New-York tribune., 1872-08-27
THE DRAMA.
GRAND OPERA HOUSE
OPENING NIGHT-AMERICAN ADVENT OF LIE ROE
CAROTTE.

neither heat or threatening OF storm prevailed with tho
public to keep away from the Grand Opera House ana
the newborn pageant there revealed The vast audo
rumtoo vast for anything but spectacle or operswas
full in every part Ardent curiosity had evidently been
inspired by the copious announcements Of lie koi
| Carotte" and curiosity 10 an eager spirit 40"
| trelees in its quest. The throng included many
prominent citizens and Journalists, and an unexpecteoy
large number of ladies, and IL was reputable ana ofi
liant assemblage. Its surroundings lent it adduonai
uster These we're found to fully magnificent In faee
IA in the managers glowing words OF preliminary promise
From turret TO foundation stone" the Grand Opera
House has been renovated and beauthed NO botcn or
dincnes no trace Of disorder shabbress OF appoint
ment It's splendor detracts from It's peryaong
air OF luxury Tie splendor Is somewhat garish per-
haps with excess Of gliding and bright coors
and torrents Of light; but this Is nanvo
| American merit, and the public no'
likely to view with displeasure. On the contrary ex
pre ssons Of delight were general in the crowd last
evening" and, equally for the gorgeous adornments OF
the theater and tho display upon It's STAGE tho
popular verdict Of sincere, II rather mild ap
proval. Spectacledrama has never yet found In this
country t and fine as the Grand Opera House
spectacle-drama has never before presented ien
upon our stage in costly array thsn Is worn by
" LIE Rol Carotte" Whether spectacle-drams itself
subordinate incident In stage literature Is desirable. ON
largo may be questioned We greatly distusti It's
influence public taste for dramatic art Butwhetber
adverse OF propous the interest OF the theater
bids farf may trust the welcome 1t received lass
night-to be accepted by the people with enthusiasm.
To the art-cric the show not largely siRnitcant
Such exhibitions always or less OF shopkeep
ing Their object is to make money by pleasing super
hcal popular TASTE They do not address thought they
do not appeal to deep feeling; they lay no claim
70 eVrnestness; they possess no substantial Vaiue.
Their purpose is to glitter and scintlate ana
! make pleasing sounds, dazzling the eyes,
charming the stimulating the fancy scattering mer'
riment and sleeping the senses In soft Iuxurous a~
mOsphere Of enjoyment. The spectator carries notnhR
away from them either Of culture or mental experience.
To discuss them seriously seems, therefore waste oil
time They would. Of course become import'nt should
their prevalence grow excessive and teni 10 thrust
forth substantial drama from the stage But they arc
not important yetbeng, thus far, IN no hgaer estae
than that Of the subterfuge and makeshifts whereby
theatrical spectators advance in the peaceful not pub
cy edfying pursuit OF ucre. We have had the "BIack
Crook" the "White Fawn," the Devils Auction"
'The Twelve Temptations" "Lalla Rookh," and divers
other pieces OF This sOrt and We have seen them
their course and win their dollars The public wishes 10
be amused, and like the infant OF the poem, 1t IL
pleased with rattle ticled with a straw" So be it.
There is good reason why the and tired journal
isf however should trouble himself to descant atengh
or with specific pains, these exceedingly trivial
sources Of an eyanescent popular joy ale Roi Carot
may be butterfly Of finer plumage than blazed on his
winged brethren that have uttered hiherwaId before
him. but he is butterfly, all the same-and we do not
incline to give him tending" in any other character
Last nights performance lasted about five hours.
scant time remains for thinking about it. Journalistic
duty for the present, will be sufficiently fulfilled in
brief enumeration Of incidents and running common
tary thereon. IL is almost exclusively matter OF
that the subject commends itself to attention.
There few points OF art involved and critical remark
may properly be reserved If not withheld altogether.
The production of show piece is scarcely u-
portant than the opening OF grocery store-and
Roi CarOtte is nothing than a show piece.
Some account OF its plot has already been laid before
readers and they have also been furnished with the cast
its parts done at the Grand Opera House. aud with
mention OF divers Of its accessories and features IL
| relates to the deposition of q true monarch,
the sudden exaltatiOn of parvenu king, and the sub
sequent restoration OF the rghtu ruler In the original
and in France it doubtless possessed political signif
In the Amercanized version it possesses almost
meaning ALL Certain political illusions were. indeed
introduced, remotely bearing the approaching Pres
Dental elecon and these provoked OF applause
and hsse but this nothing To the local observer
lie Roi Carotte" is the exposition Of a sort Of fairy
| story; and last night the exposition was pro-
| tracted, tedious, and rather wearisome spits
of many beauties of pageantry Several extraordns-
riy delicate pieces OF scenery exhibited and
era unusually clever performers exerted their talents
with excellent effect, in both acting and singing Bus
the movement seemed to halt aud the requisite ginger
TO be wanting. Enthusiastic paudIts greeted Mr..
| Brougham, Mrs John Wood and the Majiltons. and
cordial reception accorded 10 Miss Rose Hersee
who sings like nightingale and irresisbly makes
think OF strawberries and oream-and TO Miss Emma
Howson and the Lauri Brothers The chief musical hits
were Birds and Flowers" by Miss Hersee, the duet
OF The Golden Thread" by Miss Hersee and Mrs.
John Wood, and the quartet in the RUNS OF Pom
peii. We single out the interude in the sec
ond act as the most admirable OF ALL Beauty
and harmony OF color and OF adunotsnfused with tho
real life OF an old civization-coud do more than
was done In this lovely picture. pretty feature OF
realism IN the antique was thoroughly well embodied
by Miss Ella Detz. who appeared as a gay wantOn OF
Pompeii driving in two gray horses attached to an
ancient chariot. The cOarseness of Mr. J. A. Meade's
soldier HdpaT marred this scene but in many respects
this The Majlton dance elected the loudest
and longest plaudlts that were heard fine dramatic
effect, II hackneyed, created by the singing
of the armored statutes. and there was
truly charming medley OF bright, coauet-
tish colors shown in the Dolly Warden dances
Mrs. John Wood moved through the mazes In
continually changing and In unfagging vivac-
ity and did great deal for the piece 1t took humor
also the preernatural gravity and the funny ittle
squeak OF Mr. Stuart Robson. 1t will take its best ben
ent however, from the judcious but liberal
Of scissors aud the compression OF scenery. II IL
altogether too long. On the other hand II is not broad
had great spectacle here for years that
delicate, and at the time fancui in sub
stance Perhaps IL is quite well that public Is
likely to appreciate what is possibly its real meaning
1t satirizes the parvenu, but 1t also seems 10
amount TO satire upon popular gOvornmeng
that is II serious significance be attached 10 1t.
which do not think probable. The assembage. last
night, viewed it a showpiece, and, such. did not
see anything striking than 1t has seen before
Aside from the elements OF decacy in the scenic treat
ment, and cosnessend taste in the dresses. H was not