The New York herald., 1874-11-15

action IS supplied by his attachment TO Robert
fiolliott, VINO In youth made OF the poor boy q
recalls Danny Mann. WIN his strong love OF '.the
young master" In the Shaughraun the authoi
aims aims al presenting higher type OF the same
Grass. ana Tor this purpose has associated the
pohlcai TO the social element IN binding
the two men together. Mingled with the respect
ol the dependant for his superior IS tue attacn-
ment OF the follower for his chief In this Mr..
Boucicauit mas ventured to strike u chord ne
merely touched in his .Arrah na Pogue." Taxing
Tor ms cue political events that are sun fresh IN
the public mind he has woven iacts anu notions
so closely together tnat those iamiiiar with tue
contemporary tory OF Ireland will detect many
pertinent illusions TO the occurrences VI the day.
With his usual SKIN. however, Mr.. Boucicault mas
avoided dangerous political entanylements. Al
by me adventures aud tragic end OF the
avoids dealing directly with the political ques tions
by making the incidents OF MS play hinge on mo-
nves purely personal to the group OF persons d.
rectly afecl ed By the action or the play. The poll
tcal illusions are therefore no more tnan The spice
and navor OF the good things set down before U.S. la
tue drama. which takes place 10 Sligo, police
agent, Harvey Dun has entrapped and be-
trayed Young Irish gentleman, Rob-
canes e nstras ns ana
thence returns IN disguise to revisit his home.
where his sister Clare and mis- betrothed. Miss
ONeale live III penury; tor the estates OF Fiolllott
have been conveyed TO Corney Kinchela, q friend
OF the amily, 70 AVOID condscaton. Kinche!a re-
soIves to appropriate them aud schemes 10 that
end. lie assoclates himself with Harvey Dun, and
these two plan TO arrest the young fugitive The
action or the drama lOUoWS the adventures OF the
boy as he escapes rom his prison, ana poetic
justice Is accomplished by the general remission
oi the sentence on all toe irish political pris-
oners, issued by the English government.
When the curtain goes up Robert FiolEoIr
ana his attached follower have returned to their
native land. In the mean ~hile tor the purposes
OF this drama. Mr. Bouclcaut has issued general
amnesty In the name oil the British government.
But Fioliott, having escaped, IS excluded from
the act OF ciemency. He has scarcely landed when
his presence Is discovered oy Harvey Dun. the In
iormer, who hasrens TO notify his .accomplice,
ns oe orders ae
TO arrest Flolott. VINO Is known TO have
taken taken. refuge IN the priests house; rnis
and is made the occasion OF q splendid
dramatic situation The officer in command OF
vlct's sister-Miss Dyas-and Is deeply smitten
by her beauty. When ne learns that the
man be IS IN sea,cn OF Is her brother
he seeks an excuse TO avoid making the
arrest. Convinced IRON the alarm OF the ladies
tnat the man he mas been sent to arrest Is IN the
aged prlest-ar Glbert-will give MS word
as clergyman tnat Robert Frolott Is
not II, IN tae l house; ,e,. The old man strSg.
uuty to his conscience-tnere Is q moment Of ter.
rible suspense Tor the betrotned wife and sister,
VINO, like true women, are willing to sacrifice
everything Tor sake vi the object or their love.
The suspense Is broken by Robert FioIliOtt emerg
ing from his nidiDg place and surrendering III
terrible choice OF petraying his guest or
staining has conscience with lie. the effect
the sDcctator cannot refrain from the deepest
sympathy with the poor priest, whose duties rs
minister oI God and host are placed In irrecon-
ciiaoie antagonism. As the curtain went down
ON the scene tae people gave enthusiastic express
sion to tneir satisfaction. Mr.. Boucicaulr was
called before the curtain, an honor bestowed
likewise on the principal members OF the cast.
The seconu act is devoted to the rescue OF young
tlons Of KincneIa 10 bring about his as
sassnation, while the Snaughraun, like the
Deus s,. e. e. machine Of ,ls Old tragedles, I
which IS the more striking because tue sea pegrace
seems perfectly unconscious tnat ne Is DONG any
are OF u beauty seldom Witnessed on tue stage
especially IN this, that they are truly artistic and
G9epend on thus quality ior .helr success: success
contrlvance the Gate Tower is made to revolve
the stage so as TO show first the interior OF the
Gate Tower and afterwards the exterior. the
actors never quit ting the stage. 80 that all the
incidents OF the escape take place with
sae suaenee In he nrG act an sn
wake is SHOWN. 1t is deprived OF ITS
soeinnity by tue knowledge possessed by the au-
therefore one OF tae incldents most enjoyed by the
audience. VINO entered into the inll spirit
his neignDors. Tae piece cuminated in the
death OF the spy. VINO. to escape the ven-
geanee zee o. me myo, Jumps n ,n over precipiGe
der OF Fiolliott, wnile the ladies' are rewarded for
their Trials and tribuia'lons with prospective
ada another success to the many already
achieved by Mr.. Bsuclcault In this play
the action Is remarkably rapid and well
on 10 interest the audience, so that attention
never 1ags The interest Is well distributed
and sparkling. There is put one long speech.
and IL is made by the shaugnraun
San 1t ss IS ons Of the Oes: sad racest bits o.
description Mr.. Bouclcault has given Us. In no
other Of his plays has the author saio SO
said TO be welded IN the dialogue, so
closely are they interviewer, and one scarcely
fore the smile is called out by some bright sally
At the end OF the performance the author was sum.
moned before the curtain to receive the conGrat-
uations or the audience which he charncyertsr.
cally acknowledged.
Miss Kate Fields Debut 1t Booths
Theatre.
One OF the most important events OF the dra.
matte season took place last evening at Booths, In
the appearance OF the distinguished aurhoress Miss
Kate Field, as Peg wofnnaton, IN MASKS and
Faces" Tnis Is The debut OF Miss Field the stage,
and her selection OF this the frultion
long cherished desire to identity herself with the
dramatic calling and do her part toward elevat.
ing the stage. Her celebrity as an authoress
attracted large and brilliant audience. Nearly
ali the literary ana artistic circles in
the city were represented. Among the
audience we noticed E.. Z. Stedman, the
poet banker Launt Thompson, the sculptor
George Ripley, the eminent critic; Mr.. John Swim.
ton, a candidate for Mayor; Whitelaw Reid, OF the
Tribune; Z. A. Webb. well known as "John Paul -
Hugh J. Hastings, Charles A. Dana, Surrogate
Hutchlngs, Colonel John Ray, Clarence Cook,
Colonel William r. Shafer, l. J. jennings George
Jones, William winter, Chester A. Arthur, OSWALD
ottendorer, Major J. N. Bundy, James Lewis. the
actor; ex- Judge Downg and other well known
citizens. Miss FIELD received an ovation when she
stepped on the stage ana It was some time before
she could proceed. There was the least
perceptible nutter OF nervousness as sne
began, which IN time wore away, and she
continued through her part with great applause.
FIRST performance can hardly be called q true
criterion OF the true merit Of an actress, but Miss
Field showed great sprfghrliness, taste and true
comedy power. Her conception OF Peg was based
upon the real character OF the famous actress,
ana was an earnest eDOrt TO present her genius
and versatility. In the last act Miss Field was
repeatedly applauded and overwhelmed with
flowers and at the close oi the performance she
came before the curtain and was rewarded with
q round OF cheers. Miss Field will accept our
~ae.,,o has, evtr~