The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-05
ANU s EN- EN- rs.
"Diamonds' at tho Fifth Avenue Thea


The opening night of the Fall season at Mr.. Days
little theatre was marked by unusual briliiancy
Nothing had been omitted In the decoration which
would lend an air Of splendor to an interior Of al
most barbaric richness OF color. Art was laid under
contribution with such effect gave evidence OF tho
presence of taste which had not been cultivated
IN the green room or corrupted by the scene
painters trick. The same hand which has turned
the corridors 0fthe Grand Opera House into picture
gallery of no mean pretensions has also left Its
mark in the decoration OF the little boudoir In
Twenty fourth street In the effort to mpart an
extreme richness to the scenes the decorative
artists have sometimes gone beyond the limit
Of correct taste, and mistaken gaudiness
are, however, of a comparatively trivial nature,
and are not so striking because of the dazzling pic
presents. From purely artistic point OF view the
theatre will repay a visit and 1t will require an
erary BART pa t Of the Which apsars to
be intended only as an incident Of the bril-
liant spectacle, The management Of this
rich surroundings Ia the presentation of what
are somewhat loosely termed modern comedies
sion that the toilets of their walking ladies' are Of
more Importance than the clothing Of the plot In
elegant and appropriate language THIS is nnfor'
cay of dramatic taste among modern playgOers
Long ago, when plays were written for select and
skill Of the npodste or trick OF the stage carpenter
to obtain public favor. Now, unfortunately, the
t the eye ratSer than 'S' charm the inteilee
OF the spectators As there are no longer audi
80 1 nss s SE ss
basers OF their thoughts. 1t is not, perhaps, just
to blame the class Of writers to which Mr.. BRONSON
caters to taste he did not create and supplies an
article OF consumption to please the palate
Sdnm pSnT WI" WHICH are s 1ssy Ike * pay 0ase
age Of bread and butter, in which men can
not afford to make heroic sacrifices In the
would be out of place, and instead OF having air
Of sublimity, would appear, to practical public
the Bronsons write bad plays and eat their crusts
buttered on both sides-thanks to the excellent
Of sn apoSay Sr pn s writer's H
Rssf eAy ne woR Hs sEam Ms
kind on the favor OF the critical few We feel COM
pcled to make the distinction, because oil expert
on what may please the mob, and 1t is to the WELL
dressed mob that the society play, as understood In
@r OF ~ aS s ndred
pieces before us, we have no reason to
doubt suo taat n5er play eodS
looking women richly dressed, who talk senti-
mental twaddle dashed with slang, would succeed,
the present case, the managers may reasonably
look forward to generous support from the class
for a they cater TO those hos TS ask for
enough to demand a plot and motive for the
actions OF the characters who are introduced,
."'DiamOnds'' will hardly justify the promise OF
sparkling, and the Incidents are without any very
absorbing interest, although in one case we have
pretty startling picture OF the way In which Amer
can chivalry avenges real or fancied wrong on an
Tnatmed Victim This however, Is so bunglingly
done that the intention Is visible from the opening
OF the scene, and, instead Of the horror which the
cowardly attempt at murder ought to produce, we
experience something akin to gratitude to the
murderer for relieving the dulness Of the 1t
to sketch the sadowy plot at any length The chief
interest rests on the diSjOinted incidents which
purpOrt to be pictures of the life Of the creme de la
creme OF American society. We should hope that
gerations of that Ute tntinle they purpose to de-
lineate. If fools plenty in the fashionable world
we should hope that some rays OF dignity
and intelligence struggle through the atmosphere Of
the men have wit and all the young ladies fresh
from school are not vulgar and silly. The play Is
wanting in logical connection. The scenes and Incl
dents, being loosely strung together nowhere pos
rary production it Is an utter failure, and the only
thing that can be said in It's favor Is that immoral
6Qa,troQue has not been INDUCED In and vulgarsms
are by no means so common as In other So
ciety plays produced at the same house.
Its claims to be considered an American comedy
are open to question, as 1t Is rather series OF
tableauX In which the assistants indulge in HARM
less explanatory twaddle. Its chance of pOpu-
larity, however, depends upon the public interest
in millinery rather than literary excellence, and
though "Damondsn to the eyes OF the cOnnOisseur
is but collection of 'paste, Its false glitter win
possibly please the untutOred eye as well as the
sparkle OF the purest brilliant.
The vokes' FAREWELL.
The Academy of Music was crowded by numer-
Gus and brilliant audience on Monday night, on the