New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-15
THE DRAMA.
SURF AT TIE rrFTH-AvE.

O Ne LOgan's play oil surf WIS repios0h'
here for the first time on Wednesday evening ~ sn
Fifth-aye Theater in the presense OF throng Oh peoP
that compleely filed house. Improves TO Do mV'o
farce than comedy 1t not TO the interior spflt
OF life that is IN the 10 ooueuy
OF showing the harmonious relation between n"sui"
conduct and adequate motives but reats supernoi"
.spects OF character and life in Joyous manner ana
Is tbenn tribuary 10 comlcal effect The result rs an
amusing farclcal play which possesses the double vital
~ of Oeas and mirh, and which Is therefore sure 10
enjoy certain Of ephemeral popularity SuH
in nature is not made 20 last nor VIII long survive III
this form Of art While the piece runs however IL can
be and ought to be enjoyed II Miss Logan has been AT
no considerable pains TO depict strong characters.
powerfully influenced by combinations OF cireum-
stance, and thus prompted to sueh action
a. is susceptible Of dramatic treatment, she has at least
devised very pretty pictures OF st me- ana gwen
them point by very sprightly dialogue surf Is com
prsed in three and written in prose One scene OF u
is LAID in steamboat, plying between New-fork ana
Long Branch The other laid at that familiar
Summer resort either Stetsons Hotel or on the SANDS
1t WAS happy thought which led the author 10 invest
play with these accessories In themselves they arc
romantic and picturesque. Besides the pnDho Always
likes 10 see upon the stage representation OF It's familiar
haunts and TO hear in the language of play illusions
10 places habits IN which II has direct ana mt
mate personal concern Miss Logan has also been happy
In her dialogue Portions Of this are freghted with sense
and luminous with wit. A quick apprehension OF the
ridiculous WEAKNESSES
of social custom has often before been shown
through the medium of very pungent and oaustic
wittcism Miss LOgau's miscellaneous writings That
faculty perception and that felicity Of be reappear in
The language Of this drama This the strong point OF
the woTk-and this think, will DO more widely and
distinctly when the piece is acted with more rattle,
vim and alert movement than characterized its first rep
resentation With respect the plot Of "surf" much
consideration would be waste OF words. The story s
exceedingly thin. 1t assumes that certain camp
follower army, in the late war; has killed
and robbed officer This miscreant is TO be detected
by the fact that he has the forehead and by the
other fact that he has in his possession certain marked
bank known 10 have been taken from the person Of
his victim. The story then goes 10 show how this
murderer being in danger from the pursuit OF an avenger
Of blood, disguise, gets himself introduced to
his enemy andi proceeds 10 irt with that enemys wife
end OF he is discovered and brought to his
hour " doom. This concentration OF circumstances,
strikes u.s. We must say preposerOusy unnatural and
improbable. Men who have the guilt Of blood upon their
surely do not court detection, Placed by chance
IN dangerous situations they may act with extreme
courage and skili-the bravery and the ingenuity Of
desperation But they do not willfuly and foolishly
poke their heads through the hangmaus In the
method employed for the working ont Of this plot, also
there a kindred lack OF nature aud reason. double
Of the villains real sell is clumsly used and the sus
picIoUs and determined avengcr Of blood is made to
plentiful lack Of drectucss Of action in the pur
in this lay in coming to Hecuba-whch admits Of the
introduction OF more Long Branch scenes than could
otherwise be presented; and to present these doubt
less the main purpose Of the work II Surf does not
adequate representative types OF American charac
adequate representative pictures OF the manners Of
American sOcetyand fuh the purpose Of legitimate
cOmCdyit is nevertheless good and true and amusing
IN sketches OF miscellaneous incident. The coOquies
the steamboat cabin, the veVatons OF hotel lfe-as
suggested in the Of the arrival at Setson the
appearance and antics Of the surbahers the drinking
bout the hotel veTanda the sports OF the children and
their mtimely and preCocous!y Intelligent speeches;
all these are well portrayed. And everything Is
summed up last in gittcrng hotel barrOom picture.
few minor bemisbes Of taste mar the web Of the COM
position. A'gcntcman would nOt-as General Noble is
do-send message 10 his wife, OF 10 any lady, by
adockhand a steamboat. Some Of Mrs. Oglc's re-
marks would bearlpruniug There is little too much Of
the juvenile element. And tho surf speech made by Mr.
PhlIp Vd5,ey sounds good deal like fustan. But We
have found quite fault enough with tins worthy effort
of brilliant woman. 1t becomes us all to remember
that 10 every day in the year that an American
play by American writer is presented for eXamIna
tion While we are Just let us also be sympathetic.
There great deal Of merit the writing in this piece
and tile hand which has wrought so earnestly shOd not
fan 90 take another and stronger hold upon American
life rs a theme for delineaon in dramatic art Great
success is reached at step, By anybody. "Surf
notwithstanding all defects, hopeful augury OF what
Miss Logan will yet accomplish in this depart
meut industry And IN the mean time, it Is
en- amusing little play and lt has been set with hand
some scenery at the Fnhaye. Theater The attempt to
depict the rolling OF the waves we should remark, was
dead failure and ought to DO renqushed. Percepti'
bic cloth, conspicuous cotton and obvious ropes const
tue but poor substitute for tho beautiful roll and long,
mOuOtOu0us sweep Of the waves OF The seaside
tceue was clear case Of tied In the acting that
gave Interpretation TO Miss LogSns comedy there was
thorough earuostnes Of spit, and cyenDess Of skin
which left feature Of merit particularly prominent
Mrs Gilbert as Hrs Ogle, Mrs. wilkins as Mrs. Hpawdy
Mr.. DaviGgc as Nr. Blunt Miss Lilly Vning as Hiss No
ole. aud Nr. W. Beekman Oria0k0 SDt, negro scr
want were the most distinct and agreeable individuals
ties n Tie performance. "sUn" may be seen every
night and at a Saturday matinee. We give the cast OF
parts entire. The scenery is by Dufocq seayey and
james Roberts:
Gen. Madison Noble, L. :. A.-..Nr. G. f. De We're
I4rut. Arthur Ncf(n, u. ;. Mn. f. h. Evans
NJ N., FI !i ySrne'f ........Mr George Clarke
Nr. Barker BIuUt...-.-.. Mr.. w. DdNIdsc
Nj simon schWciufeisch. ......- Mr.. James Lewis
Dir. Jenkins. Mr.. Geo Holland
NJ. IotuaIiu Smash.r. Mr. Geo. PdrScS
OunokO Nrguius Smth..-....-.- Mr. W. Beekman
Mr.. +. chapman
Master Benny Ilipa~py .---.. -. MISS CuShhi4h
Afs Madison Nub.c.......- Miss my Davenport
AIss EUpATO>!ue NUb.c.....-... Eilss Lily Nlu!ng
M.ss Alice Warren. .-.........-..M MISS EhlIle Mem
Mr. MIS- bllhtii
AttLuaa OEe.....-- MISS l., lG"Is
Mrs. Fanny F.paWay .....-........M Mrs. VI. Wllklns
Madame Tres ou tc-....-..--... -. MISS NOI"Oou
kyrdh OROuTkc...-- .--.... Miss Emma Aiie-
Miss IUUtsCy Noble. Miss kyhtr
MR.. yAEDESUoFF's READINGS.