The New York herald., 1874-12-09

The Modern Drama-Mr. B0ucfcauIt.
So much has been said about the decadenoe
Of modern art. and particularly of the drama,
under the influence of French adaptations
and English burlesques, that we are only too
glad to note and applaud any effort to revive
the spirit of ths old stage, when the classic
taste ruled dramatic art Some time since
there was wide discussion as to the absence
from our drama of play that could be re-
regarded as distinctively American. and our
authors were called upon to save American
literature by writing an American "Hamlet
or s'School for Scandal" If we could call
Sheridans and Shakespeares, like spirits from
the Vastly deep, to do our bidding and create
immortal dramas, this would be possible. But
at the same time there are many things in
modern drama of which we should be proud.
Nothing ls more absurd than the argument
that modern taste has become SO vitiated by
opera boe!fe and moral French plays that
legitimate drama has no longer An audience
that to minister to popular taste it
is necessary to play the banjo and dance
in clogs. The popular taste is pure
and unerring 1t will have its freaks now
and then and indulge in strange adventures
after unworthy performances, but in the end
the highest instinct will prevail Whenever
we hear of managers complaining of bad busi-
ness we are apt to think the cause lies in bad
actors and worse plays. OF course the
depression Of the times affects the theatrical
as well as other business; but there has been
no such engagement for long time as Miss
Cushman's farewell performances at Booths
Theatre Mr.. Jefferson and Mr.. Clarke are
great comedians and they have had great sue
cess. This is because Miss Cushman as well
as Mr.. Jefferson and Mr.. Clarke have repre-
sented the highest forms of dramatic art
There has been no success however, SO
marked as that of Mr.. Boucicault at Wallack's
in his new comedy of ''The Shaughraun."
This is dramatic event of great interest and
is only another triumph in the career Of an
extraordinary man. This gentleman has been
for long time before the people and he has
had his own share Of criticism. We are told
that he is feeble and commonplace, that
Ao bVco0 LID PAOtS duu CACCto AAOAA
the French that he is shameless
literary pirate; that one effect is from
Victor Hugo, another from Byron, a third
from Shakespeare But the truth is that Mr..
Boucicault has written more successful plays
than any living dramatist. that he has founded
q new dramatic school in his creation Of the
modern Irishman of the stage, and that our
present drama owes more to him than to any
other writer. Mr. Boucicault is certainly an
extraordinary man, and he deserves this pub
lie tribute to his genius. He is the Admirable
Crichton Of literature. He writes prose and
poetry as well as Sheridan, he has consummate
knowledge Of stage business, his performance
of the tutor Tourlillas, as Frenchman, and
Of the Shaughraun as an Irishman, are gems
of acting. In their way the stage has nothing
finer. The Shaughraun, an idle, shrewd, lazy,
cunning, thrttless, true and brave Irish de-
pendant is as subtle and perfect picture as
anything on the stage. So that we have the
extraordinary combination of the highest
genius for acting with the highest genius for
authorship. In this Boucicault surpasses his
most illustrious predecessors, for Sheridan was
an author merely, and Shakespeare, supreme
in his poetic art, was only a third class player
It is the highest tulflment Of genius to be able
to create q drama and at the same time to
step on the stage and illustrate your own
creations. a8s
This Mr.. Boucicault has done. "The
Shaughraun' is masterpiece. No wonder
Wallack's beautiful theatre is crowded every
evening, with the seats nearly all taken for
two weeks in advance. Here we have all the
requisites of dramatic perfection. The theatre
as perfect as q drawing room, the company
perfect in tone, capacity and fitness, the
scenery as fine as the painters art can desire,
the comedy witty. pure, effective, natural,
dramatic, and, at the same tune, sensational,
and the great actor himself representing his
| own creations. Mr.. Wallack has won the
blue ribbon Of dramatic success tor this sea-
son, and he owes it largely to his association
with the wonderful man whose genius now
rules his stage, and will no doubt continue to
rule it for the remainder Of the season.
Fashtonablc Smuggling.