The New York herald., 1874-12-10
YORICK.
An Artistic Crime.

+ VASAOA
An Artistic Crime.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
ind myself In very difr1cult position toward
Mr.. Augustn DAILY. gave him, early IN November.
the piece "Un Drama Nuevo" ably translated into
English. In order that he would produce IL on the
New YORK age, under certain private conditions
He, did not lose time, and the first performance
took place SATURDAY. last. He has done his best
for its success, but, unfortunately he has spoiled
the piece in such q manner that his interest and
the good reputation OF the author will be damaged.
. When put the piece into his hands courteousy
stated that he could make any changes ne deemed
advisable, though / believed thar as 1t was 1t
would answer the purpose. The changes re-
terred to were changes merely OF detail, con-
sisttng principally In the stage arrangement;
bus did not imagine that Mr.. DAILY or any body
else would undertake to mutilate the original
drama so as 70 leave IL unrecognIzabe.
No great American writer would have consid-
cred himself authorized, under any consideration
whatever, to change q line Of q production OF
Tamays Bans sal4A
- Lam well aware that Mr.. DAILY considered the
changes he made necessary to please tts Ameri-
can public But his good wishes cannot Tree MIN
from the responsibility OF having destroyed in
cold blood q MASTERPIECES OF the present days
stage. 6hH ~.
Respect for the works OF genius, either writing,
painting, sculpture or music, has always been the
characteristic seal OF enlightened people. On
Saturday last witnessed the performance OF
.'Yorick," and was sadly disappointed when I
saw the changes made in it. These changes be-
gin at the beginning and END at the end OF the
piece. The ORIGINAL title is "Un Drama
Nuevo." which, simply translated, Is "a
New Play" Knowing It very wen, ! could
remark the mutllations and WILL point out some OF
them from memory. In the nrst act q new charac-
ter has been ntroduced-Margery-w is OF no
use and produces no eject. Unnecessary addi-
tions have been made at the beginning Yorick.
instead OF entering with Shakespeare, as In the
original play, enters alone and calls Shakespeare
in alter having Q conversation with the servant
and the prompter, introduced In that part by Mr..
DAILY or his adapter. The dialogue between Yortck
The dialogue between Edmund and Alice has
been also changed 70 great disad dvantage and also
that between Shakespeare and Alice. Even the
name OF this lady has been rtdIculously substt-
tuted BY Alison, and the closing words OF the act,
which ought 10 oe spoken suddenly and after
served. were, on the contrary, pronounced from
inside In q loud voice, while running to meet his
wife, 0y which the great effect intended was de-
In the second act walton's monologue has been
musllated, 80 well as tnat between Alice and
Yorick and the beautiful situation OF the original
play, consisting in Yortck's jealousy OF Shakes
peare. is suppressed, and substituted BY some.
recollection all the end OF the second act was
In the third act and FIRST scene the character Of
the very same act depends, was omitted The
conversation cs.l oesween Alice, me author, the
also changed and their merit much marred BY
tnjudcious additions.
second scene Of the last act In order to explain
IL II will be necessary to tell wnat Is the idea de.
wriser wishing 70 prove that he was able s 70 wrise
sensational modern piece, produced "Un Drama
Nuevo" with the only particular object OF creating
in Inc audience an uneQualled excitement 1t Is
new and striking IN. dramatic situations.
public troupe OF actors preparing . performance,
Of r S
band. In the middle Of the performance, through
the act OF AT, traitor he ndS the proof Of his wies
Tne % nrss par. Of the last act occurs BEHIND the
be inside Tne second nd part part occurs ppl' on the
stage and represents the piece: the imaginary
and q the
OF the real public. When the actor Kills his wtles
GveT the pr0%pser @ ,ao manager ana 90 On invade
tells then, to the public, tnat the play cannot be
continued on account OF the crime just COM
ality SO admirably maintained produced great
excitement and moral lesson also slnce the VIC
tins the guilty.
Mr.. Dsy has not seized the meaning OF the
pIece This Is q comedy with q dramatic end.
The domestic life or troupe Of poor actors re-
qulres the natural language OF real life, Mr.. DAILY
has changed the "you OF the translation by the IN
this instance ridiculous. "th0u." Such change Is
the more injudicious, because the actors ought to
SPEAK in different manner when talking
among themselves than when playing tne play. The
action must at the same time bs rapid, and
piece should Immediately end MI. DAILY, instead
OF this writes protracted dialogue, Kills Yorick
also and presents . shocking and repuldve agony
to tue audience.
The great pivot OF the Spanish piece IL the
duality OF the stage and the public and the sudden
announcement by the manager that the piece
cannot pe continued. Mr.. DAILY, not UNDER
standing such duality, supposed that tho imaginary
public Is inside, when 1t u the public IN the thea
ire. The action OF the situation is diverted and
tho manager, instead OF informing the real public
OF the terrible events that have transpred sustans
the dying Yorck, weeps, and after display OF
ser ttmentalsm says, almost whispering TO the
pr0mpter, 'Ten the public what has happened
The massacre OF Yorick is contrary to art, to
Mr. Daly's interest and to mine, a. well as damaq-
ing to the glory Of the author.
Now the pivot OF the piece Is precisely the dual
fty referred to, and It's principal object the eject
OF the words said BY Shakespeare. Tne suppress