The New York herald., 1871-10-24
LORD DUNDREARY AT NIBL0's.

Mr.. SOthern's appearance at NiblO's last evening
| was one OF the most complete anu enthusiastic
dramatic triumphs OF the season. The house was
crammed as 1t used to be in the palmy days Of yore
when the leg drama was an exciting novelty. But
with what q different audience Instead Of
moral countrymen, bent on city jam
poree, ana smart young dry goods clerks
who thought the demon dance the fastest
and most disreputable thing they could nnd In the
road to ruin, the seats were nled with the elae Of
the play-going public. II was strange, too to ind
30 experienced An audience break so constantly
| and unc0nuollably into genuine and hearty
applause. II is not too much say that there have
been but few precedents for such thorough ana
hearty success in the annals OF the New York stage
Az to the play itself, SOUR American Cousin" is
| too wen known TO be analyZed at length. Veteran
| lovers OF the stage regard 1t with the contempt
which all pieces Of its clas8-pieces written for
Single stAr ana depenoing wnony upon single
part-naturaly and unavoidably awaken In every
intelligent mind. The popularity about 1t, how
ever is that "the part" was originally intended TO
be Asa Trenchard. Joe Jefferson made that role
its leading feature, and 1t has only been by
free changes in the text that Lord Dundreary has
been made TO assume the point OF central interest.
There are still few scenes-the interview between
Florence and the drunken ex tutor and the burn
ing Of the w IN ne s' c t%o U
Withdraw attention from the bewhskered
creature Of confused n i,ss intellect y VINO s the
lutey free from the responsibility OF the ten years.
success OF the piece. The gag" sentiment by
which they are inspired are coeval with the rise CT
the modern drama; they are stale and trite to the
point OF y nauseous wearisoneness. The critic,
therefore, may profa6ly devote all his energies TO
the consideration OF Lord Dundreary; and how
difficult it IL to frankly tell exactly what we think
of that wonderful character. No man can see Mr..
sothern play 1t without falling into commissions Of
laughter. Even Sydney Smiths Scotchman, into
n
with abnormal merriment over such scenes as that
in the bedroom In the lrst act or again at That ex
quisitely amusing tete-G-tete between Lord Dun
dreary and his future bride IN the farmyard.
The lun OF the piece ls irresistible. Nor can any
and ease and polished care OF Mr.. S0thern's acting.
Ilnatured people may say perhaps with truth, that
to play even part with such exquistely perfect
skill. Sometimes, indeed, there Is FAINT sense OF
study ana Effort but the Ieerg Is heeins nn as
features under absolute control there Is not an
infection, not a movement OF muscle or eyebrow
and more especially OF eycglass-but adds another
touch TO the portrait ana strengthens Its effect
Every little detail of dress-eysn the glar.
with conscientious care. But wnen the curtain has
State 81 ena g %ca
we have bcen carried away Is tempered by several
rather serious back at the
ought assasea ssssSaaa Of oSs Ss ss ns' Fos
nas sne s Snn ae Of
dreary Is that ne Is the victim OF the malice OF
nature-that ne Is a stammering lunatlc OF o harm.
less, but melancholy type. 1t would be neither
Kind nor well bred to break out into exuberant
laughter at friend or acquaintance who suffered:
And o man would hardly gain the reputation OF
being kind-hearted gentleman by openly exploding
into convuslve merrimen at the pitabe spectacle OF
Snee Il e Z sxnse
or stage idot2 The better sense OF every humane
mind rev0lts at the presentation behind the foot
lights OF human inflrmfty for the mere purpose OF
exciting laughter. Without making any pretence
q we protest against SUCH an outrage upon
that practice OF the ancient spartans, who intoxi.
Gated their neiots and then amused themselves by
brought about. And this Is, we are sure, by no
means too severe sentence There are no redeem
ing features thrown into this portrait Of an lmpece
sessing any tInge Of nobleness or eleva-
passages in which these soitcning touches a conii
be easily introduced. He Is selfish. heartess,
print the phrase with which Mr. Sothern SO ire.
denty thinks Ine correct thing in drawing "r room
| full OF iades-only that and nothing more.
have done. Would 1t not have been In good taste
to have furbished up into probability that impossi-
and an outrage to American eyes and e earn an
though he Is no doubt good enough YANKEE for
the English stage = Gould % sr mot ne BE- .oorn aga!nn
! something like what We hear In Yer.
| mont and not be Q hOdgep0dge OF the worst
morses OF vulgar slang used by every section OF our
! peOple. Mr.. Raymond, however, makes she part 20
as well az iB possible under existing circumstances,
Ihourh he IA q good deal too demonstrative for 4
| true Yankee. Miss Nellie Kemp b Q pretty good
| Florence Trenchard, and Miss Jennie Lee a. Mary
Meredith Is charming. The other parts are fairly
presented.
largeness Of the stage and It's consequent unniness
for drawing room comedy has been ingenlously over
| come we would recommend Mr. Sothern and most
| OF his company, however, TO raise tneir voices TO
| aome what hivher pitch. Last night they were In
| audible TO a large proportion OF the back rows
| Amer the curtain had fallen Mr. S0thern was
| called out and made neat little speech. lie SAID