New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-26
THE DRAMA.
,-,,,- ,vr,rr rur,rrR-sARAroGA.

-, Wow, Of H. action saratoga" indeed, canrot
IA, accept, Us comedy II not true to human nature
IN i,s gcIncatos ~ character and conduct andlsoS
xrtalv true to actual life in its delneaticns oi manner
Hut taken for what prctcnds 20 he. it is bright aud
.nsrlliuc piece OF dramatic composition. The meehan-
ts, ~ 10 "a the MORT % simplicity Each OF It's fve
acts is single scene. Twenty-Five persons are intro
duced exclusive Of auvlarcs, and these are bandeu
in a sufficiently skflful manner, throughout the 40
yelopment OF q comical story. The aciloh 'o
y,cuces in Central Park aud continues ana CUM
uses al Saratoga The story relates 10 the mfiauo" "
Young Nev-York beau who paid his addresses - i',
iadi,. Al once and who had tho comic MISFORTUNE "
meet them an simultaneously at the 1'no"a ""'-
plac,. Three acts of the piece are ooNo''u I" P"e
him into this dilemma and two acts 10 ge'unb mn" '
ofr The machinery OF his dclvcrancc Is q ulahs""'
drl which e.. syranpod and prevented by funny acees-
- IT,. roo lor Will perceive that these materials are
%. novoI nor substantial. II IS their treatment
,l tors-aud this Is peculiarly adroit and anaSlhE'
Genie sls ous follow each other IN close Succession
,brouebou, Che farce, aud arc embelhshed Win hhc
scenery and spiced with lively banter ana
ui,tv comment In short, Mr.. Howard
niece has been composed In q perfect! Prac:
ucl spirit lie has discerned the existence ol
certain order Of taste: he has aimed to please 1t; ana
D, has been successful in the enterprise His present
ucccs however should not bc coniounded WITH inc sue
.essof Ire true dramatist He has not dehneated as
,c human lives ia natural relations 10 eacn other III
slightly localized, IFS nccdful in comedy On 'he
contrary, he hes dealt only with surfaces and aimed
c II comic cvtravacancc The result is good. but 1t Is
,pber,ca' What We could wish to in works OF inns
Kind Of that literary conscience, when s never
content exccpt with what is true and permanent IN art
However American plays come but seldom ana Wheh
rl Ill, come even n they be Of slender substance and
,vancsccnt lc-.hcy ought TO he warmly welcomed On
tho STAGE OF the Filth Avenue Thcater Saratoga
,.ittcrs like a gem Of the first luser. The scenic
appointments With which it is invested are IN
v,ri,lly rich and often beautiful. sweeter little
picture than that Of the lakeside at Saratoga
which opens act third, and in which Mr. Arthur Mat
1h,ou sings, with so much feeling and grace his own
pretty song OF 'Whcn the light waves rippng play
,s not within our remembrance, been submitted to the
public Very smooth and pleasing, too, is the sketch OF
Tho ls. and cedar walk At Central Park" while the
.Couercss Springs" at Saratoga, Is deity reproduced
n another act and two interiors neatly and tastetuy
arranged do moro than Justice the hotel spendors OF
thai retreat The chief character Is presented
by Mr.. Lewis who Is always efficient and pleasing In
farce PARTS and Bob SGekct radiant with comic
vim The part seems 20 have been designed for ght
comedian; but the very soul Of It comic extraVs-
canoe IL, fortune--n dcyOlying eccentric come
iia.-is perhaus all the happier Mr. Davdge ana MIS-
Gilbert present capital sketches OF fussy Ola
pair o. society pcOpe-8s NJ and Mrs VdndePooh
fop Is tru hfuy ana funny drawn by Mr. Parkes' Ihe
belle the BRIDE widow, ana the pet OF the PERIOD are
,clueated with much variety of beauty and spirit by
Mis- Fanny Davenport, Miss Clara Morris, Miss Fanny
Norant and Ms Linda Dlctz The society trequenter
Of Saratoga Other characters are embodied by other
Ilayor- will be in the cast below ana l. Dut
simple Justice to say that ctcieut, graceful and
ped representation could not be desired or expected,
for any piece Of this Kind than given 10 Saratoga" at
the Finh Avenue Tbsler. The play has been seen by
throns people, who have enjoyed it, fun undeerred
presume 10y any thought Of its inadequacy as PIE
turc Of American manners lineage yesrecrearon and
al. Hs1 that 1Glsa. TIftN f.IIn
ing T., the complete cast:
Bh Mr.. Lew. FEe Remington F.Dy Davenport
Jcs Bone Mt isfr 1uc CsFsr.'.'.''.. =, ar' Morrs
Tn Hon WIN. Carer NJ wtug yrsr!a Wander DOL. linda et
Sr No-,rsr Not.onlegr Nrpskes M, Winter
Io Laa d Wii ttGoS u.
