The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-03

The "Red Pocketbook" az the Olympus
Theatre.


The cred Pocketbook" az the Olympic
Theatre.
One OF those adaptations IRON the French drama
which scribbling genius hlches without acknow-
ledgment and mars In the operation was Placed
on the boards OF the olympic last night to receive
the approval or condemnation OF an enlightened
public. The play bill announced the 'Red Pocket
book" as o romantic drama, and az romance
seems In the mind OF certain play constructors TO
mean all that Is extravagant and absurd, the
piece, without doubt, fully justified IT. classin-
cation. 1t belonged, In Its original state.
to that class OF drama which can only be en-
joyed In all It's richness In the classic precincts OF
the Porte St. Martini but the adapter, In putting IL
into American dress, has SO bungled IL that what
ever spirit and point 1t may have possessed has
disappeared 1t has not even the spice OF sin,
which 1t was hoped would float zone Wife" In spite
OF the critics. Everything about the play is hack
neyed, and though some of the situations are EVIL
IDENTITY meant to be thrilling and display
knowledge on the part of the original writer in the
management OF his tableaux, the duness Of the dia
logue and general heaviness OF the surroundings
completely neutralize the effects OF the tableaux.
The plot can boast of no originality or Nnesse.
worthy young mana nobleman In disguise-is ac-
cused Of killing banker and convicted on circum-
stantial evidence. After some time he makes his
escape from the oogne and goes to sea in an open
boat. Rescued nom the waves by French
man-of-war, on which the lady OF his love
happens to be with her father, he is obliged to
make before her the Illuminating confession that he
Is an escaped convict virtuous crew are horri-
vessel taking fire Immediately after they wish to
leave him to his fate. He is, however, saved by tine
Of S the LADY oS who WITH h
to be strikingy impressive, but the iubbery look:
manner to the audience while the good ship rolls
about In the waves, conduct themselves in man.
GUS emotion. The elimination Of absurdity ia
realized when the explosion of the powder maya
zine takes place. One is INCLINED to imagine that
the author wants TO relieve the audience by killing
Off large batch of the twenty-five personalities
who crowd the bill, but his views are by no
sss o S %Sp hs s a inc
formed, when they reappear In the flesh, into the
captains cutter and on to certain raft, which
save the characters. This combination OF redhot
sensation and legerdeman is one OF the most ex-
seen on the stage, and beats the concep-
tons Of Baron Munchausen all to. pieces:
we SOa m to cof 1r
the neatness with which the burning ship is made
regret Is that there is much delay in sending It
to Davy's locker, for the whole scene reveals want
OF the True uramatlc sense, ana Is at once vulgar
and absurd In its sensational effects. The burst Of
derlsve applause that rewarded the shiverlng
Of the poor ships tmbers marked clearly enough
the verdict OF the people. We viii not risk
doing injustice to the much-abused Bowery by In
stituting comparisons between It and its new
rival but feel perfectly certain that the old house
need not fear suffering by contrast. 1t requires
peculiar mental organization to enable q man to
hope for public favor with such pl y as the "Red
P0cketbOok," and 1t certainly assumes OH the part
OF the people poverty Of judgment which is not
very complimentary to the tree and enlightened
citizens. The acting is quite on par
with the dialogue and plot, and is as dull and com.
mOnplace as can well be imagined Mr. Neil
Warner, as Maurice the mucha6used hero, man
ages to be awfully stacy and heavy There is over
him gloom 'as II the worst had fallen that could
befall;" and certainly his effect on the audience
was not cheering. Miss Laura Phillips, as Helene,
the romantic young lady who would love the
convict in defiance of papa and conventional.
tes was pretty and effective, and entered
into the spirit of her role In satisfactory manner.
The most Of the other people staked about the
stage In melancholy or idiotic manner according
to the authors directions; but, as they had very
little to do it would be perhaps unfair to comment
on them on this OCCASION We hope the managers
will display better judgment in the selection Of
their next plece as well aS some consideration for
the poor critics. whom sad fate cOmpcls to listen
patiently to the ranting OF such STUFF as goes to
make up what through courtesy we will call ro-
m