New-York tribune., 1874-02-23
THE DRAMA.

FIFTH AVENUE THEATER-LOYEs LABOR LOST.
Loves Labor LOST was produced on
Saturday evening at the Fifth Avenue Theater and was
with interest and pleasure by numerous and
brilliant sssomblsge. The bright little theater was
crowded and the spectators OF the performance fol-
lowed it with interest and frequent expressions
satisfaction Mr.. DAILY, fulfilling his promise to bring
out this shakespearesn comedy in q careful manner,
has framed gentle and tranquil rural scenery-so
like the woods that in looking ii one can almost
sme their fragranee-snd has dressed it in handsome
and tasteful garments Since there is no historic basis
Tor thug that the piece contains and
no historic period to which reference can be made for
authenticity OF dresses both right and necessary
70 treat the comedy work OF Shakes peare's own
tme spd 80 TO adorn is persons with tho picturesque
Snd msgb'heout Costumes Of the age OF Elizabeth. Mr.
Oay mas 10 the main followed this obviously correct
eno simple course and thus has filed his stage with
social pictures that both beautiful and informngly
euggestve is not necessary here TO describe the
comedy OF Loves Labor Lost" The world of readers
h aware that II Is accounted one OF the earliest lot
sosuaiy tie first OF Shakespeare's compositions that
y" literary merit largely exceeds its dramatic
power; that It's persons are mostly faint
eAosc"e' OF men and women efterward
mature comedies. filed ont and vltalized /;
'ns' is machinery Ia a compound Of halting contriy.
S Nv. ye' MADE supple; that its chief charms are
oAuocrs animal spirits, ralery wealth NJ nbrases and
that sensuous delight In mere life .na g., aoaDte'
r.
sources on nealth, strength, and phvs,cal as rou o
mental force and resource which ia the =, ~
uo Huaen's OF Shakespeare mind nothin. oonla no
more agreeable than the exercise of trsc,ps g. -
character sketches In Loves Labor LOST % th0
size figures andr ripe fulflment in the later oornd,
70 ind IN Theseus, Benedick, Malyoio Beatrica "a,
Hugh Evans Audrey, and Dogberry, the seouencs -,
Ferdinand. Biron, Armada Rosane. Holoferpes Ia
nuenetts and Dull In this so many others b
maturity OF genius did more than 20 MI up rouna
out color and flush the universal types that its youtb
had intuityely OWNED and grasped To students of
Bhakespesres mind accordingly this revival OF Loves
Labor Lost" must prove luxury and Deneht-since Il
helps 70 illuminate in their thoughts great and won
uerfu subject and 10 define and sharpen their percep
t1on and knowledge. Aside from this IL accOmplshes
hothing' To the average play-eOer IL might well
suggest Mr. Tennysous question about the chips and the
carpenters table. The finished work being accessible
ne may reason. the hints and preparations could be
spared We not ourselves OF this opinion Mr..
Day hSs placed an Intellectual privilege within the
reach Of thoughtful and cultivated persons and, as
a'sef Of scholarship, as well pleasure. they ought
bo~eicome and improve H. Twcthirds OF the perform
hnce' on Saturday evening, delicious; and II the
t"ss "as bore, that Shakespeare fau-and il il
comfort 10 DO able to lodge this 0etited oonsufe uDon
U''s''r sbo cannot Wits lsLtsrs ras actors endured