New-York tribune., 1873-01-22
THE DRAMA.
pALY's NEW FIFTH AVENUE THEATEa-oPENfxo
NGHT-ALIXE.

Fib Avenue Tbeater In Twenty fourths st. totally
consumed and, last evening" his New Fifth Avenue
Theater on Broadway was opened In rainstorm Sur
mounting the hostile influence Of both these potent ee-
ments he certainly deserves TO wear the yctors aure
The opening of his establishment It Ia most agree
able to staeor everybody likes to see courage recog-
nized and tasteful enterprise rewardedwss Witnessed
and enjoyed by and brilliant throng OF cu'
tured and fashionable play-go
The New Fifth Avenue Theater will hold about loo
persons and crowded on this occasion. IL has
undergone marvellous change. Not Bottom. when
translated was more astonishing object than Is this
eleeant outgrowth from rubbish and desoation- HIS
was a change from the common to the grotesque THIS
ia change from the squald to the beautiful On tho
ouside indeed there Is still for great improve
ment-and 80 Mr. Broughams epigran, about the scens
Of the parson, has still one leg to halt on
But as to the INTERIOR this New Fifth Avenue Ineatcr
ia as clean. bright, fresh cheerful and elegant as M
prcdecessor-and that Ia saying good deal Tor is
beauty To recall the house has been ana 10 seo
what is now to realize very definitely what money
can accomplish when Is In earnest IN the use OF "
makes it his and not his master and guides ~ wies
intelligence and taste. Mr.. DAILY has turned what "aS
well nigh being a nuisance-what was DUST mold. do
cav confusion churchyard gloom and crystaized f&n-
ure-into " favor and prettiness"
His promise 10 make the house copy OF the ono
that was destroyed has been fulfilled almost TO the let
ter The same soft colors pervade the o'
ing is ample and brilliant; tho arrangement of seats s
commodlous There arc four proscenum boxes there
ia a row OF boxes at the of the parquette aud
there are two galleries Tho proscenium arch Is chaey
gided and its center displays classic head WIN eho
words, from Virgil Hee olim plen'iHisSs j"rad@ IN
scribed flying SCROLL
The proscenium boxes contain mirrors and are hung
with crimson curtains There two mirrors upon each
side OF the auditorium There is not an inch OF the IN
terror surface OF the place that has not been ceansef
and painted decorated. Tho ceiling LAID OH III pan
els and nrts is circle Of lights, OF uncommon
briiancy These andia few brackets on the side wals
beneath the balcony flood the house with sunny lustsr
The seats easy OF access and may be occupied Win
comfort There is air of spaciousness indeed about
the new theater which its predecessor lacked.
1t may not be as symmetrical in shape but. az TO
other attributes it exces its model The special excel
lence OF old Fifth Avenue stage was that It's opening
was narrow therefore, its vista seemed to expand
as is the The stage lacks THIS virtue
but it is larger and is already well furnished with
handsome scenery the ornamental borders Deing espo
cay pleasing color and FORM and the facilities FOR set
pieces and for illumination being abundant and excel
lent There tedious delays last night IN the seie
management; but more rubs and hitohes than the
occasion might well warrant.
The business organization OF the Fifth Avenue Theater
remains unchanged except that Dir. j. H. Tooker has
been transferred to the Grand Opera House and DIR.
Henry Morford has disappeared Mr.. John More still
manages the stage; Mr.. Harvey b. Dodworth CONDUCTS
the band Mt James Roberts presides over The paint
pots and Mr.. Aaron Appleton remains the treasurer
Familiar faces not missed. therefore, from theis
accustomed places. Even the bald head OF 5ignior Pa
dovanni whose violin solos have been popular with
the habues Of Oomed, at It's usual point OF
the COMPASS above red horizon OF the orchestra Dar
With scarce ert of the fancy the spectator might
think himself old house and with all its familiar
associations around him.
The curtain when first drawn aside disclosed MI Days
dramatic company ranged the stage; ana. GER
tainly eye seldom lights group of persons 80 IN
terestng as this one was for youth. beauty TALENT
in the past and promise for the future IL
was greeted with cordial paudts An opening address,
written for the occasion by Mr.. John Brougham-ahd
printed belowwas then spoken each Dterooutor "a hs
or she came forward being welcomed with warm aP-
plause.
To Miss Clara Morris and to Mr. Charles Fisher the
greeting seemed exceptionally cordial and vociferous.
Upon the literary attributes OF the Address IL VIII Ds
kindness to make comment. Its effect was moder
atey good-though an audience so KIND would nave ac
cepted anything with smiles under the peculiar crcum
stances of the interesting occasion call FOR the man
agerwhen the address had been ended-was responded
TO by Mr. DAILY spoke briefly in vein OF pleasantly
and practical business thanking the public for tho
interest it had manifested what he pleased 70 call
career OF successes and bidding the audience welcome
to his new house.
There cOpouS OutpOurlnS Oh upprOoabioh' ae
Dalys appearance, and still more at hts disappearance
Mr. Lester WaIack conspicuous in private box. very
loudly vigorously appauded his brother manager
and this interesting spectacle set the popular enthusiasm
new aloat that the place fairly rung with the noise
Of Jubilee. And then the curtain rose upon alike"
1t was true success. "Alxe" is in four acts from
French of Baroness de Pebos, and adapted 70 the
American stage by Mr.. DAILY.
He has done his work uncommonly well. Some OF the
writing in the second act superiatvey good. and.
though there tame bits, here and there-the pay
throughout is well constructed IL shows knowledge
OF human nature. love possesses and develops 1t.
which ia deep than accurate. Its interest OF plot
hinges the state conduct and emotions OF lady who
is in circumstances wholly unlike those that en-
compass Mrs Halier, in "The Stranger"
We make this reference by way OF indicating Ia brief
what we have not time describe in detail. This lady
having been by act-and to him mysteriously-
separated from her husband for twenty returns
with egtmate daughter, to the scene OF her former
life or at least the voinage of her former com
panion to encounter her legitimate daughter and her
wronged husband. Tho complication and the ensuing
effects OF strife, struggle, ami anguish. and climax
obvious This Is very painful part of the plot and il
might have mado repusive by bad art in the treat
ment OF It,
Judiciousy kept down. it yiedsony few situatonsOf
great pahos without violation of probability or oense
taste. The interesting portion OF tue plot re-
late to the love that both these girls feel for one aud
the man, who by strange freak OF fortune s be-
trothed to the one the other This aspect OF
experience wrought honestly. in true situations
aud natural and powerful dialogue aud the analysis and
presentation OF it give solid value to the play
of Alike" which Will not fail OF recognition
from the intellectual class OF observers who.
like Master Walter know what passion is"
The heroine OF the drama Is Alir which was acted by
Miss Clara Morris Fresh in its beauty. intense in ts
emotion and gradually built from the first tmd
sciQusness Of love to the ulorbed passion that IN
trial. suffering and convulsve struggle with itself and
with oIrcumatances ner9Onafion was one the