The New York herald., 1871-09-06
4 III u s EN- z NTS.

perfect exemplihcaton OF the entente cOrdtdie than
exists between the company and audience at Mr.
Daly's dramatic boudoir This interchange OF good
feeling and friendship was strongly exhibited last
night at the opening. The little theatre was
crowded, and a mod ste might learn many things
In glanclng around Rich toilets and people OF ton
were In the majority. As each old favorite or new
candidate came forward to the footlights there was
warm and hearty greeting extended TO MN or her,
Many people went away complaining that
the theatre was so small anu that there
were no more seats TO be obtained. Many
more accepted the situation phiosophcaliy
and stood 1t out bravely either side OF the MIR
rOrc1 auditorium, and others craned their neck5
over the parqucue boxes at the entrance. The play
was "Uivorce," spick.span new work OF DAYS.
and one on which much care and attention nave evil
dently been expended The sub, ect as may be seen.
Is real live one, and certainly treatment evinces
rare decacY and skill, and thorough know
ledge oil society of the present day. (he fashionable,
at least, as seen through the medium OF the stage.
In this theatre the prevai ling feature Is a natural
ness In dialogue and action, and finish which
invests even the most commonplace scenes
with interest, and takes away much
OF the stereotyped character OF acting OF the present
day. Whether the scene be IN drawing room
garden, the country, the Illusion IS perfect and the
skill OF the scenic artist, the stage manager The
very uphosterer and costumer, seems to transport
the audience from the theatre to the of action.
Such perfection OF ensemble, even down to the
mlnutest detail Is the main secret OF The success OF
the Fifth Avenue. The play IS a very long one and
when 1t Is In smooth running order and pruned
judiclously it may be set down for
hundred nights run, as there is not
weak or uninterestlng scene in 1t.
The plot may be said, briefly, to be as fOllows:-Mrs
Ten Eyck fashionable leader IN society, has two
daughters-Fanny ana Louise-and niece-Grace.
She marries her daughters to very eligible pdrttS-
Fanny TO yOung lmpusive, jealous and rich
young gentleman-Alircd Adrianse--and Louise to
rich and fond old wldower-De Wolf Dewitt. She
her niece, Grace, pOrtonless beauty, for
some other wealthy husband but Grace is
wIfully in love with young cergyman-Hairy
Duncan. In the first act We are shown
how the daughters are married. and we
have some fOreshad owing or their probable
destiny. Fanny Is not particularly In love with II er
impulslve husband, Adrianse ana nclines TO a
wllful and independent course There Is GER
tam handsome, indoent, idle captain. West Point
graduate poor in pocket but exquisite of the rst
water, whose name Is Captain Lynde, an old friend
OF the family and pet OF Mrs. Ten Eyck's who
would like to iall IN love with either OF the girls,
but barred by his ineligible condition, makes II up
by assuming great intimacy and familiarity WIN
them, especially when the husbands are about, and
takes malicious pleasure in exciting jealousy.
Alter the marriage TINS Captain Lynde indirectly
causes breach between Ealny ana her husband
ny MS id!e attentions anG er noGenS nm 1 reception o.
rebels against such an insulting commando there Is
struggle OF PRIDE against pride; the mother takes
her daughters part; the cOunselS OF bad advisers
are lcowed; Captain Lynde assumes to be q
martyr to this jealousy and enltsts Fanny's sympa:
thy and Notwithstanding the good advice or Old
Mrs. Kemp CHEEKY honest good Ola lady,
who beams on the scene Ike sunshine,
her child. in act third we see tue husband. now
fully persuaded OF his wres fckleness Ii not actual
guilt, putting detective on her track, goaded 10
furV Inv
after demand or Impossible conditions from
his wife twho Is floating further and further from
hIm and her duty in the COmpaniOnsllp OF cap
tam Lynde and her mOtherl, taking the law
in his own hands and making 2 midnight
stopping aud kidnapping the child. Act four pre-
seats us with the almost inaccessible retreat IN
Florida, whithef the hnsband has gone with his boy.
