The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-11-10
THE LONDON STAGE.
Mania for Observation-Disclosures In Dramatic
Form-Frcnch limitations mt the Globe
What i. Going nj the Great and Small
Thea News.

Mania for Adnpt ation-PiclyyicL In Brun,n tic
Porm-Freuch limitations Mt The Globe
What i. Going the Great and Small
Observation-Disclosures News.
LONDON, Oct. 2s, 1877.
Something Of the weakness of the di amatic
literature of the age Is PROBABLY to be ascrbed to
the too prevalent practice OF dramatizng every
| book that becomes popular. Everything is fish that
can be swept into the net OF your modern play
| right. No sooner has novel, romance or poem
attracted attention than the restless nerd OF adapt
ers'' pounce upon u and insist upon giving theatrl-
cal form to a work never intended for the stage.
There is hardly a novelist OF the present or pre-
cedng generations whose writings have escaped
this absurd treatment. Again and again the ridicu.
lous experiment is received with no better result MS
general rule, than the production OF "piay which
after an ephemeral and dsreputable career glides
silently into oblivon.n The more important OF Dick
ems novels have been repeatedly dramatized, In
no solitary instance have they yielded standard
drama. Thirty years have well nigh elapsed since
play founded upon 'Plckwlckn was brought
out at the strand Theatre. where Mr..
Hammond, the then lessee, appeared as sam
Weller, and for a time enjoyed much favor
in the character. After the lapse OF three decades
we are now treated TO another dramatic version OF
the same glorious Papers" The playwright is
Mr.. Albery, the author OF 1.-TWO Roses,- "Apple
Blossoms and other dramas bearing horticultural
names. In the present instance he has acquitted
himself OF a dificult task with much success as
was fairly to he expected under the circumstances
His favorite Plckwickian is evidently the garruous
ana Unconscionablc Mr.. Jingle, whom ne has &C.
cordingy made the central and most exalted figure
in the group. Jingle ,s the sun around whom the
other characters move like supservient satellites
No troubles with vicious horse no adventures at
contested election and, what Is more remark bic
still, no Mrs Barde, and consequently no trial or
verdict win damages or life In the Old Fleet Prison
add to the humors OF Mr. Alberys drama.
On the other hand, Jinge's elopement with Emily,
and the pursuit OF the Pickwickians Sam Weller
and the White Hart and the famous scene IN the
doube.bedded ROOM are scrupulously preserved
sam Weller 10 relsgated TO comparative obscurty
and though Old Weller, Job Trotter, Snodgrass
Tupman. Wrinkle, Rachel Emily Arabela and the
other personaxes OF the story put in appearance
every now and then, they look less like beings OF
nesn and blood than pale spcctres, with haegard
forms and faces "whte and mealy," as nat OF Nj So
Baly Of unfortunate memory. With the exception
OF jingle there is hardly one OF them OF whom we
may not say, STAT sso7lGas uDibldi Neither Mr..
Belmorc ~ sam, nor MIR. Addison as PicKwick,
characteristic as is the 'getup in case, makes
nucn OF MS part; bu MI Irving Il quite at home in
Jingle aud makes great hit In the character play.
ing IT, as he does, TO perfection.
rhat thele Is nothing new under the sun tnor I'M
ner the moon, for the matter OF that the very state
ment TO that erect ID In itself notable example
Ming ooomon's sagac1ous saying has been quoted
nstu, az aahseaU.-and nobody presumes 10 call tin
question. Yet novelties are announced every day ia
the YEAR and all the world Is pursuit OF something
new. INC most lmpudent assumption OF noyeliy
thai can call 70 mimi at the present moment was
ma attempted las; nighi at me Globe Theatre
TO ne IN imitation OF la Joie Fait Peurn but ,le
scribed nevertheless as "new,n aud said moreover
10 pc written IN TWO acts, one OF which
Is entirely original was produced win
mauzed from remote antiquity as the scribe
pecus OF Nterature but that man should In The
same breath avow himself an imiiator and CLAIM
the non rs OF new and original author Is equally
which Is entitled "Joy is Dangerous is an awk-
ward aud spirtless translation OF Nine. de G,.
rardin's celebrated little play work OF matchess
grace and beauty, but 50 thoroughly Galic senll
adaptation 10 the English stage II is one OF those
dramas which, racy OF the soil from which they
originally spring, refuse 10 bloom elsewhere. They
perish IN Inc process or transportation. Even
Though u were otherwise, and that they could be
"adapted'' without injury TO their NATIVE worth,
both literary ana dramatic, they would st
.ail in representation demanding, as thew
10 description or acting mot TO be had for love or
money Ia British tneare,n as one OF the morning
critics remarks. Many attempts have been made
before now 10 ''don Madame de Girardlns play INTO
English nut The failures nave been numerous as
lue attempts me best version was PERHAPS that
~ MI. oxenloru, entitled ''Sunshne through the
Cloud?' but even Mr.. Oxenford clever and versa.
Tie as he is, did not succeed In jmpart,ng TO his
Engilsn version anything OF the innate charms OF
t,,e orl9nal work How, then, should Mr., Mortimer
nave petteT iuckr But let US do homage 10 his ia,
comparable "cheek.n There Ia somethina down,
right sublime IN the audaciiy OF Changing the aaie
OF action In play, and substituting O SOLDIER for a
salor ts one OF tie dramatic Qes and then
In virtue OF these marvellous ATTRACTIONS clsnln1
" nave wslsep may" G0aVodles;a, ,'plth apa al