New-York tribune., 1871-08-23
THE DRAMA.

-Fitz" was produced az NAl0s Car! on MQdJy night,
aud Mr. Joseph X Emmot rcappcdrcd in tho character OF
the energetic, agile, and mcodiOus German cua grant.
The tboaer was completely filed with people, and the
vast asscmblage accepted Mr. Gaylers play, Mr.. En-
NETS pcrsona,on and the auxar perS0rmaR OF the
subsidiary players with evident satisfy cton aud frequent
Outburss OF spontaneous applause. Fritz" if an o'u
Htory now. It acted in NcwYCrk last year. at "''
lacks Thcater from hc lth OF dolly to THO ioh OF sep
tcnber when i was aeon by thousands OF playSoorS'
and when Il was thoroughly discussed in the press IL
rccars however under fresh circumstances ana aus ro
appoqraucc seems, therefore, entitled 81 a''e"'o "
comment tcitc thcHr, theuGh, is apt TO INSPIRE ',o
thoughts Remark uJJn tb's piece must he0cSS''', -
aow in q familiar channel Tho liue 81 thoosn' N"o"
suggests has been suggested before, by similar
,,s a,l has ,or uursuei before the same Iosicai
result that must lsc stated now. ,,et
Fritz is not a WORK Oi literature out" WIZ r,
ness 1t has little merit piece of constfuo'' '',
still less as a piece OF writing. ito tue P'"pN -,
dramatic art--thc delncatou, that ol I
conduct actual possible, as pfonp'eo '' ,.,
ndco,oto motive and shown IN picturesque eNc''"E'
cumulative and significant prosress-" "'D9 ~, 49,. :,
turc II hints. indeed, at passions anu ".'N ' w
does not use them. Its materials arc 'ho su,i"0' "
n,nopnIace life and ts method Is hasly careloSS' an"
-, ,r,to photography. The subsidiary persons
49,, - cu,uloys arc mostly, puppets-hy which we
-,,ea, that they are not real men and women IheT
lives, in other words are not-as tho hVcs OF
- hoin,s ore-the outward garbs Of character.
1frir
,s prompted and propelled by impulse and reason
They are not constrained people in real existence,
by internal prompungs OF feeling and fancy, ana eN-
terna influence and force OF Circumstance. They simply
cIcy the CXgcnccs OF the sCcnC-mOving tins way ana
that way in mechanical method, totally and blandy I'M
conscious Of sense, probability, and everything bu
stageuccd and stagecdec II Is true, theY possess
certain sort Of human vitality, and and then, de-
yiate into rational conduct: but the vitality Is hn ana
the conduct is of that commonplace kind always Incl
dental trivial occupation. Briefly, the piece fOSh
conciomeraton Of the nohings of the passing hour
objects and incidents drawn, but not always drawn
with accuracy, the Streets the public conveyahce
the hauuts OF profit gacy and other familiar civic oca
ties II ada that these nohngs are offered Ior 'ho
own sake. and not made tributary 10 any intellectual
purpose whatever, we shall have indicated with sur
neent stinctness. the quality of this production. MAN
hestly play thus vacant of depth in Thought ana worth
IN design material and siulnes Of constructions can
not take rank aul is not entted TO consideration as III
eraturc aud art.
Yet FItz has afforded amusement u thousands Of
neros all over United states; aud there can be no
aoubt-in the mind OF any thoughtful observer OF the
Etacc-that a il type Of the kind Of theatrical en-
tertainment most accepthe to the great mss OF Amerl-
can nay-gooIs The thought is not pleasant one; but
study OF the world seldom inspires rosy reflection
and the philosopher mast accept the facts OF existence
precisely he ands hom. With very little exception
the stage is now administered, simply and solely, as
matt of business To great extent It has hpsed out
OF the land artists-whO, II mercenary, could not
entirely help being arJistc-and has fallen into
the hands OF traders; and the thing that
traders want everywhere and always, Is quick
monctary return. We eXpend no ccnsure upon TINS
frugal ord of mind 1t saluary in the land
asd Il proves very beneficial to trade and commerce
We do expect however that its operations are not con
nned little exclusively, 70 the auring and sug
gcsve topics OF cochined, picron, hrca1saffs, and
textile fabrics Possessed as it is, ef boundless CONT
nents for the quest of the fragrant guano, and multi
tudnous for the establishment OF groceries YET
unborn could desire, and do devouly wish, that II
would let the arts alone. The pecunary prosperity o.
the theater is indeed result greatly to be desired, ant
one that should he steadily promoted by all legli
mate means. Every theatrical manager as matter o
course ought give due consideration to the practca
results enterprise. Assuming to conduct theaer
though he assumes to WELD the implements OF though
end beauty and to pursue fortune within limits that ar
distinctly and obviously prescribed by moral and mena
law This the trader appreciates. To him th
thoater shop; and he would devote its stage to TN
killing of hogs if he thought that would "draw money
quite quickly and quite compacehtIy ms 10 th'
Illustration Of the finest play in the world. 1t is this
sprt-cOyetOus, coarse, heartless, and shrewd III Jus
chosen traffic on the ignorance, vlgarity, and
vice OF manknd-which wars upon the puAhc
culture, and especially retards the growth OF
the stage purity and intellectual power.
1t is the Gscendancy Of this sprit-not In the
theatrical world alone but in the society upon which
erbier9ting spectacle Of a whole metropolitan com
unty ia rapture at the banjo OF Miss LOtta, and the
tnseled capcrs Of Miss Lydia Thompson And II Is the
escendancy Of this spirit which creates such dramas as
"Fritz.' .
MADE for market and made by a Of proved talent
and great professional experience the drama suits the
purpose for which 1t intended IL Is. In general
value and drift ike OF other pieces under the rep
fescntatiOn Of which have been obliged to suffer and
about which our professional duty has constrained 10
,ea sfr1lll m hfagtv and
At iustifrs the assumption by depcting-very imper-
fectly indecd,-the Castle Garden street the
Tombs Prison. the interior Of City Judges Court Room,
and broadway Concert Cellar. These Obiects-not, in
actual life calculated impress the intelligent beholdcr
with any emotion other than wearincss-bccome, when
Inferred Oh the stage distinct positive and rather
peratng nuisances We refer In this remark TO their
effect on sensible spectators With an ignorant mob this
sort Of portrayal passes for nature" and 70 al
ignorant mob this piece is addressed. It's hero Is
German cmigrant, newly landed on these shores
It's scheme confrOnts this person with baggage
thieves procurcrs brothel-keepers, rowdes, and
the official functounres and dirty hangerson OF a
justices court first and second acts show how Fr'7
the German cmgrdnt lost his trunk and was separated
from his yyeehcar and how, thereupon he rescued his
sweetheart from nOisOme den OF vice. ana recovered
his trunk out Of the hands rODber Also they show
how he danced in clogs, and vulgar comic songs
and defended himself his 1sts from assault 10y
ruffllns As TO their machnery-which, life being short
md night hcetng, we hhal not uesCIlpt Ih detdi-i
hinges upon calm, comprehensive, and really mastery
disregard Of time place. reason, the us1gcs Of courts
and the vigilance and prowess Of the Metro
politan Police. None but a modern play
wright GddHssEg throng Of ounces and sure
of his audience would De capable OF the delicious
Audacity that has fashioned the incidents end
Of this portion Of Ftss story. The German is not only
ubiquitous he is omiscent and omnipoteut and, vhcn
after the fancied lapse OF years find him the
comfortable owner of mill agricultural district OF