The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-04
DICKENS And 7HE DRAMA.
Charles Dickens as q Writer for the Stage
Festive Plays by the Future Novelist
His Histrionio Gsnlus-The "Strange
Gentleman" and Other Works-What
is Now Being 'Done" In England
Peep Behind the Scenes-The
"Aminadab Sleeks" Of
London Society.

LONDON. June II, 1870.
The death Of Charles Dickens will be felt In dra-
nao well as In all other circles for only
he fond OF the drama and an active promoter OF oil
movements designed for the benefit Of its yotarles
but ut an early period OF his career he displayed
little skill in the construction OF bright festive little
plays which attained considerable popularity at the
time OF their production though their authors
perior fame as novelist eventually threw his pre-
enslons as q dramatlst into the shade. Lord Pal
merston used to say that he had hardly ever met
with man with any claim to education who had
not at some time or other OF his life attempted TO
learn shorthand. "He had himself made the effort,
and we have his own word for 1t that he would
probably have shone as stenographer but for two
unfortunate little circumstances-the extreme din.
Guilty he found IN writing shorthand and the still
greater difficulty he experienced IN reading 1t when
writen.h The rage for dramatic writing was ut one
time quite as prevalent among literary men as the
desire to master the humber accomplishment OF
stcnography. In the closters OF Westminster Abbey
may be seen to this day the grave OF an erudite
though now forgotten gentleman who combined IN
his own person the talents OF pious parson, ORA.
matte author and a shorthand writer shorthand
he wrote, and death OF hun short hand did make,n
Is the quaint inscription on his monumental tablet
Everybody knows that Dickens began life as a re-.
almost vanished from the memory Of the public. His
genius was essentially hlstrionlc, and II he had
taken either to stage writing to "stage playlng'
Ito use an old-iashioned phrase there can be no
doubt that lie would have achieved distinction In
either capacity; for he had In him tie ''makngs'
not only OF vigorous playwright, but of a brilliant
comedian. as was abundantly proved by hIs admir-
able acting at various amateur performances at
Tays.ock House and elsewhere.
His first piece, a farce called "The Strange Gentle.
man, was produced at the ST. James theatre on the
opening night or the season, September 90 1885,
The late Mr.. Harley was the hero OF the farce
which was received with great favor. This was
followed by an opera called "The Village Coquettesn
Tor when Mr. huilaa composed the music,
and which was brought out at the same estab-
lishment Tuesday. December g. 1885. the quaint
humor unaffected pathos and graceful lyrics OF this
enjoyed prosperous run. The "Vilagc Coquettesu
5ook It's ute from two village girls Lucy aud Rose,
station, and discarding their humble, though
worthy lovers but, before It is too late they see
thcir error, and the piece terminates happily MISS
Ranlorth and Miss Julia Smith were the heroines,
and Mr.. Bennett and MIR Gardner were their be.
trothed lovers Graham was the Lord OF the Manor
WHO would nave led astray Iair Lucy There was a
capital scene where he was detected by Lucy's
father, played by Strickland, urging an eopement.
by his admirable aching.
ON March g. 1897, was brought ont at the st. James
tnlng singular in which Harley played the prn.
cipal character Felix Tapkins, flirting bachelor
aud sung song III the character OF PicNwick,
written expressly for him by Boz
Dickens splendid success in another department OF
iictiona literature diverted MS attention from the
stage, but many Of his greatest novels have been
| sadly mutllated by the clumsy iourneymen called
adapters In their attempt 60 lit them to the stage
In the present STATE OF public feeling, win Dickens
name on every lip and the thought OF him In every
heart there can be little reason to doubt that the
revival or ms pays at any London theatre
prove better cards In the hands OF a manager than
TIE sDon aries, OF my Lord Russell or that
Wrcchcd pay OF Mr.. Dlsrae.rs which the audi.
ence asleep al Astley's theatre the summer before
| last.
In writing for the stage Mr. Dickens always used
Ms famous nom &c plume OF ''Bolf' q sOubriuuet
which. Ia punning allusion TO the quotation from
virgil "Procambil hum Bos' provoked the following
neat epigraln. which deserves 10 be remembered
though II appears be forgotten at this SAD season.
oh, Dickens, dear
That great viii be our loss
When We shall shy
"P,ocun' IL huri Bo."
THE "vliLAGE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES LETTER TO
HARLEY.
copy OF the "Nlllase Coquettes' has become so
lare mat your readers VIII perusc With interest the
following extracts:-
DEDIcArIoS TO "vILLAGE copuErrEs.r
MY DTAh SIZE dramatic banlng are no sooner born
&
equal readiness; and you sli profess your willingness
the stock Dedicated to you the Sis play
Ss b.aas Sr your ayo e
and am afraid wl That you may long con-
tribute 70 the amusement of the pub &c and long
shed lusrc, by the honor integrity OF your private fe
the profession which for many years you
much to uphold the aincere aud earnest wish Of
sir yours, most faithfully, CHARLES DICKENS.
DECEMBER Is. 1885.
PREFACE TO "vrLLAGE CoQuHrTrs."
"Eithcr the honorable gentleman right or he
Parliament. TINS drama have q plot 1t may not and
the songs may be poetry they may the whole
AFFAIR from beginning to end, be great
not, Just the honorable gentleman lady
may happen to think TO retaining his own private
and particular oplnon upon the subject-an opinion
which he formed upwards OF year ago, when
he wrotc the pece-the author leaves every such
gentleman lady to form his hers, be she may
think proper without saying word influence
Braham and all the performers who repro.
sentaon OF this opera will accept his thanks for
the interest they evinced In It from its very
and for their jealous efforts In his behalf which
crowned It with success far exceeding his
tcipatIons, and of which OF speak
Acknowledgements. II ID needless add that the reo OF
an opera must be- TO certain extent vehicle for
music and that Is scarcely iair reasonable Judge
by those strict rules of criticism Justly app
cable to a dyeac, tragedy or finished comedy.
THE CAST.
The cast was as rollows:--
DgAMATis PERSON IL cvILLAGE coQUsTrEs")
TIE Hon. spakins f'am ihis fricndj Mr. forester
Old Benson On small farmer Mr. Strickland
Mr.. Martin Stokes IN very small farmer with "A