The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-07-14

For the past four or five years in this coun-
try class .of performances have held posses
sion of the stage to the almost total exclusion
OF the regular drama. We refer to thu gor-
geous spectacles whose chief points of attrac.
ton have consisted in ma snifcent scenery,
comic songs set to sparkling music, and
troupes of elegantly formed women clad in the
least possible amount of clothing, what there
was OF it being composed of the richest and
most brilliant hued silks and satns When
the first of these spectacles was given-tte
Black Crook"-in Anew York, several of the
above features were displayed on so extensive
a scale that numbers of the most respectable
ladies in the country attended, charmed by
the artistic skill displayed in the series of mag
nifcent tableaux presented in which so many
vfJurantes took part that the eye gazed upon
the scenes as upon pictures of fairy land and
did not obtain an opportunity to scrutinize
any one particular feature before, as in kali
eidoscope, the enchanting views had passed
from the sight to give place to others no less
beautiful. While, therefore we wonld not be
understood to approve of exhibitions like
these they were far superior to a class of enter
tainments to which they give rise. We refer
to the blonde troopse that have cursed the COM
munity for the past two years. The burlesques
are in almost every Instance composed of a
running doggerel which serves as a medium
for forced wit and vulgar jokes; the magnifi-
cent scenery Except in metropolitan theatres)
is dispensed with; indecent gesture and the
worst dances of the Mablle gardens are intro
duced by set of some half dozen or more al
most naked young women, who offer them on
the stage to an audience composed largely Of
the youth of the community, thus early
introduced to scenes that would rarely be
witnessed in pretended respectable bagnio.
We do not say that such is ci,ooys the fact be-
cause such statement would be very sweep.
ing, but we are well aware that if ten years
ago such exhibitions had been given, or at
tempted to be given, in New York or Boston
as are now given with impunity in Puritan
New England the theatres would have been
shut up and the performers arrested.
When stage has fallen to such condition
as this that night after night the theatre is
crowded with men and boys to witness these
displays, no gradual reform from a counter
opinion in the audience can be attempted, and
none but our rulers have it in their power to
effect decisive cure. One would think that
the city fathers, into whose hands are commit
ted the welfare of their citizens and the purity
OF soul OF their own sons, would refuse to
sanction by license those entertainments
whose only influence can be to debase and pol
Lutte. We might hope, fol the sake OF religion
and virtue, that they were worthier of their
trusts.
As we have often said before, the newspapers
may say what they like in jesting way in re-
gard to these nude shows and no attention will
be paid to them. We think it is high time for
the press of the country to take the matter in
hand, to speak OF these exhibitions in sober
serious earnest and by their united influence,
shame, if they cannot compel the proper au-
thority to forbid their representation. By
statute whoever sells an Obscene print or pub
LEGATION is amenable to the law because it is
prejudicial to the morals of the community.
Are these shows any the less so?
The theatre is intended as source of recre-
alton. To the young it is very attractive The
introduction of the starring system has been
one of the strongest allies Of the nude bur-
lesquc movement, strange as it may appear.
sessed of talent have taken to starring, and
only two or three theatres in the country pos
sess stock company above mediocrity. Now
the actors and actresses complain that the le-
gitimate drama will not draw, and that the
theatre can only be made attractive by the pro-
duction of burlesque. Why? Because the
old companies that used to crowd the principal
theatres by their excellent acting have broken
up and gone starring, and left in their places q
lot of sticks hired at the cheapest salaries. 80
the manager can afford to engage Mr.. or Mrs.
Star as they reyolve in their orbits in that liz
rection. If the public would demand first.
rate stock companies and then patronize them
literally; if they would accept no "stars" ex
cepi such as were really worthy of the name
from their extraordinary talent and genius; il
bright, sparkling comedies and healthful plays
pointing moral were produced as is the cast
in oue or two of our best theatres at present
then would healthy stimulus be given to ar
tistic acting, the stage would be purified ans
elevated and prove what it is intended to be-
source of recreation and an efficient aid il
diffasing regard for virtue and truth.