The New York herald., 1874-08-11
SEM EN- rs.
.'Belie Lamar" Boucicault's New Play,
ut Booths.

mt Booths.
The great auditorium OF Booths Theatre was
last night crowded to the extent OF its enOr-
nous capacity with an eager audience, on
the occasion OF the beginning OF new
management and all the friends OF the
new managers-Messrs. Jarrett and Palmer
were there. 1t was the first night OF new
American play by the author Of the "Octoroon"
and "Trip Van winkle," and the admirers OF Dion
Boucicault. on the stage and in the press pressed
forward to see II the dramatist had scored
another sensation success. John Mccullough also
was to be tested In Q new and original part.
1t is not strange, then that the occasion
served to bring together large and
brilliant audience. Before entering into dis
cussiOn OF the artistic literary merits OF the
play, let US acknowledge with pleasure that 1t is
clear, honest and wholesome work, both in subject
and treatment. We feel that we are breathing
the sweet, pure air of lofty position o refresh
ing atmosphere IN which we feel healthful in
nuence. The passions are grand, robust and
masculine. The tenderness is that OF amiab,ltty.
In poetic purity "Belle Lamar'' can rank beside
the "COeen Bawn" The American character is
portrayed In life size and full OF that rough vigor
and blunt diction that seems at bound to reach
sublimity by the very force OF Its prose-
On the rising OF the curtain we found ourselves
on the banks Of the Backadder, q dark, densey
wooded river In, the Shenandoah Valley. Beyond,
and along the distant bank, glimmer the watch
fires OF the Confederate force under Stonewall
Jackson solitary Irish recruit, IN the national
uniform, is discovered on the STAGE pacing WY
on his outpost duty. He sings to himself "Why
did I leave the county Glare to sail across the
scar" The last notes have scarcely died away
whom che voice OF the rebel sentinel on the urther
shore OF the river Is heard singing to himself,
NSorv Ian Nov land hn ffoot Nf thooa
efrusions OF the heart to the distant home Is
mastery touch OF the dramatst; it starts the ac-
ton Of the piece and strikes the keynote OF It's
sentiment with as much poetic feeling as in-
genuity. The subject may be briefly told. Mars
ton Pike, an Oficer commanding an advanced post
OF the national army under General Banks, is
stationed at Mount Lamar. Virginian mansion
from " hch the Lamar family have ned at the ap-
pr0ach OF war. Young Isabel Lamar is In jack
sons camp ana has not only attracted the love OF
Marston, who meets her by stealth at night but
she manages at these interviews to extract many
pieces OF valuable news, for she Is an active and
Is to be his vile When S the war wal iV"seS is over,
and attendant to cross the Northern lines on her
way to Washington. She hears at the same time
important despatcness es are expected from General
pass to enable rebel officer under her guidance
to wayay the bearer OF despa tches and ROB him OF
escapes with the papers, but is hunted down in the
woods. Meanwhile Colonel Philip Bligh arrives
msnd. Biich Is stern, active and noble soldier
the admiration and terror Of both the Confederate
and Union troops: he ws, y the dearest friend and
cences over the mess table the news arrives that
two rebel spies have been taken rcd-handed, one
OF them woman. Bligh resolves to try them by
court martial. lie dictates to MarstOn letter to
headquarters, urging on the General the necessity
OF executing both these spies, and thus put stop
N an
pointing out how many OF these vipers are
DaskIng on the national hearth at Washington.
Marston little thinks that his own love Is the
man whose death warrant he is writing. The let
ter ~ despatched; and then the pass supposed to
ne orged .eas enacss % xnese % spes 70 Cross sns
his own handwriting and confesses to Blgh the
truth pleading his love In mitigation OF his crime
To all his eloquence Blgh replies BY telling him
his own secret history; now ne had married q
young and lovely southern girl, ana be lore q Year
aim @ to desert his nag, she tore herself from his
arms and ned TO her family IN the SOUTH They
obtained divorce Tor her; and she left his life
name that he had rendered celebrated In the
North. she resumed her own, Isabel Lamar.
at the same moment the soldiers hunting wild
and tattered ngure with hue and cry before
them into the room, Belle stands in the presence
OF her husband and ner lover.
In the second act Bgh has received an answer
to his letter, instructing him to try the woman and
apply the extreme penalty to her case. During
himself her accompice, and reveals the fact winch
their presidents divorced vile. Philip unable to
Dear the torture OF his position. gives Belle safe
conduct to headaaarts&fs: & sne uses ts to enable
whelmed to discover that she has involved Philip
IN tue charge OF connving at the traitors evasion
position In the mountains, where he holds Stone
wall Jackson at bay while awaiting the arrival of
S Sours tne ss aery w be IN
position To sweep his little troop from the earth.
lie refuses an ofrer TO surrender. His orders are
70 hold that spot, called the whitestown Gap, and
with the tenacity OF bulldog he cllngs to 1t. The
supreme moment arrives. single hOrscman Is
Pike, who has used his liberty to reach the Union
lines and bring up the Tagging force. The music
OF the distant regiments is heard. and the blue
columns are seen emerging from the woods, cross
ing the bridge, deployng into line and belching
their hre as the artillery appear and begin TO play
Mean while, when death seemed inevitable, the
repen'ing wife has thrown herself at Bligh's feet
and confessed the enduring love she has never
ceased to feel Tor him. impi0rinR hts forgiveness
Philip. whose honest nature has never sought to
conceal Its love for the fugitive has taken her to
his breast Neither OF them dream they will owe
their deliverance 10 the hand OF Marston who
arrives with the relieving force.
sucn Is the outline OF the plot upon which Mr..
Boucicault has succeeded IN building drama, re-
markabe for Its vigorous action and deep pathos.
II touches chords OF the national heart that,
and psssions OF the civii strife that has
scarcely died away are recalled by the
dramn'st. Win curious skill ne mas succeeded IN
presenting what was MODEST and best In both
sideA without giving cause for offence to any.
Even the men who met In deadly light
can look ~ this war picture with o
sad kind OF pleasure, without having
any Of their susceptlDtlities offended. II IL
pioverbially dinncult to present on the stage any
picture OF war which viii even suggest the reality.
1ne exigencles OF the drama require also the VIOLA
q on Of the probabilities very often. IL is there
lore, In those parts OF the drama devoted to pictur
ing the domestic passions that the dramatlst
has been most successn. For rapidity
oi action and dramatic force the FIRST act, termi-
mating with the recognition OF the female rebel
SPY by Colonel Bligh ~ hts wife. In superior to
those that follow. The last two acts demand too
much to be granted without explanation, and
soldiers are made 10 do things that In
actual warfare would expose them 10 the
danger OF . court martial, with very great proba.
bnity OF firing party m the distance. But these
are overs.ghts that spring rom want OF technical
knowledge, which ts excusable enough In
q peaceful dramatist what Mr. Bouci-
that viii give him telling and powerful
situations Manipulating his materials with THIS