The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-22
A N u S E NJ E N rs.
ssWithout . Heart' mt the Union Square
Theatre.

sWithout . Hcarto Mt tho Union Square
Theatre.
The critic seldom fails to take an introspec-
tive glance the question of gallantry
when he sits down to witness q play
written by lady. He squares the matter
with his conscience as best he can, and looks and
listens with every faculty the Q,li Uire for points
ofexcellence. So did we take place in the cosey
theatre at Union square last evening to assist
at the first performance OF Mrs. Sheridan Shocks
emotional drama, "Without a Heart-u The follow
ing, however, is the resut:-The title describes the
piece as well as the heartless heroine. 1t may indeed,
be said TO be also without head. To 60 on de-
scribing its wants IN this way would Ill catalogue
of all the literary requirements OF
good play. Whatever gorgeous setting, rich
costumes and good acting could bring to the aid
of the authoress was avishly suppliea. 1t was
no use. There was nothing that the
most liberal-minded could call "nicen to
make Its naughtiness at all bearabie. We do not
mean 10 say that on the Seventh Command
mentit was nearly so nagitious the French plays
90 whose meretricious school IL belongs. The
Trench dramatists are more daring, but they mask
their characters sins in deep emotions which link
Martha Dobson Is an adventures, the daughter
of an old Scotch reprobate. BY ques-
scr nI good society She is Without hears
a rich young man, named Robert Marston,
W1uyS 10 marry usT. naNlug nlRueT uSplTaJouS
she refuses. and hires strange woman to assist
Der IN marrying SIR William Broughton, an
Tnciish baronet This strange woman is the cause
or much agony 70 the audience. She is taken
with q dizziness In the second act, has small
pox In the three years interval before the
shird act and unril the fan OF the curtain
goes about the stage with red spots all
over her face. showing through black vel. The
smallpox IA the only startling originality In
as gout iumbsgo and mai de n,er
which are somehow admitted before the
1ootlights as comic maladies. The incubation
OF smallpox into the emotional drama Is
therefore notable. The danger TO its
4 the emotion u manly produces the spectator.
On the bsronet who lted her years gone BY but her
natural timidity continually prevents her from put
ting an end 20 the triumph OF the adventures,
her lord and the play. This IL regrettable, as 1t
gives the heartless adventures time to snare
away the rich young man rom his
Vulnerable stilted threats, everybody except
The good, forglving little wife and her addle-
headed husband u made permanently miserable.
The language u generally poor, and often Of
yends against elegance, az least from the
ii was mad when refused you. and madden when
found you were lost 10 me, u curious English.
Miss Maade Granger. who made her debut In the
character OF the heroine. exhibited nne stage
presence, with youth. eznbogpofnf and good looks.
she spoke her unfortunate lines well. and good
promise. which ~ AL we can now say. Miss Grs-
void. a. the good young wife, was far better than
her part me male characters were especially
feebiy drawn, and Mcssrs- Harkins and Mackay are,