The New York herald., 1874-09-15
A M u s z NJ E N r s.
The Filth Avenue Thcatre-The Re-
vfvnl of the .ssehooi for Scandal"

Last night the "Sohool for Scandal" was pEo-
duced for the second time a: The Fifth Avenue
Theatre, with splendor and appropriateness OF
scenery, appointments and costumes rarely seen
upon the stage either here or abroad. The CON-
edy as now performed Is an entirely new arrange
ment from the old acting version, and, as given
by Mr.. DAILY, is reproduction OF the manner in
which M was played for over two hundred nights
at the Prince OF Wales Theatre, in London. Moth
ing has been lett pndone TO give the play all that
It's completeness as play requires. Whether We
regard the scenery the setting, the costumes or
the furniture, IL is all the same. for in every re-
gard the closest attention has been paid to detail,
that the present revival OF Sherdan,s brilliant
work viii bear favorable comparison with the
manner in which 1t has been given in OF her the
atres, or in other days and in other cities re-
vval OF an old comedy is always an event looked
forward to with interest among large class Of
people IN this city. Our theatre going popu-
ation IL large one, and the patronage
bestowed upon good plays, Wen put upon the stage
and wen acted, has ever met with liberal reward.
Burton, in days gone by found II profitable 10 re-
vive the works OF the old dramatisIs. 80 dio she
elder WallacK, and in the present Time the eXcei-
lent manner in which both Mr.. Lester WahacK ana
Mr.. Augustn Daily produce the standard oranas
always meets with hearty ana nrontaple re-
sponse Few PLAYS Oh the English stage require
daL - and lew pieces require more careful acting
or more delicate delneation than the characters
represented in IT, 1t has been played in every first
class theatre, both here and abroad, since it was
nrst produced at the Theatre Royal, Drury lane,
London, under Sheridan's own supervision, years
before the present century was ushered into eXis-
tence. When we recall the names OF some OF the
actors and actresses who have figured in the casts
OF bygone years-those OF Burton. Blake, the two
PIacides Tom and Harry, Dyott, Walcot, Jefer-
son, Burnett Broughan and Chlppendale, with
such actresses as Laura Keene, Mrs. Hoey, Mrs.
Vernon and Mary Gannon-we call to mind the
recollection OF most OF the best comedians who
have ever graced the American boards. A lew only
are enumerated. Others might be mentioned,
but those CITED are snl fresh IN the
the audience which assembled last night
tC witness the revival OF the play there
were many, doubt, who saw the ''SchOol for
Scandal when most OF the actors and actresses
IN the present cast we're not troubling themselves
about the perpexlnes OF Sir Peter, the criticisms
OF Lady 1eaze or the refined scandal mongers
who gathered IN Lady SneerWelFs parlors 10 re-
view the indiscretons and Shortcomings of their
peighDors. Yet in the present cast at the Flitn
Avenue there are some OF the members whose
names nave Ia 'ae r, ou os o n yne Ry
Mrs. Candour; Charles Fisher, the Sir Peter Teazle
and William Dayidge, the SIR Oliver surface. are
Sir Peter last night was well drawn character,
lacking, however, IN that JUNCTION and suavity
part. His scene with Lady Teazle IN the
second act was hue piece OF acting. The screen
scene IN the fourth act, where Lady feazle IS dis
covered 'behind the screen in Joseph surfaces
library, was he great scene OF the play. Tne act
ing throughout the whole OF this act was mastery
and each actor worked up 10 the denouement
which closes the scene SO artistlcany that u is al
ais praise Mss "fsSsa PaFiaag g
Teazle). MI Fisher tSir Peter Teaze),
Mr.. Louis James Joseph snrace) or Mr.. George
Clarke as Charles surface. 1t was most effective
and complete IN every particular. Tne lnsdious
arguments OF Joseph Surface, the evidently Keen
perception OF Lady Teazle, seeing while not pre-
tending 10 iully estimate the viany OF the smooth
