New-York tribune., 1874-12-17
THE DRAMA.


BOOTHS THEATER-THE HERO OF THE HOUR
"The Hero of the Hour" came forth on
Monday night aud struck into amazement and ndmi-
ration "Brandy for heroes" Dr. Johnsons dictum,
and brandy should like TO administcr-both because
the law OF hospitality demands 1t upon this erudito
authority, and because pretty potent stimulant Ia
likely BE- needed In this instance Bnt, being over
whemed. will becomes tne servant TO dafecf ana
little small beer must the purpose OF the mo-
ment. That beverage tender to the hcroIc CAM who
stands new-ledg'd at Booths Theater.
lie had tho hOnors OF an attentive reception. Inc
theater was actually lln,d-wlthOat being pa
pered--lni the crowd comprised some OF
tho most notable amongst the intellectual
magnaios Of the city, together with quite number OF
tie Gd-and somo ~ tho saoulders-ot beauty ana
fashion Received by such aGscmblage IA this. the
hero must have .et that H. had arrived amongst bis
worshpers with no NJ. Carlyle to cr a: their de-
votiona manifestations lie ported hnsef, at any
rate In accordance with tnat sentiments and, MS
the ushcrs In Attendance. aud few furtyc enthusiasts
spriLked in the galleries, Iuenty burst forth with
noises OF spontaneous rapture 10 must have felt that lie
hai both Justification ani reward for his gallant con
duct Far be it from us to deny that he was rlSht
Such glorious o. ect Glscryed precisely such ardent
! and sincere ovation.
Tue Hero of Hour turned OF 20 be a Frcnch
t.cman who continually mistaken for some BODY else,
in certain parlons tmo toward the beginning OF the
eighteenth century. H. Fitted through many scenes.
IL one he was stabbed. IN he arrested for
murder. I'm a third nc chased by tho police In
fourth ho 1shed TIE head constable out OF the Seine,
and found himself transformed into witness for the
! prosetu OIc9 he Won fOrtunc at gaming taDle.
Once he got exceedingly drunk. a. one moment he wa.
Kissing all the pretty girls In bis vclaty. AT another
hs concerned find himself the bastard brother OF
body else for whom he had been mistaken b2th In
loves and perls. ~ chance lie became mixed up in
d fifn
APP iuted sA. o. bis own halfbother. by accident
he was prevented from this deed Of t!ooI And by
lucky fate he was at la,t pghted to the girl OF bis
love- amiis, group Of happy relatives -cmbowcred Ia
bliss through th 6cfca OF eyerybody schemes against
everybody This gives clear idea Of tho personago
OF the plot through which he melndors II not tho
reader mast trust to i9 Imagination. We viii throw
IN by way OF explanatory hint the Information that
there is attempt at murder In tho fret act, real
murder In the second an0ter attempt at murder in tho
third, duel and preparation for execution IN the
fourth, and murder, much talked Of having been
accomplished before tho piece opens Ail panorLa.
and ballet ana several remarkably fne ef)rts OF scene
painter aud stage manager and with some OF the
most execabe music heard from the noisy brass Of
the eIhlaraed Teuton and the Intellectual banquet Is
complete.
We feel that grip OF this subject is feeble. We
should be very glad to baVe opinion upon the play,
IL there any play TO have opinion upon. Bat
the fact Is this piece a Of historical spectacle.
and 1t coniuses the mind that tries TO view 1t az
drama There are, TO no sure. three threads In tbs
dramatic skein that !. dqplayedor rather that can DO
discovered By the asiut observer One Is the thread OF
ballsd conspiracy; another Ia that OF BAN ID MUIR
DER and third that OF baned seducer. Toe last
recalls the very thin and TRIVIAL sub plot OF the "Bello'S
ratasem." Tie first IS insignificant, because not
single parc pant in tho pot capable OF Inspiring
the slightest interest Tho mi idle One-On which
hangs the attempt OF murderer 20 murder the chief
police, whose myrn:Ons then pursuing an In
nocent the doeF Of tho murder which he himself
doncis distinct and ia really good but its kind
very little all above the levc OF the Jack Snepard
style Of stage literature ana when the quest for dra
matte substance ends In merely picturesque exhibition
OF scenes from the NewGae Calendar 1t scarcely be
accounted very satisfactory. Viewed as spectacle
the aggOmCrltiOn becomes at once simpler and fr
more soothing matter. SO much gore is not, perhaps
quito IN harmony with the feeling OF this genial festive
season-but it Is mingled with splendid shOw-pieccs,
ma gn. dresses, and quite number OF twnkling
calves aud tho pictorial and sersuous in the stage
art OF stOried time, all place temple aud all
season summer"
with The ghost Of literature in thl WORK, accordingly,
we shall foibCdr to struggle "FJ ye, blc.t sha le the
Tributary tear" Tie piece has been constructed with
other views T. certainly has Incident action, and pic
ture and 1t great deal of EACH The view Of the
Porte St. Antoine and the Place dc Ia Elstile, In l9
excellent. Ihc panorama OF ola Idfl5 Is DCaull-
fully painted. The Illuminated garden is respendent
and lovely. And the work H. carried through with
great deal OF spirit. Mr.. Henri stuart the actor,
who appeared as the Hero OF the Hour, has gallant
aud graceful manner and can nurse q leg, flourish
rapler and ntouc sentence the French manner. H.
played two parts. and he Disseminated between
them kcenly and nicely, by giving one an air
OF youthful inSeuuousIess and virtuous sincerity,
and the air OF polished heartessness and non
chalant cruelty: and he acted with nervous force
thrOu ghout. he Is not, however, in any remark
able actor He sort OF Little Fechter He speaks,
in thin voicc,-with a French accent and French
caden and both ajoIlnable N.lon applied to the
English language lie also speaks with slightly nasal
twaug, and runs the words together iu that manner
which some persons think is intensely spirited and pas
sonate His figure is thin enough to he egant, and
his aquiline iutcllect and experience. He
has tie merits OF cIrnestuess intelligence and trained
stage proficiency The dramatic art. aside from
this gentleman's porformance.-and asiie from
| parts OF the performances Of Mr. Warde, Mr.
| Bishop and Mr.. Leclcrcq,-was conspicuous
| by It, absence. There was abundant eucrgy OF
| conduct. tEough,-esDecaily on the part Of the
| IaJes Miss Lille Edrdgo vociicrdtod much. with
uplif;ed nose, and admired for everything. Mss
Wells favored tho public with some choice prOnunca-
tions Of the French language and especially charmed
| tho listener when she murmured hadew.' The
French words in general f,red equally weths being
an exercise in which the NcwYork players, class.
are peerless. But must further beverage
700 thin for n hero. The gallant is vvacious and
no is respendeny surrounded; and doubtless he will
please that large public which only asks for the salts
faction the eye. More ho DO, and more, per
| haps, should not be expected.
| The complete cast Of this piece Is as follows:
Dne de Rcheieu Henri Stuart herese Bsiln Lille Eirife
| L. H. Bishop Alice Louise Henderson
| B Nanie L-rine Slhcrlr
Charles Clercq COute OF Bourbon Mary Wlt
| Courtney.
Id su Irving BatDe Esee Mortimer
Edwin Sheppard LA sours Augusta Raymond
,houi Grafton
honro, Flower Gr T. @ahus Rutherford
J SoaiIesc ...........J W. ButOnr