The New York herald., 1871-01-09
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
Weekly Review.

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Weekly Review.
The temporary eclipse Of Paris assigns to New
York the palm In the realm OF art and fashion.
Paris and Constantnople are both fading. Where
Is the city In the world which can compare with
New York now in brilliant display, IN grandeur, In
wealth, In luxury, having the life Of tle Champs
Elysees and the Bois de B0ulognes The Central Park
had TO contend with rivals formidable by their su-
perl0r charms and Establishments, but they are dead
and gone. Hyde Park and the Prater are dull and
commonplace as compared to Central Park
under the control Of Sweeny. But how do
our artistic engagements assert the dignity
and pred0minance Of New York; Here we pause
and sigh. Not even Nilsson, attractive, so beau
tful, 80 fair as yet lls up the gap For this lovely
girl to sing in opera in London and Paris, and
merely to give concerts In New York, Is put
ting slight upon our dignity. The world calls
for Nilsson-Nisson the sweet, the poeucal, the
graceful, the interesting. But the accessories OF
opera are positively essential for lovely ana Iowa
BILE q creature as this. As Ophela, Tor instance,
Nilsson would produce On electrifying effect We
open our arms. Come to us, Nilsson, thou child Of
song.
Neither have the theatres vet come up to the position
they are desned to hold in future as the
OF the French drama and vaudeville. The only play
presented at this moment racy OF the American soil
and written by an American author Is "Saratoga, -
anu this is really the best now produced-brlght and
amusing from the commencement to the close ana
illustrating In very charming manner one OF the
most entertaining phases Of American life. Occa-
sionally things are slightly overdone, as, tor in.
stance, where the ladies at the close OF one OF
the acts wait kisses TO the gentlemen IN front
The ways OF the women In the play are coquettish
but their honor is immaculate, and the play as
acted might be more beautifully represented as
written by suppressng that vocferous expression of
Kissing which Is reflection of the dramatic types
The widow of the period might too soften her voice
which Is too shril and the neartless mother ex.
hbits an Indifference to her children which not at
all emblematc OF American life, even the fastest
are remarkable for the love Of their children The
nIggers, too. perhaps make themselves q trine too
conspicuous, and the swell Of the Springs exag-
gerates his part, and looks more as If he were
partner of Fagin than habitue OF fashionable
character in play. Miss Davenport is belle IN her
own right, by the GIFT OF Nature and looks and acts
bride OF the period all irreproachable in their
tenue. and perfectly faithful to their characters.
Mr.. Davldge and Mr.. whting-the one the parent
Of tue period, the other relic OF the old school,
look really more like gentlemen OF our highest
financial society than professional actors, and, to
make the illusion complete, bear both q Striking
resemblance 10 well known and eminent members
of upper-tendom. The English tourist is admirably
Sir Mortimer MuttonlegP The names generally are are
Objectionable and more becoming pantomlme than
field in the sphere OF fancy names without SO of.n
sivey trespassng on those OF Livingstone, Wander.
At Booths Mr. Jefferson at last brings to a cloae
his long engagement The American public are
easier to please than any other people
oneeignth Of the total population ef the
United States nave now been patiently sitting still
Van Wnke mas been dons cut % nsm mne e os mp
nf MIX s0a water
had proved contagious and communicated
such adopts in the art Of somnolence that night
after night they 60 into ecstasies of sleepy
Of patriotism by sleeping all through the war OF In
dependence. and ~ Its close awaKlng like an IDIOT
to express surprise that history did not follow his
example and 60 to sleep too. Yawning is not gem
orally regarded as a symptom of brightness but In
Rip Van Wrinkle yawnlng is invested with pic
turesque proportions. and for the first time in the
history OF the stage Morpheus takes the place OF
xno and ays y to ssep old Dutch
up arms TO fight becomes the nationalldo OF the
drama Yet the popularity OF this drowsy Old play
conveys the suggestive lesson that the American
people love 10 see their national legends and ira
ditons presented on the stage. But is American
we must forever feed upon this legend Of the Cats
kills. Tonight Mr.. Booth appears upon the scene.
s..
compished manager shows out Of what slight
material a great success may be carved. The play
was dead failure at Boston. and has net yet we
believe, IN London been brought out. II the object
OF the drama oe-not to hold French mirror up to
nature and to depict the various ldlosyncrases
from the French, but TO- to produce e''''
simple panorama OF passing events then mas Mr.
''War' bears about the relation TO the DRAMA
properly SO called, as Mr.. Frths painting OF the
"Derby Day. does TO picture They both represent
m in q alvr
oramc form. The important element OF one central
group or absorbing interest is in either case con-
spicuOus BY It's absence. In the first act OF "War''
young French otllcer-why Mr.. Clarke should make
him a seedy, greasy, unwashed individual, like a
from his betrothed, young German girl, resident
in England. by a telegram commanding him to
JON mn his regiment 1t perhaps
second act introduces the battle field OF WoerJn,
where Oscar, the lover, OF course wounded and
dying. Is discovered by his inamorata, and lmme-
diatey gets much better, and insists ON being
married at once at "the little church round the
corner, where they do those things" and, after
wedding IN arttc1tio n,Ortts which would delight
the soul of the Rev.. MIR: Frothngham or Henry
comes to life again ana the dilcntv Of - brear,ng
the glad news to the young lady, who is lef. In
doeiul but somewhat ridiculous position Of
interest Of the piece. The piece is beauIi-
fully mounted-theo scene OF the betrothal, at
effect, being each perfection in Its peculiar
style. Everything that could be done
LOT tne piece mas Deeu uoHe at WaUacK'S: at no
other theatre could 1t outlive night Miss Hen
rques struggles heToically against the combined dis
advantages of a heavy part and widows costume
and makes the most OF the only great opportun.
ity afforded her. When did she not, fair Madeline
SO full OF bright JOY IN her antelope springs OF
mirth so full OF tender thOughtfulness when she
rests from them. John Brougham also achieved a
triumph by his artistic rendering of eccentric
sea captain.
'The Black Crook' still gathers In vast crowds at
NiDlo's brilliant theatre most suggestive CEN
sus and psychological point OF vew-and who bear
a striking resemblance to the mutltudes who in
former times thronged the theatres 10 rush into
ecstacy over Forrest Metamora or Jack Cade
Inc same thing seen In Paris i'll the years pre-