New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-09
DRAMA.
nrorGHAM's THEATER.


Mr. Broughams new burlesque, "Much Ado
About Merchant Of Venice" acted for the first
time last evening The brilliant little theater was full
"Perfection preceded the satire 1t very far from
po-fection-aud there leave It, Attention cenered on
the buresque. IL is a legitimate work in this department
OF art 1t Is comprised in three acts. and is written IN
sbgy lowing conoquia heroic vcrse-s style that Mr..
B-Ougham handles With the skin Of master 1t traves
ties the original story. Antonio has ruined himself at
the gambngtable, and wants n loan TO start afresh
Gkyock gives HIM the money and takes the bond-for
pound of flesh. This transaction is settled in the
Rrst act, which likewise depicts Jessica's flight
with Lorenzo. The second act shows the Jews rage
and also Portiawoong In act third comes the famous
scene the court None but the salient points are
touched but these touched with superb skill and the
most sparkling Wit John BrOugham Is man OF genius
Those who content In estimating his powers to as
crbe his success 70 the magnetism Of oyia Irish humor,
and that alone do him scanty justice Theintelectual
force this buresque. the delicate svery wit ire ear
nest faenglke the undertOw Of the ooean-should De
lesson 90 them, well as a rebuke scarcely line
that was spoken last night, that did not glitter Mr.
Broueham's performance OF Shylost Showed him In
what TO many persons muss have been new light. He
hlcd Ito highest ideal OF buIlesque. He re-
yealed the deepest sympathy With the msgnifcence
and the pathos Of slylocks nature-and even
this olemnyas gray ruin glow the bright green
leaves Of the iyyaueed the silver lightning Of his hu.
The audience quick correspond 70 this sincerity
Of art. They recOgnized-as well they mighta yigor
intellect all ablaze with and enthusiasm. The
applause almost constant snd always hearty. The
thorough For the manner IN which the bur
lesque was presented point Of scenery and costumes
there Is but one word OF prsseand that superb The
very atmosphere Of Venice seemed to pervade the PIC
lures. over all the performance, too, there was
an air Of delightful refinement Not coarse
tone, nor tint. nor expression, marred the
representation. Nj. BrouRham's company put forth
is strength Miss Newton played BasSaenfoR Miss Ger
y,4ft WV and
grace. Mr. Madison AEt0nto, and was, both in
souE and In acting, sbundantlY equal to the part.
Throughout the piece the true spirit Of burlesque
preseryed-ihat l., humorous words spoken and
comic actions done with that entire gravity which
make them irres.stby comic. The vocalism almost
uniformly excellent In tie selection Of melodies for
burlesqne Mr Brougham has evlnced skill;
and in this piece that sl Las had full scope Nothing
could be fuHuier in effect than his "Tubal dear,
and lid you hear the news that's going round"
The piece fairly glowed with these opposite
melodies and u fairly tparbled with wittlciSns.
One bit fingers in our memory as we wute This to
AatoniO:
IL Is but mOrgagBR load Of hay"
TO Go justice 70 the fertility Of wit displayed in this
the greater portion Of the piece EuCugh Is said in
saying that it WIS n true success.
DRAMATIC NOTES.
The European Circus is coming back to New
York and viii DO found at It's old quarters, on Thirty
EoUTth-st., carly IN April
Mr.. James SchOnberg, the stage manager of
BrOugham's T1eater j. adapting Ycoren sardons four
set comedy Of seraphine, with view TO its production
Ut WallacHs Theater.
On recent dramatic occasion, in London, Mrs.
Stirling made speech, from which clip the following
pertinent passage Before sit down let me say "A few
words subject that has occupied the attention Of
most Of us Cor tile last few daysI mean the Lord Cham
berlsn's mssiye TO the Managers touching certain short
cOniugs their parsl beg pardon In the parts Of their
ballet dTapeIies. had the Oce OF Lady Chamberlain
what sort OF letter slond issue "a the managersf
do nj think scanty petticOate god lie my teAt only
wish tho plays have 10 always as Ratsfac-
tory the dresses they acted in and that the worst
Onses against good taste the stage looked
Tor In the costumes OF tbe e0ys de ballet should first
suggest TO Managers 20 cater for the higher Instead
tie lower tastes Of the public ard 20 whether there
not large class that might DO drawn 90 the theater
by better style Of entertainments To authors
would n 20 have blrlesque lot 70 be of the
humOr that remenbeTOf OLD and DO made OF better
materials than niger Melodies breakdowDk, aud wire
draSn puDs would advise the more seriOns dramatist
TO De realistic IN higher matters THAI hanson cabs
practical pumps aud 70 give characters and incidents
bs like tie truth the painted before which they