New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-07
THE DRAMA.
F0RMOSA AT NIBLo'S.

FoRMOsA AT NIBLo'5.
Mr.. Boucicaults new drama, entitled "For-
moss or the Railroad to Ruin" acted last night at
Nblos Garden for the first time in America It's repro
sentaion was witnessed by great multitude OF persons
and was greeted with frequent applause In the trades
mans sense Of the word therefore successful and
since 1t was avowedly conceived and executed In the
BRIDESMAIDS spirit this result must be regarded as emil
neBty appropriate and harmonious We dare say that
the piece will for Several weeks maintain Its place upon
tho stage Many persons will wish to 1t oncepary
mpelled by curiosity to witness q drama the morality
OF which has been called in question, and partly
impeled by interest In the reputation which Mr. Bouci
cault enjoys superlatiyely sklful literary mechanic
But there few, We fancy who will wish 10 see IL
twice conundrum loses its little charm soon as ts
solution furnished stage trick, when once it mas
startled, starte no more 80 with "Formosa" Ihe
piece is only another shuttle and deal Of very old and
very greasy pack OF cards-ony OF those ted
GUS and coarse compounds Of stsgscarpentry with the
trivalties Of everyday life, which are accepted Tor
dramas Of the passing age Thousands OF persons like TO
at the theater copies of what they in the streets
And IL does signify whether those copies&re made
well or made badly The fact that they are nSde at all
is compliment to the streets which the streets make
haste 10 acknowledge Moreover this fact denotes that
the author has eye for the superficial characteristics
OF his time, and a talent for combining them into
effective theatrical forms That eye and that talent Mr.
Boucicaut possesses, and that compliment OF recognition
he has frequently paid On every subject there Is an OBJ
ylous popular word to be said On every subject there
ia an obvious public opinion to be caught up and echoed
Mr. Bouocault says that word and echoes that opinion
Hence, as playwright, he is man OF his time; ana
hence his But being exclusively or his tme ne
also exclusively for his tmo. He has written nothing
that Is substantially and permanently good He never
framed an original plot created character. The
best Of London Assurance" belongs TO John Brougham'
and tho substance OF tho other plays which bear his
name has been adroty extracted from other Inventive
sources or the high province OF tho dramatic define
ate dramatic form and movement, those deep expert
thought and emotion which have for their treat
ing the human mind and heart, and which utter them
selves in adequate words and ybly express themselves
in outward acton-Mr Boucicault has but little compre-
henson Indeed he regards it, believe. with con-
siderable deal Of contempt The now age his field ana
surfaces are his materials Now and then hc writes
delightful bit OF conversations but In this no IS greatly
eIceled by Robertson and considerably surpassed by
several other contemporary writer's His constructive
faculty however is unique. dealing it docs with the
eyanescent phases of social commOtion. In
| I" Formosa' Mr.. Boucicault has taken cog
| nlzance OF tho fact that the public
mind Is interested IN boatraclng and also he has Illus
trated the topic of harlotry boatrace done on fat
with machinery fills Of the scenes OF this piece and
arOuse though In less degree the same kind OF inter.
est inspired by the weremembered horseracing scene
In "The Flying Scud." And the heroine Is courtesan
II would DO prosy business to detail how she Is com
PEELED in the progress OF the play to assist in the ruin OF
man whom she really loves. That way the current OF
the action flows and 1t flows through some particularly
| dirty ground No argument assume, is necessary
to prove the evils Of prostitution not topics that
| come within the province OF art The fact
that thing exists for its being introduced
into play There such vehicles seayengers night
carts but the appearance OF OF them upon the stage
putting itself forward suitable object for dramatic
illustration would DO slightly astonishing, to cay the
least An old prOverb declares that you cannot make
silk purse OF a sow's Mr.. BOucicault might
ply he does wish to make silk purse. SO be it,
Those who for skfu connection of sows are
welcome TO Mr.. Boucicaults "FOrmosa." The fact re-
mains that man has right TO take such a subject
| as this audacous dramatist has chosen for public
Illustration and discussion unless he really has some
thing OF specific and vital Importance TO say upon IT, IN
the way OF proposing remedies for terrible aud sinful
scourge and pest And then, the medical or the
social essay the best medium for mparting his views
Decent people stand in no need OF Mr. Boucicaults re-
founatory movements. That writer in "a particularly
pert and mpudent leterwhich London journalists have
been silly enough to publish for him, probably to pacfy
his weknOwn inOrdlnae appetite for gratuitous adver
sug-strives to bolster this dirty piece OF rubbish,
by saying that his only alleged fault therein con-
ssts in want OF for the blackguardsm Of
his betters, This is begging the question altogether
Mr. Bouccault may denounce social wrongs much as
he likes what he really done is TO thrust filthy
nuisance upon public attention, under the guse OF
work OF FOR good whatsoever and with no
Justification In this respect Formosa" II bid
TO purent curiosity. Tho idea of its having any moral
force. a rebuke to vice. is preposerous. such piece
should never have been acted We venture TO say this
face OF Mr. Chatertons Extraordinarily another
inspiration OF the arch-advertiser who wrote the play.
The fact that the people will not support
Shakespeare may justify manager in turn
ing from Shakespeare to Sheridan Knowles, or
Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, the domestic dramas OF
Craven the burlesques OF Burnand But IL will not
Justify him In turning from all that fair and good TO all
that is foul and evil AS well might hotelkeeper say
that having kept respectable hotel and failed TO make
money by it, he would be justified in turning his estab
lshment into n bawdy house. Messrs Jarrett Palmer
have done everything that bcray could do In the way
OF scenery for Formosa" The villa in act second
is very handsome. The best acting last night
was done by Mr.. Hoston, Bob Sanders. one
little part of scene, between Bob and his daughter
second has good deal OF feeling In It, Tholcmax
OF second is the best part OF the play Here Formosas
parents discover her identity aud way OF life IL would
be- compliment to Miss Kate Newton to say that she
played we'll She very earnest aud
very handsome. Mr.. Morton gave good SKETCH
as MAJOR JOr,m, OF profigate man about town. But
But altogether the play wearied us exceedingly To see
Formosa" is 10 breathe u bad atmosphere of slang
stale cigars. gambling hes brothels. and vice. No good
of It, and its career in America, rejoice to
believe, will be comparatively short
---