New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-19
THE DRAMA.
GRAND OPERA uoUsE--LALLA ROOKH.

sbe spectace play Of "Laa Rookh" was presented Tor
she FIRST time The attendance numerous; this large
sheaterone OF the largest in the worldbeing filled In
every part It had bruited abroad for some tme
that dazzling pageant would be presented, TO which
The Black Crook clement OF sensual beauty would not
b. wanting and large assemblage OF spectators was
certain follow upon the heels of this alurement Most
s,ersons completely devoid OF imaginative re-
sources and find life bald and tedious, that
one OF these to several senses
at once and above ALL promoting feeling Of animal
enjoyment mixed with mental and moral recklessness-
is really and quito naturally. an Intoxicating dehght
The cause OF the OF such pieces Is Indicated III
this statement which, considering how often ana now
duy spectacle plays have been discussed. there seems
no occasion to elaborate The performance OF "Lala
Rookh" lasted till late hour OF the night. and was
viewed with close attention The word Of promise with
respect the scenic splendOr OF the production was
foynd TO be fully kept In the form Of burlesque the
story of La Rookh" has been treated before on the
local stage believe 1t is treated for the hrst
time here in the form Of spectacle. No story IN poeca
literature better In the delicate prose and the
fluent tender neodous polished and passionate verse
OF Thomas Moore IT has been familiar to the word lOr
moro than fifty years and, ms representative Orleha
romance written in the English language. 1t sui re-
tans probably will always retain, the foremost rank
IN literature There is material in this romance ana ts
several episodes for a spectacle play that would asst
week instead OF evening. In the stage performance
Selection and illadvised expansion preVaheo III 'ne
piece that was last night presented TINS Is 'he
work Of Mr. Joseph c. Foster ana Is III loui
parts II is not "a marvel of constructive ingenuity
nor of prose composition; and as representative OF
Moores poen il is caricaturc. Its current ana pah
are sufficiently indicated when We "a! tha'' inter mum
preHmuary nonsense, IL traces Lana hoohhs Jo"hc!
from, Delhi 10 Cashmere. showing what pleasures were
,iovcd and what nerils were met and surmounted on
tbs delicious pilgrimage of love. In the original as IL
cannot to remind any reader there were 10
ucrs Their introducOn and the peculiar use made OF
the Fire WOrshpers, denote the sort OF "ttractlonS
deemed necessary by the dramatist In the Illustration
of the lovers journey stress has OF course pc"
laid or scenery This the theme allows, IN the mosV
prodgsI abundance and lavish luxury Inc opeI"
House playbill-a wOndrOus document couohed III
most noble and impressive strinmentions that over
eighty thousand dollars have been expended LOT 'ne
scenes and dresses and the general MANUFACTURE anu
embcllishm OF this radiant play IL If Soou u'''
nj nancy and we cannot help rejecting that 1t
might nave been spent to much better purpose IMAM ID
having for gewgaws but is not to be denied tat these
.ue scenes and dresses made brave show under the
M ze OF the cOored cacums and the Chlnese lanterns
those refulgent sources which the paybl1 APPLY de-
scribe, the prettly-blended and menowed prslnauc
lights of aristically guided fires" Yesterdays chill
sunshine cleaning Patricks felt helmet and ripping
pennon made gay picture, and attuned the public
mind TO pageantry The extensive Hibernian parade,
indeed significant in several more important ways,
may said 20 have led nicely to the barbara
spcndOr of the opuent opcraouse spectacle Moreover
sac Iatcr fit climax fora festival This is the play
Din agal: Opportunities for giving the most charming
and delightful nusic frequently in the piece and
have been improved with such cODsummate skill and
Judgment that while the eyes ere fairly dazzled
with all the varied beauties OF farylau0,
the enchanting strains OF rayshing Eastern are
fall with soft cadence upon the ear, and crown the mo-
with almost supernatural delight II will be seen
that writing about very bright matter ana one
10 which sober language does but scant justice The
most gorgeous OF the the Temple OF the SUM-
The Lake of Pearls and the Panor and closing glory
by MarstOn; the Emperor Arunzebas Palace by Dayton
and the Illuminated CedarGrOve, by Schel There
were eighteen in alhe whole painted by these
three artists To describe them in detail would he 10
occupy and to waste columns lof space Lula Rookh
was presented by Miss Edith Chalhs Lderfes, who
Thought that "te charlest maid is prOdga enough, If
she unmask her beauty to the mooD" wouldn't nave
liked the performances but the taste OF this day Is not so
fastidous that young eentlemen's, and Miss Chas
WAS seen with rapture by the masculine pOpuace Ar
ascuised as the Minstrel Feramorz was well embodied
by MI George Becks. ZarGnighdn, Tartar Chief ot
diabolcn passions and Ienergy, was deineated with
tremendous fervor by Mr.. J. b. studey fadtadeen the
pompous chamberlain, was done in nood oi iussN
dignity alike correct and conical, by Mr. Thomas +.
Morris A graceful incidental performance that OF
Eiqion by Miss Susan Gallon, whose cOquetsh humOr
and neat vocasn were Shown to good purpose Twenty
two parts besides these were
name among these performers is that Of Mr. Moses
piske the low comedian emerged Clip clap the
Crier OF Delhi There ballet-the chief dancers
beng Mile de Rosa, Mile Luisi Mazzer, Mile. AlDertna
pnd Mile Luzuard-and it appeared often and stayed
long There professions, also, affOrdng opportn
Hes value for exhaustive study of the female
form divine. Information this important subject has,
Of years. been freely vouchsafed by the spectacle
snd buresque stage, that really there was nothing
left 10 learn but Of course II will be public comfort
TO know that the old lessons can be re-studed They
certainly offered under fine conditions. THIS spec
tacle OF I" Laa RoOkh" is fully magnificent as any
thing of the kind that has been seen in NewYork and
lis subject better than any yet treated here IN work
Of this class. One especially good result may chance to
be promoted by its advent-and that Is the study OF
Moore. whose character whether considered IA poet
scholar. gentleman, comprised some OF the nobest
and sweetest clements Of humanity, and cannot be in
diligently and judcously contemplated without pleas
nre aud moral benefit We trust, however. that
unsoqusnted with the poem of Italia Rookh" will
fancy that 1t bears the least resemblance to Mr. j. c.
Fosters remarkable medley, gives warrant for the
Undesirable that lie has foSted upon that
delicate and beautiful work.
BOOTHS THEATER-THE IRON CHEST.
Edwin Booth was seen at this theater last
night as Sir Edtcard Mortimer, in "The Iron Chest"
The announcement that the favorte tragedian would
appear IN somewhat novel part (he had not acted Sir
Edvqrd Mortimer In this city for nine years. suiced to
together large assembage The lower part OF the
theater completely full, and the galleries were wei
populated "The Iron Chest" II is needless to say, was
set upon the stage with appropriate and handsome
sccnery-a little too massive, perhaps with view TO
such realism the piece warrants, but not amss TO the
suggestions OF the ideal The cast included Mr. A W.
Fcnno "a Fisharding, Mr. j. W. Norton as Wtord, Mr.
j. G. Anderson as Adam WintertOn, Mr. JOhn WILSON as
GiiJerf Raw6old Mr. Robert Pateman rs Sd",pSo"
E1wJ0id Miss Bella Patcman Helen, Miss Mary Young
a. Blanche and Miss Ellen Livingstone as BdrdUu
Several ~ tbese plavers finding themselves in the