The New York herald., 1869-09-07
AMUsEMENTs.

uneouiyoca success This was the verdict Of the
audience at large--the liberal mass that does the
loud applause; O tribunal whose dramatic percep.
tions are In an American audience quite as accu-
rate, and whose taste and Judgment as correct AZ
these Things are apt to be with the critical few
The play Ii constructed with perfect art
written with practsed ease and In COM
plete familiarity with oil the moods OF the
play going pupllc, and Is rich enough in
picturesque characterization to remind one of Dick
ens The back ground Of the piece is that seasonable
excitement the oxford and Cambridge boat race
a. that OF q former piece by this author was the
Derby. On this is traced the story OF "Formosa,"
the temptress against her will In sharper's game
against the hero Of the piece. Her character IN the
play heightened by the fact that she does not act
from the ordinary motives OF the tempters In these
eases. ehe Is IN love with the man she tempts TO
Ms ruin and lures him, always herself in sup
posed agony. She does this to save her par
ents the pang they would feel at knowing
her true character; for II she balks
the game Of the villains in whose hands
she is they threaten that disclosure. Here
the dramatist has put himself against the
declaration Of dramatsts.and poets the wide world
over, who have all held that love, the master pas
sion, is never second TO fal duty. Except in this
lapse the dramatic situation here is quite
analogous to that in the opening part Of
the LADY Of Lyons" F0rmosa Is used by
villains to ruin Burroughs, just as Melnotte Is
used to ensnare Pauline, and the penalty of failure
that Of disclosing the true character-is the in
both plays The first scene IN "FOrmosa" represents
the Old Swan Boat House the banks Of the Thames
near oxford, where the crew oi the dark blue
being coached by Sam Baker, a retired prize fighter
who Is now the host OF the Swan. Sam and Mrs.
belief that hats she % has been living re- reputable life in
sOwn they have received presents from time to time
ss the fruits OF her industry. Il soon transpires,
whose names have been varlousy Lady Arthur Pierre.
pont and "Formosa" and her recognition by a
polished scamp named Compton Kerr and by his
companion, Major Jorum, places the repentant bar
maid, anxious to redeem the errors OF her early
life, IN very painful position. With the knowledge
they possess they can influence Jenny Boxer to
resume her Old station, and influenced partly by
jealousy she consents to become their accomplice IN
large means and good family, who Is an oxford
graduate and the 'stroke" In the impending Uni
yersity boat race young GIRL named Nelly, in
love with Tom, has been brought up by old Doctor
Doremus, d fellow OF ST. JOINTS College as his
daughter, but she is claimed by released convict
named Bob Sanders, who proves by q written docu-
meEt IN his possession that she Is his daughter and
thus love alair between ner and Tom is TEN.
porarlly broken of. In the second act the gang OF
sharpers, with Formosa TO assist them, are seen
Fastening the ruin OF Tom, who now occupies cham
Ders IN the Albany, neeced at cards by the Major
and the tribe OF rooks' in his employ, and is en-
thraed by the Establishments Of the courtezan VINO
scene Of the residence OF Formosa is repre-.
scented with bright moon. q well laid |
OHG Rdruen, ana an Illuminated interior, so |
admirably arranged that an immediate Call for Mr..
William Beverley as the artist had to be responded
70 before the action could proceed In the third act
Formosa shows some reluctance to further the de-
eigns OF the conspirators, and powerful situation |
occurs when she throws of the associations OF a |
return to the paths Of virtue The fourth act repre-
, Ssnss tne s.ormlng Of the sponging house where
Tom SURROUNDS has heen incarcerated for the debts
ne has contracted through the roguery Of hs infa
nous punderers at play and his rescue time enough
70 permit his taking his place in the match. The
" fnfnr rnAx,a
marries Nelly, whose father shows signs OF atone.
ment for his past misdeeds. and the villains Comp.
ton Kerr ana MAJOR Jorum are handed over to the
they have perpetrated.
II Is nonsense to talk OF the sensational drama In
view OF this piece. Its effects legtimately due
to art. 1t is the legitimate drama OF this day as
much as the 'school Tor scandaln was the legitimate
picture that people VIII find more or less accurate
according to their taste, but drawn always
'very age and body Of the time its form and pres.
sure" we may doubt the ,nsennon OF .hs ~esher
that he has brought in the dent-n,onde TO scouree
vice, but the scourging does not appear Vice s not
scored very severely when our sympathies are ex
TO make 1t look as much as may be like
. good article Of virtue. We think the
OF the denai-n,orde on the stage s the same These
women are presented as having delicacy of thought
utterly inconsistent with the lives they lead. Women
who could lead the lives that these fictitious crea.
lures lead In one phase could not think the thoughts
given tnem 10 anotner phase. ThuS our Sympathles
are excited by rasity.
But they are excited nevertheless as was abun.
dainty shown last night in the case Of "Formosan
The piece was admirably presented in point OF
scenery and had also unusually good fortune In Its
actors. Miss Kate Newton was always effective as
FormOsa, and Mr.. Thorne did full justice to the fine
part Of Tom Burroughs. Messrs. Holston, Morton
and Pearson were especially noteworthy IN their
several parts.
FIFTH AVENUE THEArRE.-Yesterday evening
this pretty but ventilated little theatre was filed
vwtth tntnr nE Tho
"Dreams" the nve-act romantic comedyv which
M Robertson and Mr.. Boucicault have built on the
basis Of Tennyson's poem, "Lady Clara We're de
Vere." The fourth act which abounds in good
dramatic points, was written 1t is sad entirely by
Mr. Boucicault. New YORK audiences have
learned TO Judge themselves OF the merits
OF an English play, independently OF its
failure success the other side OF the Atlantic.
Eetwtthstandng therefore the failure OF this weak
produced under another ttle at Liverpool, and its
comparatively moderate success when modified and
long run as ''Play1 has had Perhaps the very de-
Cided hit which was made by Mr. Lewis as Mr. John
Ethel, who acted admirably the part OF Lima.
simple maiden in her flower,
Worth hundred coats of arms,
may together with the really superb scenery OF the
piece, secure it much longer run. Mrs. q. H. Gil
bert personated well the character OF Frau HART
thai. Mrs Clara Jennings, as Lady Clara We're de
Mr.. y. L. Davenport had but slender opportunity
as the Ritmeister Van Harfthal, to 'come out
suong,' and did not avail himself OF 1t. Mr. George
CLARK as Rudolf, showed a marked Improvement
IN his style Of acting. Mr.. George Hol.
land, as Old Gray NINETY and nimble),
and Mr.. w. Davidge, as the Duke OF Loamsnire
lnobe and ninety were capital nonogsnarians. But
the honors OF the evening were won by Mr.. Lewis
whom we overheard an old and experienced play
Goer compare favorably with Charles Matthews
and by Miss Agnes Ethel. Mr.. Stoepel and his Or
chestra gave some new and original music; but in
90 small hail and In such swetering weather there
was almost too much OF 1t. We have rarely seen "a
first representation" on the New YORK stage 90 of
more smoothly and satisfactorily than that OF
'Dreamsn
OLYMPIC THEArRE.-The sensation drama OF "Un.
Gle Toms Cabn' was produced at this theatre last
night. The number of people present TO witness the
representation was not remarkably large. The fact
OF the matter is that plays OF the Uncle Tom com.
pexon are altogether out Of date at the present time
sickly. stupid !sentimentality pervldes them ALL
When this drama was first produced at the old