The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-14
Am s e NJ e N T 8.
Opening Of the New Park Theatre
loves Penanco.

effected last night under she direction OF Mr.
stuart who win be remembered as the associate
OF Edwin Booth in the management of the Winter
Garden. The event had been looked forward to
with considerable interest and curiosity both by
the public and those more Intimately connected
with dramatic affairs. Claims had been put for
ward calculated to excite hopes Of extraordinary
achievements in the architectural arrange
ments of the new house, which was an
nounced as the model theatre, the theatre
oil the future-in TACT, on which all succeeding
places of amusement were to be modelled. We
regret to say that these brilliant promises have
not been fulfilled, and that the new theatre resem-
bles more closely the theatre OF the past than
what we hope for in the future. Beauty has been
ineX0rably sacrificed to utility, and the necessity
OF crowding the largest possible number OF seats
into the smallest possible space consistent with
moderate amount OF comfort seems to have been
the chief aim OF the builder; hence the proportions
OF the house are far from elegant. In gen.
eral aspect 1t resembles an English rather
than an American house, and in point Of
beauty and comfort falls far below the
average Of our best comedy theatres. 1t will
seat comfortably something over 900 persons. Very
little attention has been paid to that impor-
tant subject, the safety Of the audience, only one
passage having been provided for egress. In case
OF accident or alarm loss OF lie would almost in
evitabIy ensue. The Inspectors OF Buildings nave
shown themselves wanting in their duty to the
public in not insisting on other outlets being
provided Tor in case Of alarm or OF fire. II,
In the construction OF the house. there is little
TO justify any enthusiasm for the theatre OF the f.
ture in the matter or decoration. there Is much to
condemn. Red, white and blue, mingled here and
there with yellow, are the prevailing col0rs, and
no effort is made to harmonic them or to soften
the harsh contrasts OF the color patches 1t would
be difficult to imagine anything more wanting in
artistic taste than what we are compelled to call
the decoration OF the theatre. The crudeness and
want OF harmony in the decoration create very
disagreeable impression on the mind. Turn in what
ever direction 1t may the eye dwells on something
which onends the aesthetic sense, and this unfor
tunate circumstance tends to make the audience
exacting and III at ease. The orchestra has been
removed out OF sight and placed under the stage,
which we consider as an Improvement, as there Is
nothing to withdraw the attention OF the audience
from the scene.
Loves Penance," the play selected for the
opening night, is adapted from the French DRAMA
Gle Medecln des Enants," written by Messrs
Anice;- Bourgeois and A. Dennery. 1t was produced
the first time at the Gazette, in Paris, October 25
1866, on which occasion the role OF Doctor Hart.
rick was filled by M. Laferrlere. MI. Fechter,
to whom we believe is due whatever
honor has been reaped In the adaptation.
has made the two first acts OF the original
into prologue, and cut out vast quantity Of use
less dialogue, for which we have reason to be
thankful. The story on which the play is based
has the inevitable spice of sin, without which the
ordinary French dramatist seems Incapable or
imagining any plot capable OF interesting human
ity, or at least Partisan humanity. And among
the many stories Of immortality which disgrace the
10 DAG Epron fc11 f1o
serves to be ranked one Of the most offensive
or Its class. II it incucates anything it Is that the
man who runs away with another mans wife may
be more injured than the husband, and may have
his feelings so narrowed up by an attempt to en-
force the marital rights upon which society is based
that society ought rather to sympathize with the
offender than with the victim. This is view OF
the case which is not likely to find much favor
with American public, and 1t is to be regretted
that the adapter, who took so many liberties
with the play, did not mend its morality
somewhat before presenting 1t for approval.
The plot is DuiiS on the story Of naval captains
wife, who being married alter the mode much
in vogue in France finds herself without sympathy
for the man to whom she has been consigned for
life by her family. Under these circumstances she
allows herself during her husbands absence ON o
long voyage to form Platonlc attachment for o
younger gentleman with whom she has more affin-
ity. Except the trivial fault OF encouraging q
young man to spoon, the authors tell us that the
lady is not to blame. On the contrary, she kept
well within the line until the inevitable moment
when she stepped or was drawn across. That, we
believe, Is the old story. The husbands return
forces the lady and her new found lover to remove
from PARIS, and when the play opens they have
been for some years domiciled In q country dis
trict where the improper young man OF the boule-
rdc hoe banu w nj nj
pure country air into most benefcent Deing-'the
childrens' doctorr-with an angelic mission. How
ever, the husband, not having any claims to an
gelic qualities has been hunting up the fugitives,
urged by desire for vengeance, and comes on the
scene in the prologue to destroy the happiness OF
the little community In which his spouse and her
lover have taken refuge. According to French law
married ady's husband can dispose of her chill
dren even though no natural parental relationship
may exist, and on this circumstance the plot and
its interest are made to hinge Unlike most injured
husbands, Count Rocklane Is not anxious to shed
the blood Of the man who has dishonored him. He
looks on killing as q barDarous and inadequate
punishment, so he seeks to infict wound
whose pain shall leave the victim to linger
out q wretched life, with a heart yearning
for something never to be attained The law in
question furnishes him with the means. The
seducer is tenderly attached to his child and the
Count, using his legal right, takes her from her
natural father to her up as the daughter OF his
own NAME This exquisite bit OF moral nayng re-
suits in the death OF Clarisse in the adaptation,
which is departure from the original text that
enables Clarisse mere to appear in the first act
which opens alter a supposed lapse OF fourteen
years, as Clara the daughter OF the unconsecrated
union. With the death OF the lady who had stnned
we may be said to get rid OF the naughty elements
OF the play and enter purer atmosphere, or at
least an atmosphere purified by the fires Of holy
love, untalnted by thought OF sin. Unfortunately
neither the authors nor the adapters seem to have
perceived the excellent opportunity OF contrasting
the peaceful calm OF holy love with the sorrow
laden sinful passions OF the prologue, and only aim
at giving US o dramatic picture of the
passions OF two men who have wrecked each
others lives. This would be legitimate sub