New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-10-28
THE DRAMA.
ST. JAMES THEATER.

ST. JAMES THEATER.
The handsome and cheerful hall which has
hitherto been known by the name or Apollo VIII mere
after be known by the Of James In assuming
name. moreover 1t also assumes new character
It has, until now led gypsy life: that to say 1t has
lived amid fpctuaOn and uncertainty Under us nc"
appclation and Its manager 1t assumes position
among the regular theaters of the city. MI John F.
McDonough has undertaken tho direction Of 1t, and,
after due preparatory cleansing and decoration OF us
cosy stage and spacious auditorium has opened 1t with
mixed entertainment, part dramatic, part musical and
part phenomenal The opening performance took place
on Monday night, and was seen by q oon-
siderable company and subsequent representa-
tions have been well attended. Even the recent
bad weather has failed to dampen the In
terest OF tho public in new place of amusement That
has been rewarded, andn case the st. James
entertainment judciOusy strengthened an yared-lt
viii doubtless continue. The new theater, standing on
ghth-st, close to the corner OF Broadway Is
well situated, with view to the success Of performances
that are at refined and pquant It's neghborhood,
be surc populated with rather an exactng class OF
pay-goers; but 1t Is always easier to deal with tho ca
prices OF taste and educated than with those Of
ignorance and coarseness and, should distinct and
strong speciality be found the consequent success OF the
st. James will make good the assumption upon
which its career has been commenced. This result, at
any rato is certainly to be wished. There cannot well
be an excess OF good heaers successfully conducted
on good principles. At present the entertainment Of
fered at the st. James Is little thin In quality and drab
In COLOR but 1t Ia sprghty and is chase 1t keeps the
spectators in good hunor and 1t dismisses them well
pleased There are three features In It, Miss Susan
Cation sings in musical farce; Miss Kate Brevoort In
yes applause by her ingenuity in drumming out popu-
lar melodies a series Of glass gobets, with piano &C
compartment and Mr. E. d. Davies remarkably clever
ventrioquist carries a conversation with couple OF
comic efes and at least four other invisible and mag-
Calf Ia nj nnkn IN
play-goers She has frank, kind, bright face viva
coua temperament inclinng to innocent mischief;
graceful and sprghtly dramatic method; and well
trained vocal ability hnge Of srtCe, perhaps mars
her singing general demeanor. One wishes that
a performer pleasing were more simple, and did
not so srenuousy to mako effects that ought rather
to proceed from apparent scousness Of all the arts
and destinations employed Miss Gallon appears as
traed hacneyed the stage from continual treatment
whom he has promised musical entertainments is dis
appointed by the nonArriya OF certain celebrated sing
Of herself her parent swain in place Of
these TaTbss the mPHscn snd @
Arnold it is practced in vigorous and humorous
ner the st. James Theater. burlesque Of the aec
is made very conspicuous. Tho guests are particularly
ludcrous-irOm queer resemblance that they have to
weilbred misery Is, IN truth, one Of the
most taceti9us a, spectacles, at any tme-alIi1g
garden hose. Miss Brevoorts "Crystal Chimes" are
skillfuly sounded and certain pungent suggestion OF
repressed fun In the performer herself gives flavor to
used to charm their listeners with much the same SPELL
though their performance was ADLER and more various
nkns is one Of the thoroughly funny performers
has our pleasant fortune to His ventroqum
be Keeps up their coiloquy in spirited rapid and really
strain with occasional saies Of satirical
local matters and he manifests appreciation
Of human ndiyduses and Of dramatic effect that are
unusual in performers OF his class and that add meaning
what called the Concert Hall element is present in the
current programme at the b. James Theater II not
unpleasantly So however; and we may hope TO see 1t
made subsidiary, by and by, to more substantial ORA
matte attraction.
wALLACK's THEATER-MR. MATHEWS.
al find my happiness as they find coal,n says
Aocraraing Sam, "by boring for It," This remark dis
closes the amabe hero Of the farce in which Mr. Mathews
is now acting at walacks It L. his own farce, and 1t
well devised TO give abundant scope to that amazing
vvacity of action and voluby of speech, that airy
drollery delicious plsyfulness, and perfect tact and
polish Of which The attributes Of this great
fArceur Aoorapanno Sam is sort Of Jingle, and his
seimposed vocation In the lively and effective acts
OF this piece Is to set simple people by the torment
everybody in the most natured way, and
and more In pleasure his complications grow more
tangled and his victims more irritated and
hopelessly bothered. It 10 quite impossible to
dissect, in Q satisfying manner, the win
ningI influence which Mr. Mathews exerts, In his
personston Success In acting Ia achieved, not by art
alone but by art electrified with personal qualities
That truth covers the whole ground and the acting Of
Mr. Mathews gives particularly pertinent illustration
There has not often been devised combination Of pieces
80 completely and irresstiby funny that which
holds the stage Of Waack In addition to the farce Of
ating SAM" the spectator Sees ALSO the
familiar and more elaborate farce Of The Nervous
Man" This II may be remembered, had an emphatic
success when revived ct Wallack's last year. Mr..
Brougham andMr Gilbert play now, as they played
them MeShgne and Mr.. Aspen; and the contrast be-
adventurer and the suggsh, shrinking. tremu-
ous respectable British merchant II displayed and en-
within the reach arsts Of the best order. The reap
pearanee Of Miss Enc 0ermon TO- TO be recorded She
Of tho female bully in The farce Of AgGavating SAM
and does this in manner almost too truthful hearty
beat "chambeE-maid" actress On the American stage
1.-THE Bpsybody" will be BROUGHT out at Wallaaks
eater on Monday evening and Mr.. Mathews wiz enact
Xafplol. In which he Ia fhmOuA,