The New York herald., 1874-08-26
AM Us Z M E N rs.
The Fifth Avenue Theatre.


The fan season opened at this, house last
nisht with Mr. Daly's new play "What Should
she Dor or, Jealousy" The scenes are laid In
England aud Jamaica, and purport to be
pictures or modern life. Although many OF
the situations are strongly dramatic, the
story Is 50 involved that it is by no means
easy 10 follow the thread OF the plot. The author
mas not allowed himself 70 be hampered 10y
such rining considerations as probability
ana logical connection. He has taken pieces
oi human passion, or what appeared to MIN 10 be
so, anu out OF these has made mosaic OF ara
matte Incidents which he is ent,tl1d TO call u
drama Those VINO look for something more than
SITUATIONS built up to suit the peculiar talent
OF members OF dramatic company will
scarcely be inclined to receive 'What Should
She Dor" az anything but a very verbose and
poorly constructed stage play. The incidents OF
lie it pretends TO portray may be considered I'm.
possible Iuey Certainly do not deS srve TO be re-
ceived as pictures of contemporary lIe From
the opening scene TO the closing one there can
scarcely be said TO be single incident
developed from natural causes. For although
many OF the scenes give evidence OF invention and
certain respectable dramatic sense there Is evi-
dent through the play strainlng after cXag-
eerated or sensational effects winch de-
stroys all harmony and progression. The
way IN which the characters are drawn
renders it impossible to sympatnZe with them.
The central characters are Lord Basil Ciayering,
described IN the bills as good son ana a good
father, ana therefore good husband, and who
proves his title TO this praise by deserting IN
ingenue heroine Of the play. THIS lady. on whom
consumptlve when the story opens. and is sup
posed to be Fastening to an early grave She Is
Of os' Dss ssnss
herself sp to man whom she learns IS already ,s
same lovabe creature 0eloerately pOisons her
sell in jamaica under the impression taat her
she s' masines T' that that '" he still ILL loves e the
woman TO whom he had first gwen mis-
nsTo 0svc TIM naen some in sgs tSe o na
OF tne Ioitrtnaire, and her married lover made to
appear . criminal necause she wants to get ner
her OF sympathy and to .urnish an abundance OF
interest she is made to attempt tue lie OF her
main incidents through which the main actors are
led are gloomy and depressing, nor does there ap.
pear any sufficient motive ,or the sorrows or pas
sions bv whicn the characters are affected.
pretty Freely interspersed, somewhat relieve
furnish ample incident the WORK has been over
done, ana the dialogue seems absolutely inter-
mlnable THIS defect was aggravated last night
by the delays consequent to FIRST per-
iormance The dialogue requires to be cut
down considerably. but it would require
winning popularity. AT present 1t Is not by any
means an agreeable performance. IS Daven-
port, as Dlanthe dc Marco, Is lurnlSned with
q very strong part out her rendering OF it IS
marked by staglness and exaggeration, especially
Ia the opening scenes. siss Jewetts Lady
Elaine gives promise OF much dramatic power
aud was ialrly effective performance OF q
difilcnIt role Fisher, Clark, Davidge. harden
berg and Lewis had plrts well suited
to their peculiar taients. The cast IS u
remarkably strong one ana would be sufficient
OF ltseli to float almost any play. Owing to the
lateness Of the hour at which the performance
concluded II is impossible to enter more Iuly mo
the merits either OF the performance or the
actors. It is but justice to say that IN almost
every instance the latter deserved cOmmenda-
tlOn