The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-26
LONDON THLATRICALs.
Clcse Of the Season the British Metropolis I'm.
provement IL Public Sensational
Drama md Physical Realism Played
0u'~0ood Pieces Infamously
Played but Well Patron
ixed-General Gossip.


they have been too long accustomed and a proper
tionate relish FOR regimen OF sounder description.
It also affords evidence the part OF the managers
OF reasonable readiness to fall in with the views
Of their patrons and to provide entertainment suit
able to the taste Of the town. This is it should
be. The pg-headedness OF some managers in viii
fully shutting their eyes to the signs OF the times
and persisting In serving up dishes for which there
Is no longer demand has led to deep dissatsfac-
ton on both sides Of the curtain. Once on time
there was donkey who wouldn't go, as many such
lonkeys there have been both before and since.
His master complained that though he had
fed him upon all varieties OF garbage
still he wouldn't 60. "Have you ever
tried the effect of oats ~ asked venerable by
stander "Oats | should think not. Cock him up
with OATS indeed What an idear was the reply.
In this same silly fashion have some OF the London
managers frequently spoken and acted; insisting
upon feeding that much-enduring donkey the
British playgoer, upon thistes and Lockwood
rather than upon corn But wiser counscls must for
the future prevail IL is most comfortable and con-
Eolatory to observe that there no longer any APP
petite for trashy extravaganzas and sensational
mclOdramas.
"LEGGY' BURLEsoUE
Ia It's last legs, and physical REALISM" like
dancing has had its day. The ntdtseries OF that
wretched description OF dramatic performance
which travested and distorted all that was grace.
rul and classical in poetry, all that was grand in
history and all that was beautiful in romance and
which turned everything into rdcule without
even the poor compensation OF turning anything
Into fun have at last become utterly intolcrabe,
and the public now turn with loathing from an
entertainment" as dlshonoring to their own intel.
igence as it was derogatory to the dignity OF the
stage. The
SENSATIONAL DRAMA
is In no better plight. II has had rope enough and
Il has hanged itself. "On ne s'etOnne pas deu1
f0ts" says the French proverb The faculty OF
Amazement has been exhausted, and people are
pacidly content with the Horatian maxim. "Nu
ndnatrari." We have seen upon the stage real cabs
with live horses yoked to them, lakes and cascades
OF living waters drawn from the reservoir of the
New River, flashes OF genuine lightning produced
by electric batteries, and we have listened to thun
der that Knocked the artillery OF heaven. Actors
and actresses have been doomed to all vicssitudes
OF appalling adventure, thrown down pits,
chucked out OF windows, hurled from the battle
ments Of castles and the belfries OF cathedrals.
Nay, more. They have lain PROSTATE athwart the
metal trans OF railways In dark tun-
nes what time the shrn whistle Of the
approaching express train resounded through
the house and shell in harness" was laundering
along ut the rate OF o mile a minute. That was
pretty well In the way OF sensation and 1t
seemed as though the vein was well nigh ex-
hausted: but not so. by supreme effort OF
genius, such as few men, indeed, can accomplish,
Mr.. H. ]. Byron invented yet another form of ter.
rible disaster. In his play called
"HAUNrED HOUSES"
produced some months ago at the Princess Theatre,
he made whole house come topping about the
cars Of couple Of moonstruck lovers, who had to
run for their dear lives and only succeeded In
ing themselves by the skin Of their teeth; "Aprds
celia Ia IN du MONDE" The force OF artdce could
no further go. The sensation mongers were
now fairly played out, ana the public had nothing
for IL hut to return to FIRST principles" the phi
such rational I@ and refined entertain@ent az
round favor In tho eyes OF their fathers. Accord
mate comedy and those forms OF dramatic repre-
eentation which depend for their effect neither on
nor scenic dspay nor b
upon that which Is the true purpose of playng-the
portrature OF human character, the delineation OF
social manners, and, In word. "the holding as 1t
were, the mirror up to nature" The evidences
that the current OF public opinion has set In salu
dramatic entertainment worthy OF the name,
many and conclusive. The success of "Besr and
Of Wales a. Of W. Hsmet at the Pn &C So. Of the
.'Iieir at Law at the Strand, of London
and Galatea," at the Haymarket are roofs com
Portable as ncontestible that London play goers are
coming to their senses and that they are willing to
no to the play In search Of intellectual amusement
rather than OF slang and tomfooery. Indeed, there
is certain touch of pathos IN the eagerness they
now display TO patrOnize really good play how
ever ineIecively 1t may be performed. 1t IS almost
touching to observe the penitence OF generous pcO
wrong, will submit to any kind OF unworthy treat
ment while earnestly engaged in an attempt to
retrieve their error and get back into the right
manner in which they are at present being used at
tie West End theatres-the Vaudeville and the
Gaety. AT the former house
1.-THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL"
has been revived in style to sadden the shade OF
Sheridan II those august names could revisit the
gimpaes of the foOtlights The costumes are dingy.
the Deise-eSc scene Is altogether shabby and, what is
still more grlevous, the acting, except in one or
two characters is miserable Mr.. William Earren
tndecd, Is excellent as Sir Peter Tcazle part to
which he has hereditary claim in right OF his
fathers admirable impersOnatiOu. Mr.. clayton Is
efficient Joseph Surface, and Mr.. Thorne not less
so as Craltree, and Mr.. Horace wigan is very good
rest is all rubbish Never was a fine play more UNI
worthily acted yet the house Is crammed to suii0
cation every night, ana no sooner mas the curtain
posters announcing that there Is no standing room
IN any part OF the building. AT the Gaety, though
there Is no such rush, they are nevertheless doing
q very far business with C0leman's comedy OF
John BULL"
a capital play performed in a style which, with the
exceptions OF MFR. Bouccaut's and Mrs. Billington's
acting in the characters OF Mr. and Mrs. Brulgrud-
derry Is simply disgracelul. There Is no third rate
better played; yet the public put mp calmly with
the afiront and pay their money cheerfuly to see
Soou piaJ, ipiuole as llidy Dc iHc HluuucI VI us
represen aton. Some thing OF the same sort Is also
70 be witnessed at the Queens Theatre, where q
drama Oh some merit by Mr.. Tom Taylor, entitled
DEAD or ALIyE,N
draws good houses, Notwithstanding the lamentable
shortcomings OF every one engaged In the per-
1ormance OF 1t, with the solitary exception OF Mr.
Bandnann. The public are evidently anxious TO
show their appreciation OF sound dramas IL Is to
he hoped That the managers win meet them IN
becoming spirit, and neither affront their Judgment
nor impose upon their good nature.
OPERA BOUFFE.
II Is worthy OF remark that concomitantIv with
The downfall Of buresque comes increased pros
perity to opera bouie--a description OF entertain
ncnt which, irrational and frivolous as it is in some
of its aspects, has yet merits TO which burlesgue
may not pretend-such as a certain grace and
gayety Of device, an attempt however ludicrous at
dramatic characterization, and decided adapta-
bhty TO the purposes OF tuneful and spirited