The New York herald., 1869-03-15

that me first report was overcoored as Cnstance's
INJURIES are SO slight that ne Will not be precinaed
from having spin or two across country before
entering upon the legitimate programme Of 1853.
THEATRICALS IN ENGLAND.
-~S>~~~~~~~>~>>~>~~~>~~~~~
Tho Drama In L0ndon-American Artists
Abroad-New Plays and Old Faces.
LONDON, Feb rs, 1869.
Perhaps q few items Of theatrical news on this
side the water may interest your readers; and
! am neither actor, manager author nor critic, my
notes shall be at least free from that envy and
charitableness" hch too often mark the comments
branch of the profession when writing OF any
other. Fan
Place aux Dan,es,-so we give precedence to Miss
Marie Wilton and her admirably managed Prince OF
Wales' theatre, wheEe Robertsons last production,
'Sch00r' is the attraction Of the town. drawing not
only fashionable, but intelligent and critical audi
ences and charming all who see 1t. II may he said
with perfect truth that the company at this theatre
Is not only the best In London but is absolutely the
only company competent to perform good comedy
| effectively. Here alone n there united judgment
with energy, talent with youth and beauty, and that
sapo aire winch gives lfe utterance and full effect
| to an authors conception.
| Turn we now to the Haymarket and mark the
contrast Here, also, play OF Robertson's, "Home,"
it is true but with three ex ceptions the whole
company is composed OF veterans some Of whom
may be classed as venerable antiques and extreme
age Is more admirable to me In port wine than In
players who still attempt TO impers0nate juveniles
Blackstone Is hardy evergreen, always pleasant to
look upon, and Chppendale an oak Of many sum-
mers The light comedian OF the company (Howe)
has filled that post some thirty odd years, while
Compton, who for quite as long period has admira
bly, acted droll and eccentric parts Is now starting
afresh in the juveniles. Sothern Is still the '.star
here but his fire is much paed since the days or
Dundreary. Miss Bateman crowded this theatre
during her whole engagement down to Christmas,
and = now now the most @ attractive s star IN England
End OF London this year--at Drury Lane at Covent
Garden and the Lyceum. That ut Drury Lane was
good, while Z. I. Smiths ut the Lycenm was, except
the transformation scene. the very worst IN London
not point in 1t to provoke laugh or even coax q
SMILE and, except the wonderful and indescribable
dancing or F. VokeS, all was melancholy indeed
n III s @Use bsn e. u naa
cessful. One cause that tends TO keep families
away nom this once fashionable theatre IS the nitro
duction OF certain ladies Of the demi-uaode the
s,age--sgrls OF the period1n who for the sake OF
publicity, accept engagerpenta Without falary come
"fairies," with magnificent pa,ures Of diamonds,
disgracing themselves af that be possible) and de.
70 appear with them OF eight persons on the stage
In one scene Of this pantomime I'VE were women or
com o the dvnss back o
Qpscvrtty. Tue result has been beggarly account
For some years the United staes sent M ..stsrsp
that made money for themselves and the managers
here. Charlotte Cushman, Barney Williams and
and fortune here; but our late importations from
America have been disastrous failures. First and
among ines tnsse may be ranked @ the Ger.
the most strenuous e1orts made In his behalf by his
manager, by friends and by certain clique In the
run Of "Narcissen new pIay-or. rather, old
Y S ~ sSss. ssss @ ~ ss!SS sSsf 4:
star. The ilfst excitement over, the press ana the
public soon found that the Germanico-A
ceipts became .snail by degrees and beau
ufully less" until. as last hope, some
A. drowning men catch at straws. 80 &. I. Smith
9rasped at this shadow, and Herr Bandiiiann ap
peared as otheilo. ANS was the climax. People
who went TO weep renamed to utter or left the
theatre 10 give vent To pent up aughLer. one week
OF this suilced to close the theatre and terminate
most rumous losses TO the management.
our next star from the states was Mr.. Farcl0ugh,
but lacking force and that sympatnetic power which
strs the heart Of an audience. After q brief and
Improbable career Mr.. Faircough returned to the
Miss Celia Logan also, after brief residence here
has left US for New York.
Charles Mathews is still starring in the provinces,
have passed over him. he acts with won.
drous spirit and effect, ana when .smade up'
looks about i've and twenty. His wife sell
dom appears. Amy Sedgwick tMrs. ParKes) has
been in retirement for soine time, but will shortly
reappear. Two or three offers have been made by
New York managers 10 induce ner TO Cross the At
lanc but yet nothing has offered sufficiently
tempting and as she Is undoubtedly the first ..sar
coeaesl.s OF the day and can make plenty Of money
here nothing but very liberal proposal will tempt
her 70 eaye nee home her troops Of friends and tens
OF thousands OF admirers. In America she would.
am sure, prove immensely successful.
or al the ..stars"-and there are plenty OF them
moving around-i believe y. L Tooc makes the most
money. He rs droIl and can be pathetic. but doubt
| II he would succeed out OF England, he IL so
the wing eiiclis s'roar Of laughter and his ap-
pearance on the stage .prngs down the house, or
wins elieIts three hearty cheers" and ne retires
| amid ''tnundeas Of applause" The piaygoers Idol
lie him, and IN private life he Ia justly esteemed and
respected. 10 my mind Lionel Brough lone OF the
literary brothers Broug IL one OF the most natural,
| droll and amusing low comedians living. Toole Ia
aways Tooe, but Brough is chamelcon-c changing
| IN each character.
TIE new Gaiety theatre IL a great success though
the talent assembled there Is BY no means exraor-
dnarg; DIM ra ons ss theatre a ,csn new eeas bright
Ing pay for booking your seat pay for your seat Iay
| for programme, pay for opening . box door and
wisely been done away with by Mr. HoiIinyshead,
| the manager who is . man OF the time.
The New Globe s successful with Byron's
| drama OF sCyr's Successu and deservedy so put
| tue greatest s1ccess OF London Is the Ahambra.
where the orchestra numbers sixty admiraoie per-
| produccd with gr2nder effects than elsewhere i'm
England; where vocalists instrunentaists acrobats
and eccentric artises Of every description appear;
where there seats for 5000 aud promcnades for
| as many more, and where these seats and promen-
ades nightly ned TO such rcpletion inat locono-
tion ~ dilcu and the audience is 80 constantly
.'comng in' and going outn that 10, ,0vv persons
have paid for admission IN single evening.
Fans or FREsuEr IN CANApA.--The citizens OF
Montreal are apprehcnsiye Of immense damage
when the snow rnets and the river breaks UP. The
city authorities as well rs the citizens are using all
precautionary measures. The drains have been
| placed under close inspection snow Is being shov
elied from the roofs OF houses and all the available
teams are employed IN carting the snow from the
streets. But a this win not prevent damage IN
Commission street and otner points exposed TO the