, 1873-12-09
TIE SABBATH DRAMA.
How Our German Citizens Enjoy
Themselves Sunday,
Evenings.
leopold Of Dessau at the Burlington HILL
TIlentro.

BcruploB about procuring it'honostly on Sunday
But, whether half tho city supposos 1t q eeaocra.
tion Of tliat t1ay or not, a largo portion OF tho
non.German slo Of Chicago avails itsclf OF tho
German libotality to onjoy, at tho various Turn-
1Ialles. tho combined effects Of bcor and music.
Herr Hoffman, makes concession to tho ro-
ugious elo1nont, mud labels Lis selections "Sacrod
Concert" Tho religious elcmont mRkos COLI
cesston to Gor1nany, and drinks beer. Tho
Turners mako money, and tho visitors enjoy
themselves in harmless, and ofton IN improv-
Ina, manner. II they choose tho occnsion to
nuke boasts of Themselves, IT. Is not Herr
Hoffman, who iH to blamo. But Turner Hall
noeds no apology. It is already aa popular with
those WHO cannot form cultural, aa with those
who can form fow other sounds. Ihore is an-
otAor form Of amusement largely patronized by
Tho Ger1nalls SuKlAyH, which las not yot beon
populali2od among thoso who do not claim oh
tro sympathy with tho German modo Of thought.
We alludo to the Gormau thcatro. The public
tho drama among the Germans III Chicago, and
little information on tho subject may not be un-
interesting to those whose patronage Of the
oro tasionabe shs fs'n poueo Gis qhro 'aa1
in Chlcngo at preeent five German theatres.
Tho Stadt Thcatro IL at Aurora Turner Hall,
on tho cornor Of Milwaukee avenue and Second
street; Thiemaun'H Natlonal Theatre, OIL the
VorHnrts Theatre, ut TorWartB Turtcr Hall, OIL
Wost Twelfth street, between Union md Hntstod
stroots; Peessior's Theatre, at Burlington Hall,
and theatro at tho South 6ldo Turner Hall,
a total Of five German thcatscs, with aeating
capacity for mora than 5000 persons, giving per-
formanccs cvory Sunday evening, aud attended by
some OF the weAthiest md most influential citi-
the non-German portion Of the city is Boarcely
aware OF the existence Of thom. Tho play il OF
course III tho dornan language, and, therefore,
uncalculatod to attract those who do not UNDER
stand TINT tongue. But oynn With thia disad-
vantage, ono can spend an agreeable hour on
sunday evening IN IL Ge11nan theatre.
Tho charaoteristics Of tho Turnor Hall per-
formanco appear III tho dramatic exhibitions
Mt tho theatres, modified somewhat BY tho oxt-
gencies Of tho casc. For instance, tho audience
may sit down on chairs in limo before
the proscenium, or 1nay form semicirolo
round table, md thero may .QuaH
the amber bcer, refreshing and stimulating
body. But smoking doea uot prevail. sllenco
is necessary, although thero ia just enough
whispered conversation III the auditorium to
drown tbs continuous warnings TINT issue from
Happening into Burlington Hall on Sunday
ovoMillg, wllere AIr. Pollessior'a company waB
playing an historical dra1na to not very full
house Of so:no 600 persons, the writer
Ind an excellent opportunity to study from tho
auditor the entertainment, which was witnessed
with interest by the moro fortunate ladies
and gentlemen prosont. Tho drama WIS Gu
titled "Loopo!d Of Doasau," tho work Of Hor-
mann Herscl, the Hceno Of which ia laid In 1000.
It iH founded upon incident in tile life Of this
eccontric Prince, the celebrated Marshal Of tho
moro celebrated Frederick the Great, Which TO-
suited in his lnnrrying. contrary to the wishes
of AiB pareuts and the nobility, tho daughter Of
an apothocary. It IL neatly elaborated, and,
though not remarkably strong in situations,
judged by au American standard, moves cloycrly
along to tho donouement, and sustains the in
WAS aB follows:
Leopold Of Deaaau. Pcllesster
Msrshai ~ salsbnrg; III s1oa1 ef
as,a ae ara.sst pIro. a1pIsra
Anna Eliza. Matlao reilessior
Hcnrivtta. MADAME GET lardt
Tfosc Of our readers Who arc familiar with tho
interior Of burlington Hail will readily under-
stand that ts qualifications for q dramatic per
formanco aro not startling. Tho amount OF
scenery is limited. and probably itB acoustic
properties are poor. Then, too, the auditorium
line Of aight necossariiiy detective, not to say
1istreBsingly bad. But tho stngo iB raised
about five foot above the floor, and everybody
with good eyesight or . good opera-gass
vas or ono thing in' the drama whiol,1 hi1 would have
nppeaiel preposterouH to an American or Eu-
gliAh audience, aud that was the lengtll OF the
"speeches." An American actor would havo
been puzzlod 1t scon1ed rs II noarly every speech
tho character or declaration Of individual in
dependence, or political platform, scarcely any
being 1ess alan Q "stickful. " and many Of them
apparently AZ long as Hainlos's soliloquy. A.
R very agreeable form. It is strictly prose,
md yet 30 evenly balanced and rhythmcal Us to
sound like blank TerHo. Indeed, tho writer
would have gono away under tho impression that
r,nit}4 tr. knr1; A~l ts1, ,.r4
boon kindly corrected by the manager. Tho or
collent eocution Of Mr. Pellogsior may hayo had
something to do with this impression. Anybody
who forms an idea of German from moro colo
DO startled ut the musical le1ions Ut whloh tue
language is susceptible under the graceful mall
agement Of = thoroughly good German roader,
aa Mr Polleaser undoubtedly is Possessed a.
conaiderable facial mobility, and well-modu.
latod voicc, ho thoroughly looked and vol acted
tho character he assumed.
It is necessary only TO follow tho action Of a
And vt, though "a American audience
would frequently hayo rewarded such acting
with round Of applause, tho writer docs not
recolloct ono single Huch evidence Of approval.
Tho audience looked thoroughly interoatod; and
from their not infroquent laughter 1t was clear
that the good things Of the dialogue told we'll,
but tho audience did not express themselves
BY clapping Of hands or stamping Of feet. Still
losB ty whHtlng.
Tho part OF Anna Eliza, the humble belle
whose personal charms and virtues raised her to
tho rank OF Princess, waB played by Madame
PellesBier with spnghtlinoss aud vivaoity, aud q
fidelity to nature. Mr. 9tetdlo, az Marshal Gux-
burg, apparently made up to roaombe Bismarck,
mud, though hls linca were not remarkable for
anything. showed by Ills by-play that ho had
st,idied lis profession. We ahall not speak moro
1t longth Of tho performance, but Indulge in u
fow observations. Tleae actors are, afler ali,
not stricsly professionals. They TO not play tor
them during tho |ook IL Oh Sunday T evoa- n
ing, and they must dopond for live
nhooa upon some other occupation. Then,
again, It must be remembered that In
no other largo city ia \ dramatic performance,
German or non German, allowed on Sunday
evening, and tho German drama must IanguiHii.
Honco the players must have bu. few oppor-
tunitics to perfect themselves in their art, mud
arc deserving Of far moro credit for what they