tOngued hypocrite VINO addressed her. the good
natured thoughtluiness OF Sir Peter while speaking
TO Joseph of how he had proviued for his wle
alter he thought she loved another, and the ro-
cOvery OF .'the little French mlliiner' who dld not
understand one word OF English,n were each
separately most exquisite pieces OF acting n Their
way, and together conduced to make the entire
scene one oil the most charming bits oil comedy
acting, and one such as Is rarely 10 be witnessed
n0wauays- Indeed, the whole play Is well acted
throughout, but the fourth act particularly SO,
and, therefore, 1t is given prominent notice. The
the play opens, introduces Us to nearly all the
prominent personages in the comedy If we ex-
CepJ Sir Ouver surface and Charles Surface, We
have all oi them, anu Is is from the acting here
presented that We may form some idea OF what Is
sneerweu, Mrs. Candour and Marta, win
Joseph Surface. sir Benjamin Backoite
81 ana tOe a9 na Te ans 5nef ae
the shortcomings Of their nelghbors with a relish
and Zest as ii their hearts as wen as their tongues
we're in the work. Mrs. GilDert's Mrs. Candour
Indicates the school ia which she has studied her
art and she gives careful portraiture OF the char
acter she represents No way inferior to 1t is Mr..
Hardenberg's Crabtree. In tuls act mtnuet and
gavotte is introduced, in which the leading char
Rcters, II we except Sir Peter TeaZIe-who leaves
before the dancing commences, bnJ not without
leaving his character behlnd-Jake part. On a
richly set stage adorned with handsome furniture
the stately dance OF our Observation-Disclosures
and grandmothers Is presented by the actors
gorgeously attred IN tue brilliant costumes then
m ~
with such effect that The applause 1t met with
amounted TO an encore and caused Its repeti-
ton. The second act was equally well acted
with the first. The third act introduces
Charles surface and his boon companions. Here
Lewis is the Moses, and we cannot say that he is
success in the part The character does not seem
to suit him, and his acting impresses one with the
belief tnat he feels ont of place in the part.
George Clarke's Charles Surface Is not by any
means as good the previous IN interpretations We
have seen on the stage. and Mr.. Conway's Careless
" forced and stin notwiths tandlng the efforts OF
that gentleman TO appear what ms name imports.
The Trip OF MI. Sol. Russell, new candidate for
metropolitan favor was a very neat effort, and he
made much OF little Mr. Davidse as SIR olver
gave the traditional rendering ol the part, and was
perfectly at home. The fourth act has already been
noticed, and when the curtain went down on the
fifth act the general verdict appeared to be that
the revival OF the school Tor scandal" is a sue
cess, such as the manner 10 which IL has been put
upon The stage merits
Booths Theatre-..Venice Preserved"
Poor Thomas osway Fortune was unkind to
him when he was alive, ana now, nearly two hum
dred years after bis death she plays him sad
pranks in America. The production OF his chief
work, "yenice Preserved" at Booths last night
was anything but a success. The revival OF Old
plays, especially OF this kind, nowadays calls
for cast made I'D Of genuine artists The onIy
artist that could possibly be considered
as entitled to the name last evening
was MIR. jonp Mccullough. dis impersonaion Of
the patriot, Pierre, was characterized by thought
iui study, unobtrusive tenderness ana calm dig
hIJy, ana the character In his hands became
artIstic painting, complete IN all It's parts Witn-
out any inclination toward unklDdness, we are
compelled TO say that the Belvi0era OF Miss
Fanny Brougn was not equal to the standard OF
some OF our amateur dramatic societies. The
efforts Of the LADY In such an important part were
really PAINFUL Tpe Jafier OF .he occasion, Mr..
f. Il. Warde, was no less unsatisfactory.
drearier more uninteresting performance II
mas never been our province 70 witness. 1t