The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-12-29
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MUSICAL AND THEATRICAL NOTES.

The next sensational piece at the Fifth Avenue
Theatre is called alike" The charm claimed for
1t is singular emotional power.
Mr. Edwin Booths "Richard ILL., win be the
dramatic feature OF this week. It Is needless to go
into any advance encomiums OF an actor so well
known and appreciated in this city.
Mr.. ]. L. To0le, the English comedian writes to
w. ]. Florence that he .contemplates non profess
siona visit to this country next Summer He is
now playing "Good News" at the Gaiety Theatre,
London.
The first concert OF the Theodore Thomas and
Rubinstein combination will be given on Tuesday
evening" programme OF great excellence, rem
dered only by such artists as Rubnstein, Wieni-
awski and the orchestra, is a rare promise of ex-
cellent music.
In addition to "A Son Of the Soil,n which is to be
produced at the Union Square Theatre on New
Years evening, Miss Jennie Lee Is announced to
make her temperance in little comedy, called
"Orange Blossoms Apretty actress and pretty
name ought to insure pretty play.
Mr.. ]. ]. Bartlett, well-known Australian thes-
plan and former lessee Of the Prince of Wales
Theatre, Sydney, has just arrived from the Antip-
odes He brings with him Hazard" and "Mag-
daen," two pieces by Mr.. Walter H. Cooper. who
has achieved quite success in Kangarooland as a
playwright.
The contrast between the acting OF Mr. Sothern
and Mr. John Gilbert in Brother SAM Is as en-
joyable as the fun of the Hon. Mr.. Sllngsby. Each
is thoroughly dissimilar to the other and yet both
are excellent to the point Of exquisiteness. Uncle
'Rummy's" surprise at Sans impudence in light
ing match on his coat is not more laughable than
his attempts at caressing the hypothecated baby.
The new English opera company begins in Chi.
cag0 on Monday January @. 1t includes Miss Rose
Hersee, Miss Emma Howson, Mrs. Zelda Segun,
Mr.. Nordblem Mr.. Gustavus Hall and others.
Speaking OF this company it may be remarked that
Miss Howson Is one OF the most conscientious
artists in the country. She has sung at the Grand
Opera House this season 125 consecutive times,
never being sufficiently "indsposedr to miss a
performance.
Mr.. Daily has his entire mechanical and scenic
force at the Grand Opera House employed on the
equestrian drama OF 'The Cataract of the Gan0es,n
which VIII be produced when the run OF Ground
the Ciock' abates The natural spring OF water
under the stage will be utilized in this spectacular
piece in the formation OF grand cascade, making
beautiful aud wild mountain scene, which, 1t is
promised will be one OF the finest stage effects
presented in the United States.
The spectacle OF cleo and Lotos" al Niblo's is at
least suggestive OF the value OF stage decoration
in light comedy. The objection to 1t, aside from
thousand other objections, is that It Is moved by
a vapid magician who is assisted or hindered by
still more vapid spirit OF mischief or fairy Snow
nake, and being utterly without numor except in
eongruties like the gendarmes song which M.
Gabe will introduce into it, there IL nothing left
but the pictures and the ballet. One cannot strain
his eyes all the evening the glory OF tinsel and'
the limbs OF some pretty and multitude OF rather
uncouth ballet girls. Yet there are in this piece
the seeds OF brilliant dramatic harvest. Out OF
Just such plays as LEO and Lctos' win grow the
drama OF the future-the union OF comedy and
spectacle. realism and ideaism-which can alone
satisfy the theatre goers OF the next generation.
The lighter OF the standard plays produced at
the Union Square Theatre this week were accept
ably done, and IL would have been well II the en-
dcavor had stopped with them or plays like them.
But when a theatrical company wants to show its
strength it attempts the "School for Scandal" and
whenever an actor thinks himself capable Of play
ing anything he is as certain to play Charles Sur
face as a child is to get the measles. Because Mr..
Lester wallack can play the part with consummate
ability every young fellow is anxious to teach Mr..
Wallack his art, or at least to show him that he
cannot nave the field all to himself. Two young
actors have tried 1t within a lortnight-Mr. George
Clarke at the Fifth Avenue. and Mr.. d. Fl. Harkins
at the Union Square Theatre. Mr.. Clarke's Charles
excellent rendering OF what may be called the new
school OF old comedy. The Charles Of Mr.. Harkins
was a. cold and hard as Captain De Groot's Frank
lin In Printing House square, and the frvolity OF
the young spendthrift was characterized 0uly by
name laughter aud very "loud' CLOTHES