The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-25
A M U S E M e N T S

FIFTH AVENUE TuEATRE.-I may nc suppOsSu
that lecture from the nlustrlous Winans on the
corruption OF party politicians or an oirhand dis.
course from the Hon. Mike Norton on the spots In
the sum- or the experience OF credulous Jerseyman
In following the instructions OF the Hon. Horace
Greeley In the cultivation OF backberries, or an ex-
citing debate at q convlval gathering OF the Tam
many Sachems on the dogma OF Papal infallibility
would be extremely ridiculous and splitting;
but over the two plays last night to the crowded
house at the Fifth Avenue theatre there was more
spontaneous and general fun and more continuous
Jeu de jote OF hearty laughter than we have ever
witnessed at the first exhibition Of grand circus
with three clowns at q frontier settlement in Ar
kansas. The merriment eciipsed anything that we
nave seen heard Of since the spectacle OF the
astonished Arabs In the presence Of Mark Twain
weeping over the grave OF Adam, or since the read
Ing Of that chapter from Artemus Ward by "nonest
Old Aben preparatory to the Submission OF his
Emancipation proclamation in Cabinet council.
The two plays were, FIRST the rafting little comedy,
''Ir I'd Thousand Year." and that dellciously
ridiculous production Of Brnsley Sheridan, inn
nItely amusing than his "School for Scandal"
In being so delightfully."- absurd, called rhe Critic;
Beekman, and Miss Fanny Morant Miss
In this tribe the amusing perplexlties Of MIR.
Paddngton Green (Mr. Mathewsl as an expert
mental dabber in fancy stocks, and OF MIR. Chailing
ton tMr. De Vere) as an office seeker are ntermixed
with little love affair, IN which Mrs. Green Miss
Morant and Julia Miss Dcltzl carry or very hand
somey the orange blossoms OF the entertainment.
The 'Critic' was the last OF the gifted Sherldan's
sparkling works, ana can never fall TO be reign
Ing lavorie wherever the English tongue prevails.
until Macauay's New Zealander shall be found
sketching the ruins Of st. Pauls from broken
toa9 bridge sn and it IS as Wen as
reveals the arcana OF dramatic architecture,
ana its structures IN bogus criticism are always a
tntnr tn fhn Ia Aftn
years to last evening since II last played In New
York. and Mathews then as now, appeared as the
lark, the ivellest man upon the stage, easy as an
old glove SIMPLE ana natural as iie and In the sim
ples5 rendering rendering Of the simplest things per- I.
barrassments. in the earnestness Of his hurry
taken together, he Is like "Old Virginny,nf or he
never tres In the "Crtic'' we have trst-a dis
On the 1 IN generally and the play
celled rehearsal itself. The discussion between Sir
Fretful Pnlagary and Puff both ny Matheys, Mr.
ars wnei and nd Tie Tie bromper q the theatre
IL a good as first rate play tse M
s'fhe Spanish Armada" In the rehearsal Mathews
shines in all the glory OF one Of the old Imperial
Guard in stage strategy and tactics; and If farkes
as the Earl OF Leicester, Bowdtch as Lord BurleIgh,
Dayidge as Don Whiskerandos. Pierce as Sir Walter
Raleigh, Burnett as Sir Christopher Hutton, Brown
Eater did not do honor to the glorious cause OF
Queen Betsy and the tragedy OF PuT G we should ani
Tbury fortressJ was delightfully."- gushing and vic
torious, and Miss Nellie Mortimer as her conaddne
and Miss Amy Ames and MISS Kate ClaXton Us her
neccs were up TO the spirit OF the occasion. The
two sentnels, Heating and Motifs, were eX.
esG Mas sanes tne In Hos s s aa
In fact Puff and queen Betsy were exalted to the
gods last night, and Mathews retired in blaze of
glory. The best Of 1t IS tnat while the this fun OF
these two plays, ana especially OF the ''Invtncible
Armada, keeps up In the house running, rafting
fire all the time, like that OF The Paris Commune, it
is that sort OF fun, wit and laughter which even
sensible Puritan parsOn would approve as orthodox
and good as Christian doctrine. OF course we can.
not pretend to guess when these two great hits
especially the "Critic," Will. cease from night TO
night to crowd The house with The cite OF the city.
Misunderstanding If Foote'S very light and
almost unsubstantla comedy, with the rather repul-
sive tile Of the "The Lar" was put upon any other
stage than wallack's twould fail to obtain thar
cess which keeps 1t st on the boards and attracts
towards it every night crowded houses. AS 1t is
| produced here with the combined genius OF Lester
Wallack, John Gilbert the youthful veteran OF the
establishment-T we may use the expression-th
! charming Mrs. Jennings, the rendering OF The
| play Is simply delicious. We are not going
work. but we desire TO express our approval OF it;
merits as q dramatic representation, produced III
| familiar for their excellence to require any com
ment whatever. good deal OF the interest In the
play we may 10 the scenery anu Tue
Splendid costumes, which form such brilliant acces.
| SORES to the performance. The scenery Is Wala-
cnan. Not at all that II represents the plains and
forests and steppe5 OF Waacha, but that refec Is
the exquisite taste OF Lester Waack The success OF
the piece so far been very great and We have no
doubt that IL can maintain itself for many nights to
come. me wisdom OF the management In furnish
ing such pleasant addenda to the leading piece rs
| those light comedies in which the genia and eyel
! welcome talent OF John Brougham has an oppor
4 tunity to display itself in agreeable combination
\ with that OF John Gilbert, Holland Rockwell, Ring
.,f oh, Gatfn hu
land and Miss Emmy Mesayer, is manifest from She
fact that the audience enjoy the afterpieces with
great gusto, and keep their seats I'LL the TALL Of the
| curtain.
! BowERY Observation-Disclosures three
thousand persons enjoyed perfectly sidesplittinl
treat ut the Bowery theatre last evening" the occa
| sion being the first night OF 'Schnider, or Do
4 House Won dc Rhine" 1t is unnecessary TO relate
the particulars OF the piece as story; but that the
play as put OH the stage last evening. was an i'm
mense success from beginning to end, there canno
| be the remotest doubt Scarcely mad the perform
| ance been well under way when the magic wore
! "Schnidern uttered by Johnny Allen, who tool
| the parts OF jake Louweesa and young Schnlder
urpe, the whole house into a CONFUSION oil laughter
| and of Mr.. Aliens acting In every other scene o.
the play only highest terms OF praise could be
used In every detail OF his performance there was
| evidenced thorough appreciation OF the character
| he assumed amt OF the audience before whom III
appearea. 30 ar n the Sen s, nights
| "Schnidern under Johnny Aliens deIineation 0
,nat representative individuals character, Is destined
To hold the boards OF this theatre for lengthened
| season. While every part OF the performance was
| good especial mention should be made oil Mr..
| Schnideris .bouncing, department. which created
| a perfect Juror OF enthusiasm among the audience.
| Mr.. william Freligh, the manager, deserves rrea
credit Tor the excellent manner In when the play
| was put upon the stage, no expense having been
| spared in making the scenery and all the appoint
ments OF the best order. The scenery Of the mn
| gether 'Schnder'' was an immense success, ant
| deservedly so.
| STADT THEATER-LoHENGEIN.-W agner's splendi'
romantic opera styled rs above was again per
formed last evening at this theatre and with IN
most complete success. The magnificent scene
were never shown TO better advantage. The cos
tunes which have been provided at an lmmens
cost are elegant, and, of course, tend to make th
amusement highly attractive Seldom has there
been In New York an opera-the music In which
the finest known-which required so much from TN