New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-01-10
THE DRAMA.

UNION SQUARE Observation-Disclosures COURT.
Mr. John Broughams new drama of Ather-
ley Court" seen, Monday night, for the first time
Tho Union Square Theater being The place of repre-
sentation. "Atherley Court" is play of vivid
trail idea and rapid condensed actionthe gist of which
be stated In few words; but II ia play OF romantic
narrative and multifarious incident, involving many
persons, much material and stage business, and great
deal OF careful and therefore deliberate not 20 say ed
Gus. analysis OF character and emotion The merits, de-
ecs quality and general significance OF the work,
cordngly, best indicated particular statement OF
the incidents that compose it, This We furnish
below. The reader Of it who happens to be ac'
quainted with Mr. f. ". Robinson's novel of The
Bridge of Glass will perceive that Mr. Brougham has
made free of the plot and drift of that composition
That use is not ace. and not always elcons, hut 1t is
tasteful and II tends TO strong effects. Sharp strokes OF
climax each stronger an its predecessor. occur up TO
the end of the fourth act and should they be relieved
OF some intermediate duness easily Topped away they
viii make the piece emphatic and popular.
Great emphasis has been laid on interest Of plot and
with the majority of playgoers this proves always
victorious stroke. The higher virtue OF the play now
ever manests itself contrast OF two characters OF
an unusually massive and passionate kind. These are
Lodv Afherey and Gerald MarstOn. In the former, as
in the LucretaBorga of the stage evil nature and
evil deedsconsst with the hottest of human loves-that
of parent for its child In the latter, passionate
affection is controlled by native magnanimity and the
habit OF selfsacrifce The series OF incidents
through which these characters revealed together
with the embellishments OF adventure and hutnor,
appeal TO the fancy and the mind But the solid
worth of the payts dramatic portrature and its moral
signcancelie deeper than this surface merit. Those
who have learned to forege their own desires and
dehgtsnOt with niggard spirit nor Ditter inward
resentment-have crushed the nettle OF TINS selfish
state of and that take to be the thought whch
underles "Atherey Court" For the rest 1t is melo-
.fosaa net arfilia
work but warmed and colored with domestic sentiment
1t was set upon the stage with handsome scenery and
for this there emphatic appause-Mr. Marston the
scenic artist being twice called before the curtain In
the subsidiary characters it acted well and at times
brilliantly; but the exceedingly prominent part Oh
Gerald MorSonrather passive and somber at the best
was made, by Mr.. W. b. Laurens, burden heavier
than the soggest OF scrlptural grasshoppers: and
Miss Mestayers Interpretation Of the Countess was
no more than a respectfully mediocre effort
Mr. Lamb envened the somewhat sluggish cur
rent Of action with composite of MorraH and Medde,
that was amusing IL not natural Mr. Mackay depicted
chatterng senility TO win hearty round OF APP
plause, and recall before the curtain Mr. Mark smith
and Mr. Welsh Edwards embodied with correctness ana
humor two types of English Characteristic rosy gentle
man farmer and the mercantile NJ p. The ndistnct and
not lovabe character of Elsie whose uncertainties and
caprice led to much confusion and mischief was sus-
tanned with laborOus care and delicate and graceful
action, by Mrs. Jennings.
The repulsve part of Lord LyltOn, currish, Barnes
NewcOme sort Of an aristOcrat, remarkably well
acted, by Mr.. j. p Burnett-a young player from En-
gland who possesses quick intelligence taste and keen
sense of the nature and value of dramatic situation
His natural bearing and the subdued tone OF ms mood
and action. all through this repusve part commended
him as iusnctively artist The performance lasted
till after 70 O'Clock. The house crowded In the par
quet and thnly peopled in the galleries. With better
haffo and is-in
chief parts OF Gerald and Lady AHerley. the drama
of ''Atherey Court" would be more certain than now
it is of a long lease Of public favor In the piece
itself there is much careful and thoughtful writing,
and deep knowledge of the passions-and tins i'm
presses the thoughtful spectator Notwithstanding pro
xity of detail the conduct Of the plot excess OF
words In the dialogue, and tedious burden OF ncden
tai mnutia Concerning stage setting there is rea
son to speak with enthusiasm Care and expense have
been tastefuly lavished the scenes. The drawing
room and the moonlit view Of the cliff rank with the
best composed stage pictures that have been presented
in NeW-YOrk.