New-York tribune., 1873-01-02
THE DRAMA.

Union SQUARE THEATER-A son OF THE SOIL
The newest dramatic JOY OF laSV evening
came forward at the Union square Ineser' wnelo was
reen poetca drama called A Son OF tne SOIL ae.eu'
upon this occasion for the fist time In America Iue
attenaancc for a New-Yoars night, was large, the
tbeaer being nearly half flied with spectators auu
these received the PLAY with attentive interest warmly
nnsudnc several OF its points ana severai portions oi
she acting Son OF the Sol is welcome to our stage
r seyra grounds It teaches the kindly, II superhuOus,
osson that virtue is Just vrtuous with hayseed III its
hair "A patchouly on its observation-disclosures.
n pleases taste By symmetry OF form and smOOthness
OF finish. II handles character well, and shows the
effect that may exercise the steTnest resolution
And II possesses the dramatic attribute Of lively action
All this Is IN its favor and insures IL courteous recep
ton 1t is. however weak play, though pretty one
and We do not anticipate It's frequent recurrence "A
Son OF the SOIL" was or gnay acted, last october, at
the Court Theator, in London 1t is written in three
sets though performed last evening in four II may be
described as a liberal adaptation Of lie Lion
.Amoureux," by the French dramatist. M. Ponsard.
The English adaper-Or author since his piece is sub
.santially a one-is Mr. II. C. Merivale.
A part OF the text is in prose, and part In blank
VersebOth parts showing careful and tasteful literary
workmanship The is Paris and village on the
French coast, just after the great-and we may add
4he dramatically tediOus-French Revolution The story
concerns itself with lowly born individual who has re
ceived the proud eminence OF being Member OF the
Committee Safety This person is dersively, but ex
pressively alluded TO Marcus Brutus Horatius
CoccleS" His is Louis Ndrtel, and as will be sur
nsed he is an enthusiast for Liberty. Playgoers who
recall The Dead Hear" have hero OF this stripe
and will al once perceive the drift Of Son OF the
soil" MarfsL though is scared blasted; be is
only concentrated intellect.
u.Would be refreshing, now and then, to meet with
such man in fiction, who would retain his individuality,
snd not flop at the first eye-beam of lovely woman.
Jehn Knox pinching the OF Mary Stuart is not
mice spectacle STILL If he felt like pnching IL was better
re should do than get his knees and ask for piece
Of blue ribbon 20 cherish next his heart But, as Mr.
luwer so beautifully and touchngy pointed out, "love
eoyes rank and lays the shepherds crook beside the
sscepter;" and this IS what always ails the stole
heroes Of the melo-drama. MartePs experience
ronered no exception 20 the rule, last evening. He saw
Abe beautiful Beatrice Duchess dArnine, and he in
!stanty wted-aud there, practically, was an end OF
kim How he throve in his worship; how the Duchess
bowed him. but subjected him to several rather disagree
able test bow her father turned up and interfered
how al Martei suhjugated love to dsty and acci-
dentaliy came out all right-these, and more incidents
nake up the play. That they point TO dramatic stua-
sions Of a vivid sort Is clearly implied.
characters Of Adrtst and Beatrice are both strong
and passionate and being often opposed-because Of
sss distinctions and OppOsiuons OF ciroumstancethey
strike good deal Of fire. At the close OF the first
ect for instance, Hdriel having Obeyed the wish OF
cde and attended aristocratic reception, rs rri-
ated frenzied outburst OF passionate resentment
against arrogance OF the classes he has conquered
hot not changed and this is heightened by the old
pedieut-"to be wnoth with We love-" The better
etuaOn is IN the last act when the soldier prefers
honor passion and ponts out the hidngplace OF the
Gather OF the woman he loves expecting thus to lose Ter
Forever.
These parts are unusually well dellneated in the incl
dents anu text-the play Of their mixed motives being
phown dsftly and naturally. Mr.. Harkins enacted Mar
kl Mrs Clara Jennings Beatriee. To such nature
Ss Mr.. Harkius depicted passlona e love OF woman
overwhelming all other influences would come quite nat
krauy There nothing either in the temperament or
disappearance which told Of the burning intensity OF
natural sedeyotOn 70 an idea OF the Of vast
spg thought and gnawing passion, in time Of great and
bloody deeds and changes.
That there power earnestness even violent zeal
combined with quick intelligence and precision of
method will, Of course be conceded. But much OF the
weight OF this character is sacrificed it seems to U.S.
when the nature Of the is not shown at all affect
ing strife with ITSELF and when his physical frame does
mot beray the traces Of this experience. Mr. Harkins
elected applause for his scorchng rebuke Of the
ristocrats and In the popular fancy grass grew with
rank luxuTiance over titles and thrones.
Mrs Jennings was much more successful as Beatrice,
catching spirit OF the part and speaking the text
with delicious discretion, accuracy. and emotion
Beatrice lady by nature well as by birth, and her
sympaes with the gentle whether Of the soil or of
the Kings breath The conflict has also 10 be fought
n alleg glance TO the right will make shipwreck Of her
life.
Mrs Jennings blended womanly passion with frequent
gentleness OF allurement. and delicate refinement Of
manner very pleasant witness; and her dresses
especially the Greek rObe-added TO the beauty OF the
scene The subsidiary parts in this drama are thin Mr.
j. T. Burnett as Count de Taaont. illustrated levity,
with more OF English than French manner, but with
ssauoiness that won lie way with the spectators
The French arstOcracy, incidentally shown. was OF
Che KIND that ought make agricultural merit very
proud hay-seed and well content with its clover
tIn the after-pece "Orange Blossoms" the sprghty
Miss reappeared and cordially greeted.
This lady one OF the best chambermad actresses on
our stage. The fun cast Of g Son Of the Soil" is
appended;
ouis Mse.... H. Harkins Citizen Leonia' w r. wilder
Iute De lhe.......f v Maeksy Beatrice. CA1 Jennings
VslmO1t. Madame Taen. .PesY Moriont
Hchs.. BdWsr Josephine Lsarens
GxLIeu Anfldes.. H. Mouig0mefyl
RE-APPEARANCE OF MIR. JEFFERSON.
The idle rumors so long current as to Mr..
Jenersons failing health receive eectual answer IN
the fact he. last evening, reappeared upon the
cage. The interesting incident occurred at FOrd's
opera House, Baltimore. The largest audience ever
assembled In thatheater greeted the re-entrance Of Rip
Tqr Winl.Ie and gave him aheouonate and enthusi-
astic greeting The acting Dispatch fully
ND To ~ former standard, and Mr.. JeersoD's health is
eutirely restored. We may add that the comedian Is
under engagement appear at Booths Theater In this
oty but not tl next August His return 10 tho stage
viIl t. GOOD news 20 play-gOers in all quarters.
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