The New York herald., 1870-01-09
Tho Dramatic Revival ssnsou.


We are now in the full flush Of q dramatic
revival. Wallack inaugurated the season by
the production of the 'sSchool for Scandal,
and, although since then he has given us
few London novelties, still the most attractive
and successful plays which have been pro-
duced at Walack's theatre have been the old
comedies. At the Fifth Avenue theatre the |
season thus far has been devoted to the pro-
duction Of dramas and comedies with which
the public are acquainted. Indeed, we may
say that the season at all our metropolitan
theatres has been distinguished by revival
Of performances that have previously proven
acceptable to the public and remunerative to
the managers. AT the Olympic theatre,
Woods Museum, Niblo's Garden and the
Bowery theatre stars and stocks, as in days Of
yore, have been the order Of the day. Booth
has just produced "Hamlct" in style far
surprising his previous effort at the Winter
Garden-t is the most brilliant success of the
season-and the managers Of the Grand Opera
House, who are nothing if not sensational.
viii shortly produce thrilling sensation in
the spectacular line.
Perhaps more opportune occasion could
not be taken than the present to re-
view the effects Of the short-skirted. cent?
pedal drama, the recollections of which
are still fresh in the memory of oil
theatre-goers. There is little doubt but the
success of the high-spiced drama was due
as much to the elaborate manner in which
it was placed on the stage as to the gymnastic
antics Of the sparsely clothed females who
figured in it. We saw what the stage was
capable of producing in the way Of scenic
effects. We learned for the first time how
much the success of play depended on the
machinist, stage carpenter, scene painter and
gas man. Previous to the ''Black Crook"
''White Fawn," op6ra b0uBo and British bur-
lesque eras, only occasionally were we treated
to grand scenic effects and fine stage appoint
ments When, under the management of Mar
shall at the Broadway theatre, situated oppo-
site the cid City Hospital ''The Count Of
Mhsie Cristo" Wal; was produced. II was though:
grand affair. Burton, when he brought out
''The Tempest" was rapturously applauded by
the press and public. Laura Keere won the
most complimentary praise when she put upon
the stage "a Midsummer Nights Dream"
and yet these productions at these three
theatres-the leading ones Of their day-fell far
short, in point Of scenic effects and stage
mountings, of the manner in which the trashy
sensations of which we speak were placed
before the public. If we inherit nothing else
of good from the spectacles which for so long
time held possession Of the stage, the fact Of
having at the present time better scenery,
more appropriate moantings and finer effects
is something for which we ought to fee
thankful. 1t is consolation to know that 60
much real benefit has really accrued to the
I! siege. Tras neither Actresses nor ACTORS have
been benefited. In fact, they had to take a
| back seat while the sensation and ballet fever
lasted Good acting was then at discount.
There was no demand for it, and hence we see,
now that the legitimate drama has again
| gained possession OF the boards, both &C
tresses and actors, whose playing We had occa.
sion to notice ere the sensational era set in,
but little, if any, advanced in their profession
| No improvement is observable, and this is the
more noticeable when in other respects the
stage has been improved.
The most unobservant theatre-goer cannot
fail to have noticedin the late reyivals of stand
| ard plays vast Improvement, as compared
| with former years, in the manner in which they
hafA ,fsa
Take, for instance, "Hamlet," at Booths
theatre; "Much Ado About Nothing,
at Wallack's; ''Play," at the Fifth
Avenue theatre; ''The Tempest" at the
Grand Opera House; 'London," at the
French theatre, and we might 60 on and
enumerate many others. Had our actora
improved in the same ratio the American stage
to-day would lead the world in dramatic
! ability. We doubt not but the same enter
pr, ,'se which has characterized other theatres
will be evident during Mr.. Fechters engage
ment A. Niblo's Now that we have entered
upon god, healthy revival, in which there
ia chanc.' for players to develop dramatic
ability, we hope they will take advantage Of
the occasion, an>l in improving themselves by
close study they ca n help to advance and i'm
prove profession in the labors of which th 9
public is SO deeply inte. "ested.
THE BROADWAY ExoAv. ATIoN.-We give in
another column an interesting account OF the
process Of tunnclling Broadway. which is now
being carried on by the Pneumatic; Tube Com
pany.
EUROPE AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR
England, Ireland and France supply the mate
rial for the initial of our special retrospect of
the condition Of Europe at the close Of the
year 1869. Our exhibit from Great Britain
to-day is not of consoling char
acter for the past or very encour-
aging in the present. II paints oppressed
pcoples struggling democracy and priestIv