frol 6l-1ta. Garter Ar Barnett A. 0gdeo Loase volne,
fr~ns LH-at'''' w l. ~ u; Nj. Kt.Se
CHRISTMAS FEATURES.
The last dramatic week, though somewhat
u IN Tie vav Of business certainly not barren Of
incident Tie drama seldom enjoys excessive prosperity
IN he day. that immediately precede Christmas So
cety the most part; then occupied In buying gifts
and adjusting the prelimnares OF festyty and therein
has enough OF occupation and amusement, and can
t along very well without it, customary allowance Of
either ay or music seldom, therefore, al this time NJ
year is special eiF ut pun forth in the theatrical world
Nothing will draw" It is held just before Christmas
ANYTHING win prove attractive In the week between
Christmas and New Years: and the novelties should be-
kept in that period Of reaction which sue
reeds the holidays This year the old policy has been
varied a i;tlc and hence the unusual activity Of the
past vect i'm the way OF theatrical incident Saratoga
was successfully produced &C the Fifth Avenue Theater
Mrs Isabella Glyn afforded public the opportunity Of
hearing her as Shakcspcre1n reader New features
were introduced into the prevailing buresqucs at Woods
Museum and at Lima Edwin's Theater Mr. Fox's pan
t0nilno was somewhat freshened at the Olympic The
gay and gltieIing spectacle OF cinderella" was
brought out at the Circus. An Ethiopian travestie
Of LIS Brig1uds' offered at the cheerful Hall Of
The san Francisco Nnstrels And other incidents. Of
miscellaneous claa tsrnOt strictly dramatic, hut CON
nectcd with the amusement OF the town'ent their co
operative AID 70 augment the hustle and variety Of q
weci that ordinarily placid with general sagn don
All the hcatrs seemed to he IN good trim. and the play
did their best to please such devOtees Of the stage
found time and taste from Santa Claus TO ITALIA
Tne usual matinoes given on saturday, and they
toersbly wen attended. To-day there will he af
ternOon well evening performances in all direc-
tous Al Walcks TheatcT the iDal representations Of
"Coquettes" viii take place to- day and tonight At
Booths Theater Mr.. Jefferson will give two presennens
of Rip W6tgic. At the Fifth Avenue Thoater the
attraction Of will he the and bright farce Of
Saratoga" which has made a dsnet popular hit. Az
the Olympic Mr.. Fox will play his pranks Nee willie
BiSkis Al Nihlo's Garden the spectator will be duly
thrilled and properly astonshed by the gores Of The
BLACK Crook At Lima Edvins Theater that rosy and
merry lady will herself caper LAo JdeE ShPpdrd and
Mr. Lingwell viii enact Romeo JcRLiHS Al Woods Mu-
the j. da Thompson troupe will perform In the bur-
)esque Of Paris" AZ the Circus athletes and eques-
TRANS win prevail and sixty little children will display
themselves the gay and gtterng spectacle Of Gin
derca" And .he Hall OF the Francisco Minstres
Hessr Birch and BackUs and their sable cO-Iuates in
sport IN wake, usual, the echoes OF merry laughter.
The Minstrel though give matinee. 1t will De readily
Jreeiycd from this array Of announce ments that those
who may dc re- 10 ind entertainment away from home
Wilhaye large RANGE Of choice among merltOrOus
81 Innocent pleasure In the secular Obser' Of
G7rs.s Day the tlraters Of course bear prominent