The New York herald., 1873-12-07
BOUCICAULTS "AsTRAY."
A Queer Legitimate Comedy.

A Queer Legitimate Comedy.
Mr.. Dion Bouccicaut's new DRAMA LED Astray,"
was produced at the Union Square Theatre last
evening, with cast including Miss Ely tinge, Miss
Caxton, Miss Weathersby, Miss Mestayer, Mrs.
wilkins, and Messrs. Tnorne. Rankin, Robson,
Montgomery and Burroughs. All the artists were
well up in the parts, but, with the exception of
Miss Eytinge, they played as If the piece was bur-
esque aud the morals OF the audience were worse
than those OF the play, Perhaps the dramatist is
not at all to blame 1or this In the abstract, but as
1t was whispered in the audience during the first
act-an exceedingly stupid one-that Mr.. Bouci-
cault was to be called before the curtain; and as
this was the result, without Justification of any
kind when the curtain fell upon the third, 1t Is
not to be assumed that the company failed to re-
ceive the benefit of his suggestions. In thus
swerlng a call which lar from being general
the dramatist fathers the very remarkable opinion
of his merits set forth in the playful by the man.
ayers OF this theatre. The manifesto Is Us 1ollows
During the last quarter of century English dramatic
,era ue M ss baen by one indiyidual II we
fin that tlere but two thres plays that have
oas ss These
d sy s @ " tho the Wde
We seek In vain Tor any other figure The journalists Of
s to decry HIM but war rank he &c sy hers
fa aSs hs rs
only representative during one quarter OF century;
sf % ii % @ xs
now now put % lorsard y W him With The paSsy sSowcd @ in
submit 70 he X@ersan public and aoseqssnty inc
s e ss s
but the author Of london Assurance" is perhaps
Sssvs ct sHs % Af sssn BY ssn lss
Say the Second S which Mr. he and 10 M a
third to the management Of this theatre The last
subject simple, and appeals broades manner to
our sympathes. young romantic girl, with exagger-
a!ed ideas Of lie is married to the she loves with
affection with her exaetons and hsr claim %
s ns se Is % 20 Ta he
eden eide that lead 70 TO msead her the traps and pitfalls
E
fallen into adequate hands
The claims forth IN this are not only astonish-
ing-they are astounding. There need be no
sparkling comedies. For these we honor him. AS
an actor he is worthy OF honor also. for his Kerry
stage But that ne should base upon these base
less claim that his "Astray" Is OF the same order as
h,s .old Heads s. and Young Hearts" is simply to
French type not well well enough ,, done 10 to TO be
1t is even original. The dialogue is upid and i'll
every respect-n conception. IN plot In characters
and IN situations it is commonplace. In the seec-
tions OF the subject matter OF dramatic represen-
tatlon would allow the widest latitude but
as Mr.. Bouccault just now pretends to be an
apostle OF purity in these matters 1t is shocking
tnat he should lie the first dramatlst the season
to present the "adulterous DRAMA" seeking
perhaps to justify his "Astray" by holding her over
the precipice. but not letting her 1all entirely
And it is preposterous that he should call
this OF "a series OF legitimate high class
dies' put forward by him with the publicly
avowed intention OF testing the taste OF the day'
and Ito ascertain II there be any truth in tile
that better kind OF dramatic literature would be
acceptable" Mr. Bouccault declares that the
journalists OF the day affect to ignore or rather
decry him. II he classes "Astray" among his
Legitimate hgh-class comedies let his own evil
works condemn him.