The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-11

Fifth Avenue Theatre-Revival OF Sara
tOga.

Fifth Avenue Theatre-RevivaI OF Sara
tOga.
Last evening Mr.. Bronson howard's play OF
Saratoga" was successfully revived at the Fifth
Avenue Theatre, in the presence OF a large, fash
ionable and delighted audience. Three years have
elapsed since II was last acted by this company,
and the ratification given to IL last evening proves
that the taste OF large proportion Of the pubic
has not materially changed. No embarrassment
need be felt in attempting TO speak critically
OF play like this, for IL Is equally easy
to speak truthfuly OF the beauty with
which 1t is placed upon the stage and OF the
paltriness OF It's achievement as piece OF dra-
matte work. 1t has been very severely abused
too severely, we think. For though we cannot re-
member that It presents solitary sustaner OF ac-
tual w.t. it yet abounds with bright remarks and
reprOduces with considerable smartness the slang
OF q certain phase OF fast and fashionable life.
whether that phase is worth having so much space
devoted to 1t, and whether the author would not
have done better by fashioning satirical picture
that might be comprehensive representation OF
hotel life at Saratoga are questions the answers
to which are so obvious that we snall
tSeref Sret only ienesy eeS the manner IN
which Saratoga" has been placed upon the stage
1t Is no nattery to confess that nothing is want
ing In this respect, 80 lar as scenery, mirrors,
furniture upholstery, costumes and drygoods IN
general are concerned; and perhaps q good COM
the cynical IN the fact that about half as much
SPACE on the programme Is occupied In dlrecting
attention to these matters as is used in printing
that these details are more perfect and complete
than we have been accustomed 10. The acting
found q few excellent and several very acceptaple
representatives. The excellent included MISS
Davenport as Efie Remington; Miss Morant as
and Mr. James Lewis as Bob Sackett. Among the
others, Mr. Harkins as Jack Benedict; Mr.: Dayidge
as is "a MIS-
may be specified. Miss Davenport In Edie found q
part in which her animal spirits. robust and
for briliancy Of costume enabled her heartily to
sympathize. Mr.. Louis James was the only
HIS duty was vas to c"' ae,nease Mr. iudinston
Whist the 'swel Of the Wells" Instead
Of doing this he gave the impression OIL. OF n,
clplent St. Vtus' dance and q tendency to sneeze
perpetualy crushed in the bud. 1t was unior-
him. because MIR. James a painstaking, ambitious
and mert0rious young actor gentlemaniy IN nus
tam line OF parts. The most beautiful Of all the
scenery was that in act third representing the
picnic. We have not spoken OF the plot OF sara
tOga" because 1t has no plot. Ii Is 1--we act farce,
with certain OF the olbles and a good deal OF the
slang OF society its basis, exceently placed
be repeated all the present week, with the excep.
ton OF Saturday night, when 'Man and Vile"
Will be given.
Theodore Thomas In New York and
Brooklyn.
The popular leader and his orchestra went
through q heavy task yesterday successfully. and
at the matinee at Steinway Hall and the evening
performance at the Brooklyn Academy OF Music the
audiences showed in overwhelming numbers the
public appreciation Of the Efforts Of this unrivalled
orchestral leader. The matinee programme was
calculated to attract any lover Of music to Stein
\, 6rut tha fonr
overtures to. ''Fidelio,"' the orchestra next
sayed the magnificent 'Lenore' symphony OF
Raj, Of which we have already abundantly spoken.
This work was received with unmistakable dem
onstratons pleasure by the audience, the subject
having been given in detail In the HERALD on the
occasion OF its first performance, and the various
movements being thus made perfectly Ineligible.
The galoping OF the spectre steed in the Taole SO
wonderfully illustrated by the strings, was q
prominent feature OF the symphony. The "Tei''
| the Introduction chorus and march rom the third
| act OF "Lohengrin" completed the instrumental
| part Of the programme. Mr. whitney sung selec-
lions from Mozart and Mendelssonn.
The Brooklyn PHILHARMONIC Society was IN o
took the position OF conductor. He wisely dis.
| carded the iossil1zed players who for so many
years afncted the BROOKLYN public. and introduced
| In their stead his own superb orchestra Instead
ofrheumatlc joints which creaked at every motion
or the violin bow Mr.. Thomas brought into the or
| warm blood, that became at times volcanic under
| the influence OF his baton. The orchestral part OF
the bill last night comprised BeethOven's Eighth
SYMPHONY, introduction and finale to Tristan and
Isolde" Wagner, and Liszt's prelude" Mr.. Liste
mann played Joachim's Hungarian concerto "a
work Astounding in "reminiscences OF earlier
writers) in a vigorous manner, but without any
| idea Of color or expression, MIR. Lstemann may
| be accredited with the reputation Of correct
player as his technique 10 faultess. but prgerea
1lthH. Mr. Louis Lubbock in the violoncelio obligatO
Of volkmann's ''Serenade," gained wnat might
| be called an absolute triumph. He has
! O perfect command over an instrument which
is seldom heard to advantage in virtuoso point Of
! view. The two singers Miss Thursby and Miss
| Bun, might have been probably omitted from
the programme as with such an orchestra, their
efforts were anything but successful. The cOntralto,
Miss Bull, sang an aria from .jao," and OCCASION
ally fell below the pitch OF the orchestra, (slnging
nat is unpardonabie, and the soprano sang Pr0cns
variations the ChecaI De bGtGiue OF CarlOtta Patti
and Peschka Leutner without the slightest idea of
phrasing or intelligibity. 1t would be well ii the
Brooklyn Philharmonic directors could exercise .
little more Judgment In regard to their s0lOlsts.
Prochs variations after Tristan ana Isode'' seem
like an insult to the intelligence OF their audience
and their conductor The next concert takes place
on February I.