The New York herald., 1871-09-15

TON Jitt have better defined roles to Ill, and
act in veIy satisfactory manner. Mr.. Henry
vulgar, and we nope, quite libel on the manners
OF American clergymen. Among the ladies Miss
iairly acted representations OF distinct types Of
womanhood, and Miss Clara Morris was natural
and effective, especially In the last ac.s. But
OF finish and refinement We cannot believe that
any educated American lady would talk or act like
public, and II the tone OF conversation In good
society be not more pure and elevated than the
cant about French RIGHTEOUSNESS Is dropped the
better.
BoorH's THEArRE.-The "Pet OF the Petticoats',
is the title OF new comedy produced at this house
early this week. 1t deals with the comic side OF
boarding school llfe and presents no doubt, truth
fully enough some OF the Inconvenience suffered
by the fair inmates but beyond this there Is moth
ing in the play. Plot there is none, and whatever
interest the piece possesses depends on few ludi-
crous situations. There ia more humor than wit In
the dialogue, and the humor is decidedly broad.
We are sometimes puzzled to decide where
the action is passing. From the dialogue one would
imagine the scenes laid in England, but the names
OF personages seem to point to France number
OF oiicers are Introduced dressed in nondescript
uniforms, which belong to no army that we know
ol-certainly not to the French or Engsh-and we
comic parts or the play are allowed TO descend to
the level OF carlcature, and In many instances
than the comedy. 1t seems to I be '0,ap the beset
ting sin OF our American authors that
G nqs e wi, S tho to the
the broad humor OF the farce, but often descend
almost unconsciousiy to the cOarseness OF panto-
mime. This occurs especially at the close OF the
first and second acts. In school scene the girl
lsh fun OF the young ladies partakes TOO strongly OF
rompish cnaracter and is overdrawn and unnatu-
raj The acting OF Lotta In the character of Paul is
lively, but wanting In refinement. There Is TOO
SS he pe ar Sans a9 w @
and naughty don't act Ike street arabs, usual
thing and It passes the lmit of belief that few
hours passed In stage coach with an actress would
transform forward scnoolboy into q Oa9ntn,
Durngi the play Lotta sings The beautiful dream
coats has one good quality, which at this moment
Is rare: there Is an absence OF any positive lmmo-
point of view would DO no harm. The end OF the
second act is somewhat too broad, and the scene
between Paul and the actress would require tonlng
mended for Its morality. "Family Jars,' an excel
lent c0medietla concludes the entertainment. 1t Isl
really entertaining, bat the characters are poor1
sustained ana LOtta as Biddy Lanlgan reaches tne
most to condemn the coarseness Of the actress, or
the bad taste OF the audience who applaud her.
The GRAND OPERA HousE.-The experiment of
producing classical play at this theatre on the oc.
casion OF Mr.. Bandmann's benefit proved com.
plete failure. We hope that the absence Of the
public was more owing to feeling that the com.
difference to high class drama Be this as 1t may,
-"Shylock'' was performed to q remarkably thin
audience, and the shade Of Shakespeare must have
bitterly lamented the degeneracy Of the days. We
cannot imagine what could have induced the man.
agement to venture on the production of this play
with their present company, Owing to the
construction Of the plot good deal OF
prominence given to several characters and upon
the manner OF their rendering depends, in great
part the success or the play. Last night the acting
OF the subordinate characters sometimes descended
10 the level OF poor amateur performance. Mr.
Bandmann was not happy IN mis- rendering Of Shy.
lock. His acting throughout was careful and eabO.
rate but the conception scarcely ever rose above
much venemence and not enough Of craft. There
was wanting an indication OF that nexipility or
character which would naturally be 1ound In man
OF ShylOcks disposition. The sudden changes from
the thin, cracked voice OF age to the deep
tones OF more robust manhood were unwarranted.
In the lighter parts OF the character Mr.. Band.
mann was unsatisfactory, but his rendering OF the
Outside the portrayal Of deep emotional feeling this
actor exhibits grave shortcomings, and we cannot
regard his acting in Shyockn at all equal 10 his
rendering OF Narcisse, or Jasper. Mr.. Thomas
who made his first appearance at this
theatre as BassaniO, displayed little force but his
conception OF the part OF the Venetian noble was
wanting In dignity, especially in the first act. The
beyond the pale Of criticism. The dialogue OF the
Old ShaSspearian play was quite relief 70 the un-
fortunate critics Who are condemned by a cruel
fate to listen nightly the silly twadlle which the
in the modern play made to utter by
"distingulshed' authors.