Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-09
Sensation Drama -B0ucfcault's New
Play, "FormOsa."
carraanondence of thu Nav York Times

fl8J, I0I"Osh.
Correspondence of the New York Times.l
LONDON. Saturday. August 81, 1869.
In the dullest season of life in London,
Mr.. Boucicault has provided sensation
beyond anything that his most mastery
sensation dramas could give. 1t is of q
sort that his most virtuous of countries
oves-a moral sensational sharp spasm
of indignant virtue. We have had q
brilliant season of French plays at the
St james, patrcpized by royalty, nobility,
rank and fashion, winding up with the
immortal Schneider in La Grande
Duchesse, Barbe Bieue and Orphee aur
Enters We have had the drive in Hyde
Park and the Lady's Mile, in the N ost
fashionable hours, invaded by golden
haired anonymas in the most dashing
equipages. They have long formed an
interesting portion of the spectacle at the
opera and in the private boxes of the
heaters. Their photographs crowd those
of the highest and most distinguished
personages in the land in hundreds of
shop windows; and now we hear indig-
nant British virtue writing letters and
leaders in the newspapers denouncing
Mr.. Boucicault and blaming the Lord
Chamberlain because the counterfeit pre-
sentiments OF these queens of the demi-
monde are brought before US on the stage
of Drury Lane. Paterfamilias cannot
,ake his wife and daughters there. They
have seen La 1rdridfd-but that was in
Italian. They have seen Barbe Bleie,
and thought it delightful fun-but it was
IN French. Formosa is in English.
The dramas of Mr. Boucicault, how
ever strong they have been in certain
dramatic elements styled sensational,
have from first to last been siDgularly
free from anything which could call for
the interference of the Lord Chamberlain.
/ doubt if be has ever had 10 expunge
phrase or lengthen a petticoat. | was.
therefore, curious to see in what he had
offended in Formosd. The raising Of
the moral question OF course made it nec-
essary to 90 early. Even Drury Lane
cannot hold all who must be interested
in such an investigation. The house was
crsmmed, and there was no lack Of ladies.
Where propriety is in question, in these
days Of womau's rights agitation, women
are as anxious as men TO see that justice
is done. The Vokes family, promoted
from the Alhambra Music Hall to shine
among Her Msjesiy's servants at Drury
Lane, kept the house in high good humor,
until the curtain rose on Formosa,
shich begins with the training Of the
Oxford crew, and ends with the Univer-
si,y boat race. The hero Of the drama
the stroke of the Oxford eight; the
heroine the barmaid of country inn,
Who has become a queen of the DENT
monde and one act Of the play is night
reyel at her villa on, the banks OF the
Thames at Fulham, and in two scenes
there are introduced in subordinate parts
and IS supernumerariss five or six OF the
syrens we have hitherto seen everywhere
except upon the stage.
The drama is full Of 90, with sharp
dialogue, well-drswn character, striking
situation, beautiful scenery. Il enlists
rom the first moment the sympathies Of
he audience They feel sorry for the
heroine Of the piece, but quite forget to
5s indignant She has been yiciimi
bn, :-aa hps abandoned her bad and
soIepdid G career, and come back to hes
humble home to help S~f poor lalher saa %
mother, who are quite ignora'St 81 Iee
cast life. She is driven back to 1t =
'breats of exposure, and made the iSstru-
meut Of ruin to the young 0xonian. She
renents and saves him. Pit, boxes and
gallery are not shocked With the presen-
Iation Of . character with which all are