, 1872-10-27
AMUSEMENT REVIEW.
THE DRAMA,

In the golden ago OF Chicago, when confagra-
tions were matters Of casual interest. and the
real estate within the city was not all held in
pawn for the splendid buildings that conceal it,
four theatres SO far transccnded our needs that
several Of them came within the category Of lux
urics. Now seven dramatic temples, so-styled,
with greater or less claims to Legitimacy, call in
unison upon our citizens to come and be amused.
Tho response to this comprehensive invitation is
thus far not liberal ia it's character, unless upon
special occasions. Before the fire. Our dillefantes
read the distribution Of characters in delicatcly
scented folios, popular es advertising media,
and Interesting as Repositories Of vcn-
erable witticisms, reproduced from the
jest-books Of the last century.
The era Of perfumed programmes have returned.
The perfume has the old pungency, and the wit
the antique SAVIOR. The boy who dispenses the
glasses, ironically called ss achromatic, through
which you see, darkly, the actors upon the stage
like trees walking, deftly thrusts one under your
nose as you enter the beautiful auditorium. The
poet says:
The smell OF vfolets hidden in the green
Poured buck into my empty soul and irane
joyful and free from blame.
It is something like this with the program
mes. Although it is great stretch Of the im-
agination to suppose that any one in Chicago
ever could have been entirely free from
blame" the reminlscences excited are not un-
pleasant. What if the odor is strange combi-
nation OF printers ink, sassafras and aaafetida,
the principal page the name Of the druggist who
impaired it to the unoffending paper, that you
may be warned, and purchase your milleaeurs
osewhera7 You grasp it, sniff at it, and are
spasuodically happy. The city, as it was Of old,
rises up before the imagination in all it's beauty.
You shake hands, SO to speak, with the dead
past aoross the fiery chasm. Scented pro-
grammes came in again with 11r. Hooley and
the 'Three Hunchbacks." Mr.. McVicker fol-
lowed, and we dare Say that at next Saturdays
matinees not an odor1ess programme will be
offered to the patrons of any theatre in
the city. The critic does not object to
scented programmes. They are harmless
1ose-water tribute to dramatic art, and
can doubtless be rendered as fragrant as
the gales that blow oil the spicy shores OF
Araby tho Best. Nor is any great danger to
be apprehended from O superauity Of theatres.
Hedged round this season by the perpatetic
difficulties of the burnt district, some Of them
may show more empty seats than are agreeable
to thrifty managers, but other seasons are COM
ing. Edwards is still with us, whose every
effort in the direction Of population is like new
genesis, and a1arge percentage Of the increase
must be amused. The rural devotee Of the
drama is not the most intelligent auditor, it is
sents as much realty as that OF the bzdse admirer
of tho stage. It is Of little consequence that he
invariably laughs in the wrong place, npplauds
impertinently, and guys the actors from the gal
lery, go long as he conceals the chairs from
the view OF the management .A1r. Boucicau1t
says that formerly life WAS mere quiet than it ia
now, and people went to the theatre to be e1cit-
!: cd, elevated, instructed; people live more
feyered lives now, and thoy go to the theatre
simply for abstraction, and to be amused. He
has constructed his plays on this theory, and has
allowed nothing in them that would excite vio-
lent emotion, or tax the intellect. Our theatres
during the past week have been managed on the
plan of the prolific playwright, At two places Of
burlesquo, while none hsya attempted anything
more AMBITIOUS than saoioty plays or the emo
tional drama, Tho weather has continued fine,
but the attendance, as has been intimated, has
been light, with the exceptions specified below.
MyICKERs THEATRE.
"Saratoga" has been played during tha week
to audiences Of fair size and average inte1G
gence. The acting has shcwn al the excellence
that comes from many repetitions and has not
been permitted to become careless and slove1ly,
st the last: Tomorrow night will witness the
return Of Maggie Mitchell to the boards of Chi.
cago: Although the company Of the theatre is
above the average in ability and versatility, the,
public will agree that the change to ''stars" :" has
not bean made moment too socn. Miss
Mitchell is an actress Of recognized merit, who,
plays to wide constituency Of admirers, and
appeals always to the gentlest and 'noblest feel.
ings OF the human heart. She has never
achieved greatness, but has met with eminent
success in her profession The Play ct the wea5
With the following distribution Of characters.
AIKES's THEATRE.
Mrs. Oates closed her engagement at Mr..
Aikcn's theatre last evening, q large audience
being present: The business of tie week has
pared favorably With that done at tho other tho
atres Of the city Tho bill until Friday night
consisted Of OffenbacA's first opera, ;'The Prima
Donna Of Night" and light farcical operetta
Offenbach's is so entertaining that We almost
wonder at it's having lain So long per-
d. The ,safar hs591no zt is Sro,apn Rrshtxy T. 9Pa nd
c tG ste to rs ste Of and
acting. Her acting retains all Of its hyeliness,
and her singing is much improved. With care
full study, the little lady may yet make her mark
in English operas of the lighter kind. Tho COM
hot even in quality throughout 11r. Crane is
almost always unez;csptionable as IN actor, and
not displeasing IS singer. Mr. Howson acts
well, and alngs fairly; hlr. Drew sings roasona-
bly, wen within the limits Of his yQiee, and the
other people have more or leas vocal and mime
tic talent. AL Of the company: show fani!-
iarity with the yoce! score: md the general busi-
ness, but THAR relations to the orchestra
are occasionally susceptible q Improvement,
Ing Of their popularity, and were never s1 raore re-
worthy ct patronage than /, THIS eenaon. The
theatre this week, and will introduce to- tie p,ib-
lie Mr.. Aiken's new company in the following
cast.
Robert Rzler>y... Mr.. Frank E. Aiken
1stsl Johes. NE NJ. w. Fiske
1A"ksHAW frank I1Wlnr
9sIeS Ua4ton. Henry DrSool
sam Wi11onahhv Nj. I: - q; ;;t3 f1erce
1a1toy hit. G. T. Graves
~. E;; G. CAEs
~. Itoaoa 81. T. Rcano
Nay 1as EdwaraS Es;, Mrs. Anna flanagan
Emily St. Evremond Miss A{oli Msstsrr
New and handaomq scenery Las been painted
for the play: which Will ba continued On The
boards during most Of the week..
ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
There is 8 process Of propagation IN tha