New-York tribune., 1872-06-18
THE DRAMA.
wArIAcK,s rnEArER--ox rHE jury.

able auditory witnessed first performance In ths
city, Of Mr.. Watts Phiips's ncw drama OF "on The
Jury" 1t was for a Summer evening, rather long
performance, not very strong and II 1t did not
greatly impress tie spectators m certainly wlted ihem
That the new piece possessed certain de6aite meri1
was known In advance. The fact Of its author
ship, indeed, guaranteed excellence. Do
scriptions Of II, In English papers, had bkV
wise inspired hopeful anticpations 10 80
quality What we expected a forcble and felcito-s
example of the dramatic significance and power tIat
lie hidden simple jncidents and in the ordinary
poets OF everyday e Instead Of this the play proved
TO be tame domestic picture trying hard 10 be-
come sensation meodrama. Effort was made In II 10
give dramatic exhibition Of the workings OF human
feelings and the contrast Of probable circumstance
an effort was also made In tt TO impress this
senses by adroit stage carpentry. But some
how these refused to harmonize, and the final
result the timeworn tumble between two stools.
We do not wish TO speak barshly Of "on the jury for
1T is wellmeant piece; 1t contains gOod character
sketebing and good epigrammatic writing. and wins
esteem for the right feeling and respect for manness
and virtue with which 1t Is imbued. But II would 10
fase and foolish TO describe 1t other than tsine ana
tedious achievement in the everlasting vein OF medioc
rty 1t ought considering Its story, 10 touch the great
chord Of human sympathy with paternal and hsl love-
1t ought considering its theatrical tabeeux and It's
marine collision the generous admiration OF real
ism in stage pictures Its fate to come near doing
BOTH and miss doing either. One reason Is that not
withstanding all the lessons OF long experience, Mr.
Phillips has told good deal Of his story In narrative
rather than in action. All the people In his playand
there are them disportng through four acts
are loQuacious and what worse, reminiscent The
spectator auditor Of their frequent conferences
almost expects 10 hear the well-hnown Amid
the gathering thunder clouds" OF the con-
nding Hugh de Brass Another reason Is
thnness OF the story. This with the treatment that
Robertson would given It, would not have signihed
But is not every artist that touch common life to
beautiful significance, with the magic OF suggestion Mr.
Watts Phillips certainly has not inherited the mantle OF
the dead poet of modern comedy. His materials as al
ready intmated. are good and well chosen; but they
have not been well handed-and the simplicity
sinks into tameness There is golden thread; but ID
seems tarnshed There is a diamond light, but
it CLEANS out Of window glass. We shall briefly
indicate the substance of On The Jury by saying that
it states the OF innocent man-a sort OF Tom
Pnchwho had been unJusty convicted of theft; whose
daughter loved and wooed by the son OF gentle
man had served "on the jury" that convicted the
accused who tried, very faithfully and nOby TO sacrt
flee himself in favor OF these lovers; who found Ina
daughter to him. and whose honor at last vim
dicated. The several persons involved In the web
Of circumstances thus indicated brought together
somewhat touching circumstances, from timo to umo
and they all talk good deal about their feelings but
they actually do very little. The steamboaE scene-u
hch boat containing the heroine is run down on tina
Thames-is violently lugged into the action aud IL
amounts TO very little when 1t gets there STEAMBOATS,
have before upon the STAGE aud aquatic col
lisions have previously occurred. We have possibly
grown apatheic to these delights; but, rightly on
wrongly, they Us not The collision
well done last night, and mad
the compliment OF recall. There was quito as much
applause though for Mr.. soddars propulsion OF Miss
Ee Gernon when the actor seized that young lady by
the back OF the neck sbe housemad. with dirty
face and feather duste, apd her off of the stage
The Summer audience does Not discriminate keeny as
to these matters Concerning the acting Of On the
Jury" very little comment requisite. IL not No
all remarkable in any part Ut, Fisher embodied tho
broken down gentleman T}bbis and was finely made up
and In complete sympathy with the spirit OF the character
"a good man. defeated in e trying to endure and make
the best of 1t for the sake of Others 1t was In some
sense fragment Of Trtptet Mr. Bropgham looked we'll
in sanders0n and Infused the personaton all need
ful nervous force and occasional hues Of sentiment
The eoeentricity of Mr. stoddart caused many laugh
Much merriment rewarded the Susan Nipperlike snap
and cOmicality OF Miss Germ0n's Iid0. Miss Ella
Burns acted the heroine, viii be satisfactory
actress when she has acquired natural manner OF walk
ing and speaking, and freer command Of the means Of
expressing genuine em0tion-that is If she has any
genuine emotion to express. We append the full cast
Dexter sandeDOn Mr. BrOggham siss Es BsruI
Prot So6midL MI StOar Miss = Mel
Mr. C6a Rockwell Miss Winch. Msrh'
Waterman Nj, B. N ~ aoe9d % Cara I9Ls w. ca 70,
BarseRAB,.....MT W. J. Leons Miss BaisisI
OLYMPIC NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
The Olympic Theater-in the management Of
which Mr. James E Hayes and Mr.. Samuel Coyillc are
now associates-was reopened last night after
OF four days, and Mr. j. Allen Miss Alice HARRISON
Little Mac, aud other performers appeared in Mr. j. Nc
Closkeys play Of Schneider" The attendance wai
moderately numerous and the performance ehcited 4
great deal OF noisy appreciation Both the assemb1ge
aud the entertainment, indeed were commonplace, and
therefore accordant schneider which was seen AZ
the Olympic last July and sufficiently described nc