingard inncts us, In the shpscene. Mr Ian
CARDS main difficulty Is that he cannot sing IL Is NOV
very important one perhaps but It s worthy OF eoh'~
Grafton Further on the acting need not hen
be made It may improve. and we hope u Will Ihere
will be time enough Foul Play is sure. for various
extraueous reasons 10 for several weeks and inc
opportunities ought TO be improved tolerable mel"
drama may thus chance be rendered an amply pros
porous one 1t is already attracting much better o'Ss
of audience than has hitherto been accustomed to aenu
the New York Theater.