New-York tribune., 1869-03-05
THE DRAMA.
THE rupATERs ON PARADE.

manity declines 20 be amused NevertheieSs' 'ne"'i0
business fairly good, considering how many on'o
are afoot and how much expense Is lnVoi'eu' n. 'S
glance might appear that the pecunlary prospeiy "
theaters is matter Of no moment TO tne clo VI ,n0
drama But second thought suggests that II tho 'ne-
aters did not earn their living Othelos critical occupa
ton would speedily be gone. Worse than that society
would lose fertile source Of valuable recreation anu III
tellectual benefit, while largo number OF ghteu mon anu
women, together with whole host OF miscoha"oo
workers would be whistled down the Wnu toProy ~
fortune In every point OF view. therefore, IL pc"'u'
TO observe and to record the prosperity OF our
A dozen OF them, at the present moment present
rval attractions and strive In friendly emulation 10
their special features OF merit during the past season.
due prominence has been given in these columns Iho
record is honorable Their condition Is good lher
future seems auspclous This OF course, Win due quar-
Acation As our readers know, we have steauy taheh
the bright view of the American stage, and done our
best TO help it, But wo have by no means peen ohu 70
its defects nor lenient toward its abuses MAKING oFoiS
rennste allowance for these defects and abuses now
ever we still have abundant reason to DO prouu ol o
stage Taken altogether the theaters OF arc
finer cleaner, spacious better appointed anu o
reputable than those Of any city on TINS continent
Nor will English theaters class, bear comparison
with ours In this as in other matters, tho American
dsposon ia to have the best thing Of the kind that taste
can devise or money can buy No more shabby play
houses We may be sure, will ever be erected IN new
York any other of our great cities BOOTHS Iheaor
and Broughams among the new houses are types O no
kind OF structure that will henceforth prevail; ana "hero
tho casket ia 80 beautiful effort surely viii be spared
TO make the Jewel worthy Of It, The right spirit
ia abroad I'm reference to the drama Indications
OF il abound Chief among these, In our midst Is the
newly awakened taste for Shakespeare. -Four "eeAS
ago last Wednesday Edwin Booth opened MS theater'
with Romeo and Juliet and, II we except rev nights
when bafed tlckepeculaors left in possession OF
,aa
crowded houses "Much Ado" is IN its fifth week at
walack's and on the goth inst, the "Tompest" Will
burst upon u.s. in radiant beauty at the Grand Opera
House There lack OF vitality IN the dramatic taste
OF public that welcomes and sustains this description
Of enterprise Another. and very important token OF
the right spirit prevalent In respect tho drama tho
tone OF the press There has been no time In tho history
~ American journalism when 80 much thoughtful atten
on was given as Is given now, to plays and players
This is hopeful sign for 1t shows that tho dramas
roots have struck deep into the soil OF our intellectual
civilization All tho indications need not be
enumerated Our purpose In this respect VIII DC SUM
cently fulfilled by general good word for the state OF
the drama. immediate purpose leads US 10 pass
tho local theaters IN rapid review. The dramatic
kaleidoscope IL continually changing, and per
haps some new combinations OF the old colors
may here and there be found. Thus, We
were In error in stating that Mr. Bateman had secured
Booths Theater. Information, apparently authentic
misled MS The truthIsmply ~ that NH Dooth H"o VI"
gagged Miss Bateman to play at his heaer for ten weeks
beginning on the 10th OF September. The engagement
has been made regular star terms and neither MISS
Bateman nor Mr. Bateman will have anything whatever
TO do with the management OF tho theater Mr BOOTH
indeed does not intend at any time TO let the direction
OF his establishment pass Of his own hands ana mere
In he eyinces practican wisdom Miss Bateman, we be-
eye has been engaged al the time that was TO have
been occupied by Mr. Sothern-who forbearingly con-
cluded 10 keep Lord DUdredry in England We were IN
hopes that Jefferson would open the Fall season al
Booths Theatcr RIP Van winkle" could be splendidly
mounted that magnificent stage, and there would DO
an obvious fitness OF things in having the first OF Amer
traecdans succeeded by the best American comedian
Perhaps Jefferson will appear there la'er III tpo
year. Va cannot say. iIt is matter OF con-
lecture Meanwhile u Romeo and Juliet Keeps on us
prosperous wo noted the return of Mr. Mark
Smith 20 the part Of Fridr LdwreHce We have now TO
note the disappearance OF Mr H. Langdon from the part
OF Tbah In other respects the cast OF the piece remains
unchanged Tomorrow will be given Romeo and
Juhet" Matinee, and In the evening ISir Edwin Adams
will enact Ndcsse for the third time this season 1T has,
by the way been foolshy represented, in certain New
York letters outoftown papers that conspiracy OF
Journalists exists In this city, having IN view the ruin OF
Mt Booths enterprise. The idea Is merely ludicrous.
EewYork Journalism has its bad points Butt has not
sunk so low as that Besides, Edwin Booths hold upon
the intellectual appreciation, not to say the aectouato
regard OF this community. long been too firmly fixed
TO be unsettled by the squibs Of newspapers.
still further-and this Is remarkable fact. In.
deed, III such u conspiracy exists as is alleged
most OF the papers have all along eyiuced hearty
sympathy iwith the enterprise upon which Mr.. Booth
has embarked. Divers critics, IL is true, do not like his
Romeo and very properly. therefore. have freely
pressed their disapprobaton But criticism is thing
and conspiracy is another so lot the country
spondents be OF good cheer Young Edwin is not yet
come 10 his Wateroo-From one busy b 10 another the
transition easy At Broughams Theater all is activity
Mr.. Brougham has written kind OF satrca poem In
dramatic FORM based the drama OF The Merchant OF
Venice" IL Is TO DO produced next Monday evening
Hits at all sorts OF theatrical matters abound in It.
told and Ovial songs WELL and numerous c0mical incl
dents. We dare say the promise will be kept. Mr.
Brougham Is accomplished Iarce and the resources
OF his invention. in the matter OF mrth appear to have
10 limit. much Ado About A Merchant OF Venice" is
the title OF the piece which Is further described as
shakesperean simplihcation." Mr.. Brougham VIII
perform Shyiock perfection" Is To be done
by way OF prelude TO the satire. Meanwhile tho
stage OF Broughams Is occupied by "Pooahontas"
Irish Stew" revived last night, and Jenny
Lind" The latter Angus b. Reachs known cal
farce brought out for the first time Monday
ing The set for IL represented very fine interior
and the stage neatly and tastcuy dressed Elegance
in stage appointments is great charm IN this theaer.
Jenny Lind" requires word OF description In Mrs.
John Woods time 1t often presented here, and that
players pcrsonation OF Jenny Leahern0s is vivldy re-
molnbered as IA dashlng exhibition OF animal spirits and
vocal sK. At later period Mr. W. L. Andrews made a
hit In 1t, Grdiby Gag. Other pleasant memories arc
associated with this tng bit OF fun. IA performed at
Brougham's the farce has been considerably altered,
without, however being improved. Miss Jenny Kmbal
a performer from Boston, appeared in 1t and played
Jenny LedUerhmOs. II would be pleasant TO commend
the efforts OF stranger; but, both actress and
vocalist, Miss Kmball disappointed expectation. Al.
though announced as star" with much preliminary
flourish of rumpets she was speedily seen to be
tress OF limited and COMMONPLACE ability She seems