The New York herald., 1869-12-26
THE DRAMA ABROAD.

THE DRAMA ABROAD.
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English Thea tricnls and the stage In Great
Britain-Whut In Out and What ls Expect ed
Al the Footlights and Behind the Scenes.
LONDON, Dec. II, 1869.
sI.a Bene Sauvage," burlcsque brought out at
st james theatre with beauty and briiliancy OF
illustration which might satisfy Sc. James himself,
Il he would nut pay visit to the theatre In spirit
not In substance, proves to be an ola friend with
new face. IL Is IN fact an amended version nothing
more, OF Mr. John Brougham's extravaganza, well
known 10 Columbian play goers entitled "Pocahon-
tas," piece which was produced here years ago at
the Princess, where it was received with but scant
favor. There seems to be in climate and atmosphere
some mystical influence which makes that heavy
and uninteresting In certain attudes which Is 10y
GUS anu delightful In Others Plays which are full
of life and gayety upon the stages OF the Amblgu
Comiquc the Palais Royal or the Porte st. Martin,
are nat STATE and In every sense unprofitable upon
those of the Princess the Ly ceum or the Olympic,
upon any stage In London for the matter Of that And
30 1t happened with the burlesque or "P0cahonGas."
II every thing that was humorous aud rollickng
in New York and everything that was stupid and
wearisome IN London. However, 1t has been 're-
hab,tated as well in character as in costume, and
being illustrated with pretty scenery, enlivcncd
songs, 1t passes on pleasantly enough aud is 'vcry
excellent fooing." The piece deserves notice,
moreover, for the sake OF Mrs. John Wood the man
ager Of this pretty theatre, who appears rs the
Princess, and In that part nnds congenal occasion
for the display OF her talents buTIesque actress.
She sings and acts well, and dances into the good
0raccs OF her audience, who are very liberal OF their
applause. Hitherto there has been no luck about
the house. but the business has been rather better
since the production OF this extravaganza, in which
Mrs. John Wood s effectively supported by Mr.
Mark Smith and Mr.. Lionel Brough. The latter
takes occasion In the OF his performance TO
stand upon his heau--an exceedingly undignitied
proceeding on the part Of a comedian, to say no.
thing Of the danger he is under OF losing his money
out Of his pockets.
Mr.. Fechter is fulfilling farewell engagement at
the Princess theatre, playing nightly to very good
houses. Hamlet" "Ruy Bias" and the LADY Of
Lyons" the chief features OF his programme and
they appear have lost OF their attraction for
the better class Of theatre goers. Mr.. Fechter Is
gong TO New York, and you viii soon have an
opportunity Of seeing him at Nibo's and judging
for yourself to his merits. An incident occurred
during the performance OF ''aamletr q few nights
ago which really deserves notice, as showing to
what absurdlty the call system has grown IN this
country At the close Of the first act there was o
call ior the ghost OF Hamlet's father, and the ghost
not only heard IL but. by Jove, answered 1t,
striding In front OF the proscenium with ghasty
mien and awful gait, amid the wlld huzzas OF the
spectators. 1t s TO be hoped that this ridiculous
exhibition Will give the coup de 9Idce TO an utterly
practice which has now become nothing
less than nuisance. In Spanish tragedies OF the
good old school 1t was customary to kill
on every human being concerned IN the
Upon the London stage the dramatic personages are
no longer killed; they aro "caiied' but 1t Ia full
time to abolish the institution, now that not con-
tent with parading creatures Of flesh and blood, we
trot ghosts. Besides ething surely due TO
the outraged dignity of the early village cock, who
crowed That unruly spirit back to his Stygian abode
long ago.
What s the true purpose OF dramatic wrtingY Is
1t to delight instruct and edfy Is 1t rather to
bother, bewider aud bamboozles Some OF our
modern playwrights obviously incline to the latter
opinion, and accordingly obge the town with plays
which defy all human comprehension. Such q
work, Tor example, was that brought out the other
nigh. nj the Queens theatre, under tine title OF
"Morden Grange" than which anything more hope
lcssy unlntelligbe was never produced Tor the dis
traction and mental anguish OF an audience.
Grange what does 1t meanq No
knottier problem than this was ever pro-
posed to mathematical prizeman at Cam
bridge. II has been facetiously observed
that the Increase or lunacy in England Is to be
attributed To .Bradshaw's Railway Guioe,n or
rather TO the aborve attempts OF The community 10
understand that most perpIexIng OF books; but really
II we arc 10 have many more plays such as TINS
latest product OF the puzzng pen OF Mr. H. g. Bur
maud, tie piaygOlng population Will be III danger
OF going STARK, staring mad, Tor no human BRAIN
could stand the effort 10 master meaning Of
enIgmas An eminent divine of the Church or
England has pronounced the Athlnaslan creed
malignant ridde,n and l knew a man once who,
having no taste Tor mathematics, described algebra
as IAN execraDle Joke" Each definition Is equally
applicable TO "MofGen Grange wnlcn seems to
have pecn written with no other purpose than TO
them something wholly beyona the range OF their
intellect. The play processes TO be iounued upon
BY % Marx All ,as Lemon Ena n'ea strangely
what many OF the audience did not
care TO do. "Dap,.s sum- non Gdipas'' was
as they took up their hats and walked hopeiessiy
out Of the house. Mir. Young The maliager has
placed the elaborate riddle upon the stage with
much beauty Of scenery and elegance OF appoint
ment, aud the actors exert themselves with zeal
worthy OF better cause; but nothing can Charm
for this play must be as enduring as ones love OF
common sense
the London theatres On boxiag night, toe managers
having taken time by the iorelock and produced
their Christmas novelties to speak Hipernice IN an
tcipaon OF that festive season. Al Covent Garden.
however. there Will be grand spectacular fairy ex-
travagAnzabs Mr.. II. j. Byron, entltled '1hc Yellow
Dwarf" OF which there Will be, AZ usual, morning
performances every Wednesday and saturday. AL
Drury Lane, the only house wnere pantomime stli
nnds home, there VIII be M entertainment OF tnis
class ~ usual, from tne pen OF sf. Il. L. Blanchard
based upon the immortal story Of 'Beauty
aud the Beast.r At the Haymarket where
the pretty comedy OF New Men nnd Old Acres''
still runs It's course reoicngy. Mr.. Blackstone will
revive Mr. Panche's old extravaganza Of ''The FAIR
One with the Golden Locks.n Al the Gaiety o new
drama BY the irrcpresslbe Mr.. Byron, named "uncle
Dicks Darling" viii be performed on Monday next,
aud at tie little theatre In ChartuE CROSS new bur-
esque from the pen OF a new nuVh0r, certain Mr..
Arthur Omen, win come out ths evening, intro
ducing for the first time to London audience
comedian Known in the provinces Ms MIR. Brlnsley
Sheridan Of whom all tnat need DC. said for the
present 10 that II he prove ~ good rs his name he
wall do
AT the Royalty Mr.. william Brough has turned The
old supernatural legend OF 'rhe flyiDy Dutchmann
to comic account IN buriesque bearing the same