New-York tribune., 1869-04-01
THE DRAMA.
oRAND OPERA HoUsB--orEsrSo NIGHT. :

At the Grand Opera House last evening, in
the presence of very largo audience OF cultivated ard
fashionable persons took place the third ehakespesresa
revival that gaoed and honorei our dramatic year
The Tempest" presented. Is performance signal
lied the beginning Of enterprise and was at once
accepted as hopeful herald OF splendid success
That such n success will continue 70 attend Mr..
Tayleure's undertaking must heartily DO hopeo
IL ia not for shakespeare sake though that the rend
of the drama rejoice the revyas Of his works thsa
have made-and are still makng-the present the
atrical season so remarkably brilliant. It is Tor ths
sake of the prosperity and good repute OF the Stage
The influence exercised the theater by these re
vvas most ennobng TO which 1t can be subjected
and It is especially the Influence which Is needed now
when heartess leyity and sensual beastiness ars
rampant on the stage. No wise OF course WIN op
feet to buresque pantomime and other light entertain
ments Laughter is q blessing But TO great extent
the light nowin vogue are mace the ve
hiele for sross vulgarty-s vulgarity which, In two
or three case. has descended into the literal
mre of the obscene. Apd 1t is this disposition
to make the theater corrupter OF puono NOR.
ais that needs the sturdy opposition OF al
that is great patent in dramatic literature ana al
that Ia good In rightly administered stage 30 tnnk
ing we have heartily supported-and snail continue
support-eyery welldrected effort to keep Shakespeare
upon the boards and advance the art OF aetns ouh
effort is the production Of 1.-THE Tempest at the "rano
Opera House out Of the Erie Railroad nest Soma
good has coma at last The Opera House has been
his week by producing, sumptuous manner one OF
the few perfectly beautiful works OF dramatic art ths'
genius has created mankind The resut s tha'
peepo of mind and sensibllty have luxury OF benen
clh enjoyment before them' to tho exceAehco o'
which words of praise constitute but feeble
testimonial The Tempest" IL is fruc'
has not been done In strict accoraahcs
Shakespeare stAkars for literal accuracy nave
therefore such ground for critical comment az wi" Keep
their minds pleasantly and seully employed for long
time IN come But no liberties have been taken with the
niece save such as are calculated IN an innocent way@
commend 1t TO that general pubic-aside from shakes
pearean scholars-by which theaters are supported
The text has been but little cut; and' indeed.
the variations from perfect fidelity to tbs
original are all told when we say that the spiritual
element in the drama has been seized as pretext
PRODUCING great number OF airy syphs' ana thaI ths
niece has been laden heavily as possible with gorgeous
scenery 1t requires but nine seenes-t has Deen sup
piled with tweyeand the masque scene, IN the fourth
act has been considerably expanded These emDehish'
ments appear TO us to @ qnte Jas'ihAoie'
They offend no tolerant critic; WHILE for TIE
multitude they enhance the glow OF the representation
To one innovation. however, 1t is needfui to OBJECT on
the score OF classical taste regular ballet perform
ance was introduced at the end Of the nrst act
Prospero was attended by spirits, ana great
latitude is allowable in the representation OF hH
fairy world. But the modern ballet seems ent'rey
ongruous with ell the associations OF tnef en
chanted isle 1t very handsome ballet uongh'
and was led by ETHEREAL and poetic OF contepo
raneous dancers the beautiful Nile. Morlacch It's per
formance was delicate and good, and was warmly
applauded Indeed the spirit manifested by the
audience was sympathetic and genial from nrs'
10 last IL welcomed several OF the players "na
ths hearticst good will. Mr. Davenport, as Proc
pero. was the chief fayorite, as he certainly
deserved 10 be- looked tho magician perfectly, and
he infused into the character all the gentle dignity
sometimes austere and always thoughtful and sadly
tempered which belongs 70 1t. His best speech, we
remarked-that concerning this baseless fabric OF
vision was greatly despoed Of its requisite effect
by the superfuous music OF the orches
ira. shakespeare's words music enough
The Ca6an OF Mr. Davidge stood next in esteem. II
was very careful performance and when we consider
the immense difficulty Of the part, AVERY successful
picture OF the besa nature just yergng into the human
Miss Josephine Fiddes who endeavored to play Miranda
showed herself able and experienced actress and
a pleasing woman. But she did not personate the
character. What Keats calls "white simplicity isl
tremendously difficult perfection for anybody to attain
and surely the ideal OF is fitted by baxcm woman
who exhibits stagetraining at all points Yet Misc
Fddes abundanty equal TO the theatrical necessities
of the piece Actresses capable Of playing Miranda ara
the white .blaekDlris OF the profession. It h
20 be hoped that" this lady may be seen
by and by, In other parts that VIII give full ana
free scope the talents that she evidently
Miss LacOtto's Ariel pretty enough, was conscten
tiousy studied and gracefully portrayed Mr. Aayofhs
a bad cold. would be agreeable in feTd|
ndnd as he certainly competent. Much al
lowance should be made, in estimating the quality
of tho acting for the severe strain upon the
nervous energy that necessarily attends first nights
performance. Considering that "The Tempest" has
been prepared within the very brief period OF nine
weeks the moothness Of the performance last night was
really remarkable The scenery worked without hitch.
IL might be brighter in color, by the way, wthoH
detriment the effect. But the motive Of the artist 10
TO be considered. His early pictures are mystic HIS
later lustrous. The whole closes with per
fectly gorgeous pageant The ship-reck scene with
which drama begins, viii be much improved by more
action the part Of the ships crew. There 10
winged figure OF Ariel that would not be
missed should It bo seen again. IL was
close upon twelve o'clock when tho curtain
e last night II fell however, upon what. In popular
point OF view must be regarded SUCCESS ahd
what Judged In tho mood OF criticism presents
many beauties and surely infused with that spirit Of
glance to dramatic which the friends OF the drains
most desire TO predominant. %