New-York tribune., 1873-12-19
THE DRAMA.
FIFTH AVENUE THEATER-PARkIClDE.


The first twelve nights of the season at Mr.
Da,ys Thcatcr were filled with Fortune" Old Heads
and Young Hearts," New Years Eve," Alike" and
:. Tondon Assuranceu On wednesday Mr.. DAILY brought
ont new niece IL is called "Parricdc;" 1t consists Of
sir scenes: its action passes In and near the French
capta IL introduces twentysx persons its characters
are much diversified and Is written IN prose- 1t was
act upon the Fifth Avenue stage Win ch scenery ana
espe,ally handsome furniture ana It's performance was
witnessed by an afsemblage that hed the theater in
avery mart II success, however, was but moderate
and certainly 1t is the sort OF drama that will long
AZ theater which asks the support OF the more
o,,yotod class of pIay- -goers. "Parncde" has been
adap,ed in rather feeble English and rather spshod
stye of mechanism III lts last act-from
the French OF NJ Belot the auihor OF ARTICLE az and
a. o sa, that IL is n forty seventh rate article and OF
order OF merit, we sna 90 IL no Injustice
IL relates TO the pursuit OF secret murderer Who IL
tho arot commission OF his crime, has contrived 10
cas, snspeiop upon an innocent person. the Of his
victim II leads this pursuit through some intricate
or,o,ops ot circumstance, eliminates in the capture
NJ the real assassinwho is taken in the act OF
crime-and terminates In the vndicaton of the sus-
pected SON There is nothing essentially hne or strong
and certainly nothing fresh-in the fiber OF this tale.
The subject onnipresent In fcton; and II we remen-
her rightly something very like this particular treat
man, of If occur, IN as old novel JaIness Lost
where is found in its subplo which concerns the for
nnes M vounr crl stolen aud degraded by the arch
villain oftbe Story euamOred OF the suspected and
by him lifted II not msled, and found at last TO be the
daughter OF the chief of the Paris Police. one act
nasscs IN tbe aucroom of travelling show, and h' rou
the various important personaSes, IN varous dssnises
are tangled and confronted; ana thus an occasion II
afforded sonnet surprises, some bts OF character
acting and an infusion of the striking elements Of a
chief
dent in.tbis however has been maze familiar in tho
fonrth act Of The TcScOf-Lcaye Maa," and this act
IS likewise suggestive OF Oliver Twist ana "hcnry
Dunbar" IL would not avail though, 10 stroll down
The several yisas Of antiquity that are opened in the
arrangement of incidents thus noted Pafrc.de' VIII
not stay with us long enough 20 make such dissection
OF il at an worth while Aside from this aggregate Of
ompllcltiou-which Is violently and brightly inter
iected among scenes Of comedy chamcter-'he piece
u, ,mky trite Appeals 10 the eager, anxiety ana hor
rorstr,cken interest with which the human mnc
naturally follows effort to track The murderer to hls
Iair and the guilt of blood uUOn tie atrocious Grim
ina are TOO common 10 command admiration OF eNoAe
unusual sympathy. They have definite power, u is
trueas may be seen in the presidency Wth when ihe
Nathan murder til bauuis The curiosity OF the puphe
bnt they are common and morbid, and even when skill
fully made they cannot attain high place IN literary or
dramatic art The best quality of "Parricde is suc-
gesiion. Under the lighted gondoas-as they glide TO
and fro freiehted with beauty. mnsc, and laughter
the dark waters flow onward to the with ali their
buried secrets bidcous ard awful Under the glitter OF
social pleasure flows the back current OF hidden crime
The belle Of the ballroom mas brush against the clothes
OF the secret assassin aud look into icy smiling eyes
that have gazcd ou midnight murder. There may he
profr in such lesson. 1t is ali that remains from q
contemplation OF Parrcide." Nothng 10 al remarka-
bic was done by any Of the players who carried thu
peoe-notning we mean which might not be reasonably
expected trained actors Nj Fisher. Nj DavIdge
Mr. Leuis James. Mr.. owen Fawcett, and Miss sara
Jewett divided he hono of The representation Ihis is
fun cast