New-York tribune., 1869-06-24
THE-DRdMA.
DORA AN rnE rIFrH AyENuE.


other OF immediate dramatic pleasures His delc,,.
pastoral poem OF Dora" expanded into a thres..o,
drama by Mr. Charles Reade, finds adequate lustrat,o
at the hands OF the players in the Fifth Avenue ea
Dora, as poem, is the narrative of sad domestic
perencee1oellent for the Biblical simplicity and hon
illness OF its language excellent also for the yigor s
clear suggestion in its sketches OF character scene
pleasant English hamlet rises before US "a va 80
based on an old and solid civilization, aud markedh
staid customs. Weatherworn farm.houses voodos
nights, grassy lowlands wide.spreadng meadows 0old
fields of wheat, little iyyolod church. standing IN m
place of graves, Swallowed by ems and yew ,ro.
and amid all, decent rural population Joyous or ,
rowful in the immemOria experiences Of everyday Ia
such the aduncts Of the domestic story thar Ten
has so sweety told. II Is not remarkable story H.,
incidents are quite commonplace. It's counteruart va
dare say has often occurred in actual experiences Rr,
is the felicity of genius TO make the commonplace besn
tiful by interpreting its full significance The humb.
fe touched by this light Of magc is fruitful In lessons
Of truth and beauty Coleridge in the weknown conn
let tells that to be wroh with love doth work
like madness in the brain" Tennyson in his picture OF
Farmer AHds experience. ylvdly illustrates that idea
and urges the universal duty Of orgyne kind
ness The stern old man desired that WiEian his SON
and Dora his niece. should be married The niece con-
sented but the son rebeed and thereupon left his "a
TIERS house and welded another woman-"a laborer's
daughter, Mary lfOrTisOn"-who presently bore him
son. Poverty came upon them, and soon sharp
sickness put end 20 Williams nto. His IA
ther had not seen him; had not forgiven him.
but had allowed him to perish in indgence Dora had
secretly befrended these poor oucasts however and
Dora took the fatheress boy and placed him before
his grand,sire, in the wheatfeld The result was "a
might be foreseen passionate outburt-remOrse anger
pride, and love, contendng old mans heart-and
then reconciliation and evening twilight Of solemn
peace "Dora," as play sets forth this episode In
minute detail, and makes 1t emphatic by well-conrved
dramatic grouping and contrast The original text has
been entirely dlscarded-as was sensible and right
Each person introduced is made TO speak In prose- and
every instance the style of that prose harmonious
with the quality Of the speakers character Two addl
Onal persons been provided TO widen the scope
the play; number OF incidents have been added
and the end has been entirely changed. In the poem
Dora lived unmarried till her DEATH" and II vii
lam's widow who " took another mate" In the play
Dora having accomplished the reconciliation gives he
hand in marriage ito Luke Bloomfield. This termination
s not fine the other but 1t Is equally natural one
and gaddens the heart Of the sympathetic spectator OF
the drama-since it gives goodness the reward Of aec
on Very simple indeed is the construction Of the piece
and very smooth and ecitous its language Act First
shows Luke BLomeIds unsuccessful courtship Of Dora;
Doras jealousy Of Mary Morrison who has been privately
married to William; Farmer Adns disappointment and
subsequent rage and violence; and the expui
| sion OF William and Marv from the Farmers
! house Act Second shows the home life Of the
| Farmer and Dora the hidden generosity Of Dord
toward the outcasts; the Farmers relentless spirit
which Is only debarred, by dangerous accident from
sharing its concentrated in the dsinhetance OF
his and grandson; Lke's persistent devotion to
| Dora; and Williams last days earth, which are
soothed By Doras promise to see the little boy provided
for in the future Act Third shows the in the
wheatied the Farmers recognition Of his grandchld
the poor old mans passion remorse, injustice, and final
humlity and the happiness often perpexed and long
deferred that to Dora at last Each character h
clearly drawn but that Of Farmer Allan depicted with
the fullest detail selfcentered his individuality,
this is oak in his PRIDE iron in his WILL resoute, I'M
placabe yet as tenderhearted little child. Such
character not entirely admirable in itself but in con-
trast with almost universal abbinessit is refreshing
eccentrcy BIr Frederic Robinson who played the part
at the Fifth Avenue Theater embodied literally TO per-
fecton. We have always admired Mr.. RobinsOns ACC.
ing He thinks deeply; he feels strongly; be throws his
whole soul nto every manifestation Of his art lie is
sincere actor. As Farmer Allan he has given US new
grounds for admiration Of his talents and his earnest de-
votion He had to depict solid upright and downright
English farmer proud in his prosperity in bis control oil
Others his fixed ideas OF subordinaon and In his
pride itself He had to depict the struggle OF fathers
tender love against tyrants instinct OF d0mnlop. lie
had to show the possible strength OF mans embttered
will defy physical pain mental anguish, the awful DO
reavement Of DEATH the encroachmens OF and the
softenng influences Of time. And, finally, he had 70
reveal the broken spirit Of grand old man
who, nurturing wrath in his heart till that
heart was almost shattered, had resisted nature TIL
humanity could resist no longer. All this he
accomplished. From first to last he identified with
the character He made many excellent points but these
OF less value to the lover Of acting than the expires
sion that pervaded the performance and grew with tc
eimax-the expression Of strong, manly, tender ma
ture preyng upon itself-a kind heart warning with
stubborn mind which only acquires new stubbornnes:
with every new perception Of Its Mr Robinson;
best single touch OF nature was as matter OF course IN
giving Farmer AHaPs startled recognition Of his dead
sons face in the face Of the little boy But should
have liked little more tendcrnessinyOluntary tender
ness-toward the child amid the burst Of passion
which follows this incident. Nj. RobDsons acting TO
eeved the applause Of silent tears which ever the ar
lists recognition and reward. Dora played by
Miss LIZZIE Price in manner that showed great dea!
OF sincere feeling and careful study Mqy Morrison
spoiled by Miss Kitty Blanchard who the stase
with slmper and goes of with grin, and is quite Of
place in serious drama Mr. c. H. vandenhof Luxe
| Bloomfield. showed himself 10 be sincere aud
| earnest actor We remarked with pleasure
| that he was not ashamed to let his
emotions in his face Liberay Of this sort is
rare with actors. But 3lr. Yandenho should make Luxe
| Bonlfed more OF a and less Of what I'm New.En-
gland is called "a lunk head" The young farmer whom
Dora would have married must needs have worn man
her countenance than that of a vacant idiot Mr. H. r.
DAILY. who played William, seemed, in contrast With
Farmer Allan veritabe chip OF the old block-for reso
luton aud energy Mr. o. A. Dnsmore appeared as Jera
Blunt lout who has but word two 10 say; and little
rmouey came on as the child The scenery used in the
presentation OF Dora at the FfthAvenue Theater was
evidently made in hastea blanket IN tie alarm OF fear
caught up" but Il the purpose. Good acting
can always atone for defective scenery heincidenal
music was supplied by Mr.. Kopwiz and AZ the end OF
the first and third acts. was particularly touching Ihe
burlesuue Of "BlackEyed Susan" followed Dora Mr.
Stuart Robsons Captain CyOsSiee eclipScd every other
feature IN this very clever performance OF weknow