The New York herald., 1871-03-12

| male American Cousin the Sensation
| at the Amphitheatre - Schneider
Still Lives-Gossip in General.
LONDON. Feb. 25, 1871.
'Happy month OF February, In which fewer tears
| are shed, fewer sighs heaved than in any other
month OF the year." SO spake Emanuel Kant, a
great philosopher In his day; little drowsy, be
sure, but no less divine Yes February, lie General
| Fevrer," as the French are wont to style him, has
mis- disadvantages, but he has MS compensatng ad-
| vantages His reign Is BRIEF and less OF human
anguish is consequently compressed wit hin 1t than
! within the stay OF longer months. Fewer 'sensa-
nonal" plays for example, are produced,
| and thus one fertile source Of sorrow
| and suffering is restrained. Yet even Feb
ruary Is not without Its plaques and pests in
| the shape OF trashy meOdramas, for at all
periods of the year those who have no
! talent Ior writing viii write all the
same, though "Minervan should be ever so
''nvited." The famous monk. John of Salisbury,
rldicules the dramas OF Plautus, Menander and Ter
ence as "SpectocMa ct a,.fnita tiroctnta canatts
Qutous Q,rt otis omnfao possttnt t,ui pernici
| occupdntar." The Judgment was rash and
unjust IN its application to the particular plays in
question, but 1t might be applied with perfect justice
to such pieces too often disgrace the British stage
/
be said severe enough for "vesta," or works Of a
\ like description. Never was classical myth sub
mltted to a more nonsenslca process OF perverson
| than that to which the story of s'Vesta' has been
subjected in burlesque Of the same name
| by Mr.. II. B. Farnie, now in course Of
| representation at st. James, theatre. 1t is
not that the legend has been turned the
''seaney side without" like Rodergo's wits, but
| it has been rent into pieces and reduced to rags
| uioifi f,,,f
profanity There is nothing to laugh at after all is
said and done. A vein OF ldlocy pervades the pro-
duction from first to last. The author never .'de-
viates into sense, much less into wit or humor. BY
preposerous freak Of fancy, which is extravagant
without being In the least aughabe the city water
works are brought into imaginary play in every
scene and incident of the piece and Mr. Lillyvick's
awful threat to cut them on at the mainn Is dinned
necessarily IN the ears Of all the dramatic person.
ages Mrs. John Wood does all that sprgntly acting.
sweet singing and graceful dancing can effect to
give some sembance OF interest to this dreary
NAL stuff; but 1t is not in the power OF any
actress. however gifted, to make that attractive
which Is intrinstcally worthless. any proof were
needed to show to what a depth OF degradation the
British stage has fallen in these degenerate days 1t
would be furnished by the fact that authors could
be found to write, managers to produce and actors
to perform such abomnable trash. To an actress
Inc MIS- Woou uOomeu 10 give uCLerance ana
action to such twadde, and really good come
dian like Mr.. Lionel Breughton compelled to ride
hobby-horse up and down the stage and to tumble
upon the boards like street acrobat-these are
sights which, while they make the jndlcious greve,
fail to afford the slightest grati6caton to the
inJudicous, for no men out Of Bedlam or Hanwen
could derive the least enjoyment from the
dOmooIery 50 pondsrops
audience manifest any enthusiasm is at the singing
e e ee e1 M M w so s ner1
alluslons apropos OF the war; expressing hope that
France win emerge glorious and triumphant from
her troubles, and that the day Will never come when
Prussia viii cut on he main. This aspiration finds
immense favor with the gods" who at The out
| break OF the campaign, were heart and soul with
the Germans; but no other allusiOn in the piece
cites even transient sense of satisfaction. The
production OF so wretched a piece us 'Vesa,"
houses. is the more 70 be regretted tnat
fortunes Of ST. james, theatre, depressed and shat
tered as they have been by the failure OF the
Whatever may be the fate Of that drama on the other
side OF the Atlantic there be doubt that here
in London it was udlcrous dasco. Received on
the first night with shouts OF derson it met with
better luck during the few subsequent evenings that
it fingered upon the stage. the few spectators who
dotted the bencnes here and tnere laughing where
they mad been expected to cry and hsslng ike SER
penis, penis "nere IL was noped tnat they would cneer
throat OF the public more than the most intrepid
OF managers could accomplish. SO war was
withdrawn, at cost 1t Is said, TO the management
Of no less than fS00.
.Deadman's Pointn is the horrid title of a no less
horrid play, Dy Mr.. I. Q. Barnard with which
Messrs. Webster 4 Chatterton are making mad the
guilty and appalling tne Tree at the Adelphl theatre.
The story OF this terrific drama may be lkened to
| ball Of threads which a kitten has been gambolng
with upon the floor. To unravel it would drive
man out OF his wits; therefore, let not attempt it,
Suffice II TO say that tine characters improbable,
! the incidents impossible and the outcome OF the
| nonsense. The "Deadman's Point'' (How can
dead man make point y is a reef Of rocks, with
| lighthouse is located a young woman whom
! smuggler, or some such disreputabe person,
real or imaginary wrong While the young woman
| is enjoying a disn OF chat with female friend in
walks our friend the smuggler, who lncontnently
| twists rope around the neck OF his victim, and,
leaving her half thrOted, proceeds to rummage the
| "pal." in search Of plunder. The women manage
| to escape, and soon find themselves locked III the
whether they drop out Of the sky or rise out Of the
| sea no one knows find themselves upon the reef
the very mex OF me It's be hoped that the
curtain and there is an end to the suferngs Of the
audience A great deal Of tnery in the shape Of
| lavished TO very little purpose on the adorn.
ment OF this, tin-pot production. Plays OF
mind me ever Of Lord Mayors isotman.
He gltters with lace, and is enalgent with hnery,
head to the "Beersheban OF his chin "al is barren.
ness.' The aterpiece at the Adelphi is comedy,
or rather a three act farce, enttled sour Female
American Cousin"-a rubbishv play enough in all
conscience, vet not without an adventurous attrac.
ton In the bright, quaint hilarious acting or Miss
JuIia DAILY, who impersonates with very comic erect
the conventional Yankee girl, whose ideal absurd-
ties and imaginary Outrages upon common sense
and good manners she paints In ludicrous coiors.
The purpose both OF author and actress IS satlrical
being that Of rdicung the unlettered classes
among Brtsners for their nonsensical notions on
the subject OF American character.
AT the Royal Amphltheatre sensational calisthen.
les have reached their climax IN the astounding
performances or far-hared little girl, answering
70 the name Of Lnlu, Who night after night goes
within hairs breadth OF breaking her neck. Ir
there Is anybody in New York who, being In quest
OF new sensation. would like 10 feel his blood run
ming cold, his hair standing upon end, his flesh
creeping and his marrow curdlIng let him by all
means take the next boat for London and repair
without delay TO Mr.. Charmanis circus In HolDorn.
| There may be seen Lulu the Incompatible, ra-
dantly arrayed III gold lace green satin and flesh.
colored silk; and her achievements marvellous
| 10 hal frnraa Tho