New-York tribune., 1869-03-27
THE DRAMA.
,,p poRERTsoN's CoMEDIEs.

I, America Mr. Robertson has been heard OF
only within the last two three years. His dramas
however furnish abundant evidence that he Is neither
a weed nor Of hasty growth" True works OF ART
esnecay in the drama not produced at fash Eveh
the ranscendant genius OF Shakespeare seen 10 nave
nro6ed by experience in the lapse OF tme Tie artisl
Who constructed Macbeth" Is giant in comparison
with the artist who constructed The Two Gentiemeh OF
Verona Mr. Robertson Is not Shakespeare but ne Is
richly gifted man-ake in spirit and ntellect-and his
mowers have been slowly steadily and wisely developer
and matured II we interpret him rightly, he has ai
though still young faithfully abored for many years In
the vocation of dramatls has endured many hardshps
has encountered and overcome many obstaces-urgeu
guided and sustained by that entire devotion to the te
ary calling which Is nbora and Ecannot be acquireu
and without which real success In literature was ever
achieved -Four Of his plays have been acted here So
cetv Ours :" Caste" and School" he has written
other peces but these are doubtless his best At any
rate they reflect, as In mirror. his whole nature ana
they establish his particular place and rank In the word
OF letters He doing with the drama what Thackeray
has done with the noyelalbeit In an humber way He
is realistic artist. with poetic mind In the cables
that are used the British Navy there is certain
strand known by Its color hatis called the Kings Yarn
In all OF Mr.. Robertsons comedies there is vein OF
cheerful sadness sometimes gentle, sometimes Dltter Dut
never weak and never respondent which may be called
the authors spirit. 1t imparts mellow and fascinating
beauty to these plays-such as haunts anu haAo" ,,
90 ono who has endured great sorrow and grown old
IN .patent fortltude. 1t reveals the writer as
a generous sensitive soul, who mas Deeh hurlureo
I'm tho school of reality learning hard work.
misfortune and the social world precisely as IL exists
Back OF these plays is who hears aud feels the
solemn undertone OF amentation that runs through hui
man life His pictures Of youth and love arc very bright
cheerful and charming but he never fails to Indicate
the balefu shadows crafty ageand seshness standing
little way off, His ideals Of goodness are very sweet
and winnings but he never fails TO teach that good ana
evil are blended In human nature, and that worldly eA
perence but too often causes the evil to prevail His
young people are mostly fine and generous Their lives
ara tlpeed with the glory OF romance and warmed by
sincere enthusiasm But always they seem Ike the
"little victims" in Grays beautiful and touching ode
They are egardess Of the doom which selshness per-
soned by Society stands ready to impose ana they play
and are happy for little while, because Ignorance Is
bliss" His elderly people, tho contrary, are for the
most part of a very different sort-are generally
the prudent, decorOus selfseekng, icyhearted BOND
slaves OF conventionaity, who have LETT thelr
noble aspirations by the roadside OF life, ana
are now travelling on with tho lmore useiu
luggage Of sordld In word, no percelves and
depcts the qualities Of human nature and the conditions
and contrasts OF social life precisely they are and
so there is shadow behind his sunshine and sorrow be-
hind his Joy Thackerays novels display this same oruer
OF mind-but grander massive ripper with culture
and more heavily freighted with experience. Different
novels and plays are kindred. Such a mind, laborlng
with such purpose naturally commands Its
work done with all It's strength Is the expression OF
absolute truth IN the language OF absolute sincerity;
is thorough and not experimental; earnest sound and
| good; and therefore 1t prospers In It's own day
and will endure to aftertimes. Mr. Robertson has dis
covered, and is very ably performing, his appointed
work Continuing to progress in the path upon Which
he has entered he will fully record. IN dramatic form,
the social phases OF this age. and VIII assist In Trans
mitting their likeness Ito later generations The writer
who does this benefaotor to mankind. because ne en-
riches that OF gathered wisdom which VIII ehaDie
the future TO profit by the past Fully 10 estimate the
value OF these comedies We must also consider what
wealth Of new vitality they have given TO the STAGE and
how much innocent pleasure and genuine benent they
have given to the public. Actors and actresses INA
In them actual characters TO portray-eharacters tha
are shown, as lin real life, under the pressure
of moving aud mOldng circumstances yet as
ART reouires in exceptional situations Of dramatic
quality new impulse is thus given to
the art OF acting People who 500 these plays. more
over-with appreciation OF their meaning-perceiye
the chilling tyranny to!whch noble and gueless youth
b so often subjected the waste OF sweetness aud beauty
that is constantly going In the world; tho need thero
is for strengthening every humanizng inhnence ana
the marble whItoness aud true nobility OF emnenco
which human beings attain who true ladies and gen
tlemen Other graces OF Influence Mr. Roberison's
comedies have besdein their terse, compact silvery
dialogue their frequent rppes OF sentiment and flashes
OF Wit their true Thoughts and their sympathy alike
with all that is ne generous and noble In human nature
and all that pathetic in tho inevitable wrecks and ds
appointments incidental to human existence
"schoo as 1t is performed at Wallaeks Theater, has
prompted these eec;ions and every reader is advised
TO SEQ that delicious comedy.
BROADWAY THRATER.
Five weeks hence, on the list of May, the
bstor of the broadway Theaer will be completed This
week Miss Reignods has been playing there, in :" The
Loness of the North" old and rather feeble piece
based incident in the life OF the Russian Empress
Elizabeth Whatever the actress does is well done, but
not all that she does Is worth the doing Tonight for
example, she will appear Camille parsonage who
has long slnce ceased 10 be tolerabe Tomorrow
her engagement will terminate, with Matinee perform
anee In the evening representation will be given by
the Broadway Theater company. On Monday as wo
have pre- viousy noted Mr. W. Couldock and his daugh
ter will appear, in the drama OF Milky White" This
piece ono OF Crayen's, done several years ago,
at Wallacks with Mr.. Holston In the chief part
The engagement Of the Couldocks will last two weeks
Then, the 18th Of April Mt aud Mrs Barney Williams
will reappear in far~~~n s"Ess"n'~nt of throe
weeks win close the season. and likewise terminate tho
career OF tho theae This house s bestdays under
,be dIrcoon OF the elder Waack Mr. Williams and Mr.
Moore however, have managed II well and probably,
and they VIII retire from II at the right tme As the tide
Of theatrical life flows mp town. and as Brooklyn pro-
yded with theaters Of its ownthat must prevail except
as against the strongest possible attractions In NowYork
heaers 80 far down town the Broadway must needs
be left stranded the lee-shore OF neglect We trust
that the closing weeks OF Mr. Wllamss season OF man
agement will be abundantly prosperous The sun that
goes down In spendor Is the herald OF bright day to
foow.-Miss Reynolds should have crowded house TO-
night on tho Of her benefit 60 good an actress
is admirable In anything; and much as We detest
20 t1faUp andur 4 for