The man has now become nissan tropical to the last
degree, dsbelieves IN all virtue and seeks only to
gsar ms e at om 1s aSS oSc he e
mother, have learned Through the treacnery OF the
detectye, where Adranse mas gone with iar,in the
Fanny goes determined to seek q reconciliation
ana subSiit to all her husbands demands in order to
regain her child. Her impacabe mother has, how
ever,devised scheme OF force to regain the boy and
punish her son-ln-law, and that Is by accusing him
OF insanity and taking the child by force. The wife
first gains her husbands retreat, him. works
upon his better feelings ana Is almost aoout 10 eff
Wien VINE '"' the molher-H-law 0N enters UPON the
scene, with tho ,inad.hoYSe doci9y and
s sezss G as a eh tne an4
his wife, and the plot Of which he Is the yctm,
iallS INTO 9 par2xysm OF rage, Which IS taken for
and daughter with the Child return to New York.
The wife will not believe IN her husbands madness
and Is determined TO seek ms release Before she can
do It, however, he rrees himself by convincing the
doctor OF his sanity He comes 10 her fully informed
that she was party to the pot against his liberty,
but stl with the old estrangemcnt In his heart.
He comes to her TO give her up the chlu to give her
liberty and to say farewell. Deeply moved by his
sad condition. Fanny besceches him to forget the
past and live in reconciliation the rest OF their
young lives: The dark cloud Of q mis-.
Brightness o, the future ne can see ie
happiness; he can ind no power TO unite them again
IN love-when the voice OF tile child is heard. the
little innocent runs in TO welcome his papa and
to cry out with Joy that mamma Will never Ue alone
again now-the power is lound In the voice OF ma
ture, and the husband and wife rush into each oiners
arms. This illustrates one phase oil the ques-
ton, and to illustrate the duty of fOrbearance
between husband and wife. The other and lighter
phase or matrimonial inelcity Is Illustrated in the
amusing ana uprOarlous squabbles OF Lu Ten Eyck
OF the divorce lawyer Jltt and the detective. This
quarrel has It's several phases, aud Is worked out
from the plot arranged by the divorce lawyer against
DcWnt, the husband, ana the unforeseen results
OF that plot. with its unexpected denouement up
TO the awful moment wnen the comic couple, being
fully reconcied and about to rusn into eaCn others
arms, discover that they have been divorced with
out knowing 1t ana that any further marital endear.
Duncan form Of the most innocent and refresi.
ing parts Of the play ana run like silver thread
OF ills realistic H ana a5sorSn% ns ast
play demands the services OF over twenly.tnree |
artists. The intensity OF Mr. Harkins as Alfred |
Adrlanse, the power Oi Miss Clara Morris as Fanny,
the genial broad humor OF Mr.. Davldge as old De.
Witt, the dashing splendor ana vivaclty of Miss
Fanny davenport as his wife Mrs. DeWitU, |
the fresh Rirlishness OF Miss Linda DetZ
as Grace, the stately and finished society
personatiOn OF Miss Fanny Morans as |
the matchmaking mamma, Mrs. Ten Eyck; the
CHEEKY, happy humOr OF Mrs. Gilbert as Mrs. Kemp;
the dry, plquant humor OF Mr.. Lewis as Jltt. the |
divorce lawyer; the good nature Of Mr.. WhiilIs -
Judge Kemp, and OF iour OF the brilliant new adul-
tlons to Mr.. Daly's company, viz.-The finish AMI
interest OF Miss Mary Cary In Flora Penheid. The
Southern girl the superb eccentric comic
power OF Mr.. Lemoyne as Burutt, the
detective the dashing grace OF Mr.. Lewis James as
Captain Lynde ana the delicate 1nish Of Mr.. Crlsp
as Harry Duncan. IL Is supernu0ls TO say that !
such an array OF dramatic talent has rarely been
seen In theatrical company before In
one performance. The new artists well
as the old favortes were welcomed on their
successive appearances with prolonged and
applause and already secure IN the
affection OF New YOrkers. Tie scenery OF the play.