The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-01-24
THEATRICAL.

THEATRICAL.
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"In the name OF the Prophet, ngsr' Is the irresst
BILE comment provoked from the Orientally versed
reader when he or she, as the case may be- comes
across the highly -spiced announcements OF theatre
cal auctions Of FIRST night" seats In order to avoid
"favoriismn Messrs. Brougham and Boorh decided
to sell their seats and boxes for their opening nights
at auction. the former gentleman invoked the aid
OF dtve-eyed Charity by generously donating
the premium to the Dramatic Fund, and
the result was financial chit" The idea was one
Of genil Johns inspirations, and despite the
bightins influence Of that ghostly wi-o'-the-wisp
the 'Fuld," nearly $4,000 were realized in premi-
ums. But the public, for whose benefit also
this IDEA was nominally originated. reap
small good from the scheme. Very few per-
sons find time to seek their way through slush and
mre to the commercial pureus of the city, even for
the sake OF first night" seat. and consequently,
with the exception OF two three boxes and score
Of orchestra chairs which fell to the lot OF small but
enthusiastic coterie OF Manhattan Club devotees OF
art the house apsed into the hands OF the celebrated
capitalist and theatrical fnancier. Frederick Ruman.
The system is wrong, Messrs. Brougham and Booth.
1t Is cheap clap-trap, ''glded catch penny" and
In the OF the scholarly Edwin" not even clothed
in the kindly mantle OF charity which the impusive
Brougham threw over the project Mr.. Booth donates
the surplus OF his sale on Monday morning next to-
Mr. Booth, whom he possibly regards as best entitled
to It, Art and auctions have no affinity. II
we are to believe half we hear regarding
the camor for seats at Booths ON his opening,
half the nation must be awaiting with feverish
impotence the coming Of little Mary Mcvicker as
Juliet and the scholastic Booth Romeo; or 1t may
be that deep architectural feeling has spread
abroad the land and, thrilled with the symme-
trical triumphs Of the "Grand Opera House." the
Academy Of Design and Brougham's bonbonntere
theatre, the world hangs with GREATNESS suspense
on the "open sesame" Of Manager Magonagie. Our
credulity is pleasantly taxed with the statement that
over 1000 letters have been received from all parts
OF the Union imploring, entreating, beseeching
chairs for the eventful night which Is to present Miss
Mary Mcvicker as Juliet to q thronged and enrap-
tured house. Stretching even further into the
boundless fields Of romance, we learn through the
reliable agency Of the agents entrusted with Mr..
Booths advertising that $500 have been offered for
proscenium box. But we fear to dwell upon this
theme. Already the kings OF finance are rushing
pel-niell into the realms Of art. Once revealed in
all their golden spend0r, the curbstones OF Wall
street would at once be shOrn of the picturesque
fringe OF vagabond humanity which ad0rns that
'When music, heavenly maid, was young'' she
little thought to what fate she would be reduced at
last by the vagaries OF Oenbach, Grau and Mr.. Max
may call the r0llickng break-neck melodies OF opera
boe drove Maretzek into the wids Of the trackless
gloomy season Of Pawnee opera, to harass the tune
full Bostonians. He even threatens us with dire
visitation of his tuneless birds Of night" but it is
to be hoped that the sheriff repentance may over
take him before he accomplshes his fell design.
At the Tammany, into whose wild vortex vast
diminution, the Juror Of the first night has
undergone a partial eclipse by the seces.
frQn horoo
flag and ALL to travelling circus. 1t is believed
among the detante who haunt the ''Divan" that the
In the halls or Tammany was the discovery
by Mr.. Grover that the lady IS q Boston
served oy the cultivated and judicious reader that
Senyah Is Haynes backwards. This being discovered
BY Mr.. Grover who is both cultivated and judico1s
y0nd doubt that Miss Haynes was no Russian, only
Yankee gymnast, with just enough knowledge Of
WITH chvarc aecton for truth and art the
innexible manager tore her from the giddy trapeze
where she nightly swung to the bewdered admira-
arms OF strolling circus company. Grave and
serious as was the offence OF Miss Haynes in thus
consecrated to foreign art we think the inclemency
OF the season should have pleaded for her in mtiga
ton Of the sverty OF heer sentence: To see lovely
and athletic Eve ruthlessy driven from the warm at
mosphere Of Mr.. Growers Eden and cooly launched
into the frosty air OF canvas tent, CARRIED only In
the starry drapery OF trapezst, revives within us
icy recoections or the .exies Of Siberian II her Of
fence consisted IN not being Russian the inficxible
Grover had better have applied the knout, which
would have Russianized the deceptive damsel suf-
fciently to make her endurable until the balmy
spring comes laughing In.
there Is no reason why we should not II we want
the revival OF the "Tempestn by Mr.. Tayleure will
not prove an immensely lucrative speculation. i
dcult 'shakesperian experiment at Drury Lane
years ago. assisted by the best talent Of England and
the Tempest wrecked the stately tragedian.
Charles Kean, to whom the stage owes much OF Its
dignity and grandeur. made the attempt and drew
to his aid Fairholt the famous antiquarian; Greve
his own matchless ability as stage manager, and
though the world wondered the world did not pay
on at Sadlers Wells with the singularly gifted
George Bennett as Caliban, but failed to
country Thought he was born to rule the storm and
only resigned the idea after runous "runn at the
old Chambers street theatre had thoroughly depleted
his patience aud his pocket. We think Mr.. Fisk has
been aliured by the splendid dction OF the ITEM
pestr and IFS availability for the exhibition OF superb
scenery and left momentariy uncontrolled by
that keen, practical judgment which are character
istic OF him In his selection OF opera boe troupes,
libel suits and Erie directors. Mr.. Booth, however,
furnishes parallel, although professional Shaks.
peran OF strictly scholastic reputation, by selecting
ssThe Winters Talen the successful production OF
alive MI Booth viii lind that il needs more than
the gloomy beauty OF his dark and rolling eyes to
portray the grand genius OF the chroncler OF all
human nature, and his "Winter's Taier may prove
a tale OF woe. although we heartily wish him success
and fortune IN his commendabe efforts TO dust and
polish up the legitimate drama which has grown
somewhat green and mouldy from long neglect.
II Mr. Wallack, Mr.. Booth or Mr.. Tayleure labor
under the vain deluson that by their coming Shaks.
peran revivals they can circumvent Mr. Barney
Williams the chief OF the ''ony legitimate show
shop in New York, the sooner they become dis
enchanted the better. While they have been herald
ing their approach with the braying OF barbaric
horns he has been, with that calmuess which be-
longs to strength. and which Is one Of his noble
characteristics, laying mine beneath their feet.
yoltare the keenes critic OF his or any time, never
could Shakespeare and preferred the regularly land
out and well ordered garden OF Cornee and Racine,
TO the wild profusion OF natural heath and flowers in
which Shakspeare's genius was entangled. His vio-
aon OF the unities has equally wounded the delicate
classical organization OF Mr. Williams, and we be-
lieve we enjoy the privilege OF being the first to
nounce that that gentleman, who as IL well known,
speaks French with the same accuracy as he does