New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-17
TIE DRAMA.
lOgative.


proper basis of hrstcass theatrical institution That
s he has assembled good stock company and has sec
out 70 produce good plays and have them wen actcn'
This is a simple purpose enougb but the manager who
fuhlls It accomplshes his whole duty MI Dalysn
effort was made last night when Mr. Robertsons comedy
OF Play was represented the presence of audi-
ence which was most respectable IN character
IL not very considerable In numbers The
theater about twothrds full RAY
was mounted with suitable and handsome scenery
under the stage direction Of Mr.. d. H. Harhns- ana IL
was sufficiently well acted It mixed comedy begin
ming in picture Of manners and ending in exaggerated
and improbable. though not ineffective. meodrama' Inc
scene is Baden the action occupies four acts and
twentyune persoDages figure ia the story Xhat story Is
interesting but development OF it is not marked by
any powerful dramatic effects wife follows her husband
TO the great center gambling the continent hnds hin
scheming win young girls hand and fortune defeats
him at the gaming table and ultimately by cooperating
with friendly man-oft hewords regans her hobh upon
his affections and wins renewed promise Of his hdety
The character of the wife noble generous, and lovely
that of the husband is despieabe. Could such man
exist and eomport himself as he does IN
this play, he could never DO reclaimed
at al--much less by such means as are mere
in employed TO effect his regeneration This Is the spirit
ual defect OF playthat it lie false to nature has
defects Of mechanism too that considerably mar t. In
the frat two acts there deal OF tedious elaboa
ton Of detail which greatly retards the necessary com
ing to Hecuba-too much pouring out OF WINE
lighting OF cigars, and general indulgence III
small talk This blemish be removed
and doubtless will be- The performance last
evening gan late was attended by considerable delays
and ended close upon midnight. When the piece -
pruned and brought into lively working order there VIII
remain melodramatic coDedy that will Interest ~
some well coBtriyed surprises by an atmosphere OF
romance and by few delicious bits of comic eharaetr
and sentimental dialogue It's analysis OF character and
emotion is not profound and its draft approximations
therefore by exacting Many theatergoe Ke
a spice OF meIo-drama in everything, and Play may
therefore chance to win temporary popularity. Nls
not however piece that last because 1t lacks pur
pose rapid movement and essential truth IN s portrait
ure of human nature aud lessons OF life. The best
writing in it is contained in tine dialogue Of the boy
aud girl lover. Mt Robertson is always felicitous IN
depicting the sweet ingenious shame which often marks
the expression OF tile artess love OF youth felctous
feature OF third act OF the comedy s the toerae
reproduction therein contained, OF DOre's great and III
mitabie picture OF gambling he'll at Homburg In the
last act there touches reminiscent OF Phe School
for Scandal" and "still Waters Run Deep" With refer
ence Days innovations the plot and text Of the
! original drama unable to speak Such as they
may happen they have doubtless been dictated by
prudent desire ut the piece to the peculiar talents OF
his company. The strength OF that company was shown
last night Mr. Davenport, Mr. Holland, Mrs Jennings,
Mrs. Gnbert Mr.. Polk, Mr. Davidge Mr. G. II Clarke,
Miss Agnes Ethel and other performers, carried the
| play through in as spirited manner as was com.
| patible with its spirit and tue long waits
that cogged progression. Several Of these favoe
performers-notably, Mr. Holland. Mrs. Gilbert Mr Da-
yenport and Mrs Jennncswere received with greet
ing Of most cordial phatc applause great deal
OF ability was expended upon the representation Mt
Polk and Miss Ethel recalled upon the stage &C the
end OF the oyescene in the romantic abbey in act second
Miss Ethel in particular seemed greatly to please tho
audience by her sanitation Of childish peulaaee.
Play will be repeated every night and at Saturday
Matinee II not up to the mark OF an elegant comedy
theater fair compromise between the extremes OF
taste in these matters and thus il may turn out to be
wiser choice for opening piece than higher order o.
| comedy would Just have been. At any rate, AT
| DAILY has made a successful start.
WOODS MUSEUM.
The regular dramatic season of lS69-7o, at
Woods Museum, is to commence about the lst Of sep
tember Next week the theater will Do closed in order
to admit OF its being cleansed and redecorated. The
Museum part Of Woods establishment however, Is TO
remain open, and will be enivened by the presence OF
Chinese giant, Chang by name, who isneary nine feet
high Not being above matrimony though, "Chaug"
has wife, called KinioO, and she also will be exhib
tied Mr. Wood has lately enlarged his disseminating
acquired the premises adjacent TO H. with frontage Of
1875 feet Thrtieth-st-aEd he will presently open to
visitors Of halls Of which is to contain
hrst.elass menagerie Of living animals We note
| likewise, that the Museum Aquaria are TO be
augmented and that extensive additions will be made TO
tho eeady large and interesting collection Of stuffed
birds Aids 10 the study OF Natural History thus be
found here In great abundance. AS to the dramatic per
fornances next season. Mr.. Wood promises that they
shall be respectable in character, and equally able and
refined We learn that he has engaged large company
| OF good players, among whom are mentioned the Rand
Sisters and the Zavisows Sisters The business organh
cation Of the Museum stands follows: George Wood
Proprietor and Manager Albert Parkes, Man
ager c. W. Barry Stage Manager; Thomas Theall Treas
urer The orchestra Will be directed by Mr.. Yonkers
The scenic department. viii be superintendent By Mr..
Joseph Ayers During this week the visitor to Woods
Museum will the WOrre Sisters &c. in the harlesQue
| Of Laah Rookh."
| DRAMATIC NOTES.
| Prof. FTObisher is giving readings in differ
ent parts OF Scotland, aud meeting with both
| financial and professional
| An error crept into our paragraph on Monday,
| on a "Reio OF Shakespeare" Tho Amsterdam Ord,
dated 1880, printed fourteen-and not seventeen
years after shakespeares death year Of that be.
| reayement 1916, as all the world Knows
| The PHILADELPHIA Press announces that Miss
Fanny stockton has become Mrs Smith. She remains
member OF the Richngs Opera Company, and will sng
here IN English opera next season, at tho French The
| alter.
The Lydia Thompson Troupe will shortly
appear in Philadelphia The Press of that city remarks:
ave object 20 the Lydia Thompson Company for three
reasons perfectly willing that these he
known: First their chief attraction 10 Is yulgariIy:
second they open the regular at what has hereto
fore been one Of the leading theaters in America ard
acting third they not what they profess be- They
| are not the Lydia Thompson company which has
been playing III New-foIk They have lost many VI their
| best people"
| FOREIGN DRAMATIC ITEMS.
Mr.. Tooe is TO play at the Gaiety Theater
| London, at Christmas
The French dramatic version of EAST Lynne
| is called Miss Melton"
Mr.. Louis BOuhet is dead, Mt Rouen aged %
| years He won celebrity as poet aud dramatist.
IL 4 u