The New York herald., 1874-12-06
MU s E N E N T s.


xhat had been said OF 1t by the management. It
n a strong play and as o psychological study
stands far ahead OF the ordinary dramas OF
The modern stage. In its aim and its matter
It is serious--too much SO, We fear, to become
popuar-and yet II people went to the theatre to
be instructed and moved, rather than amused, we
might promise 1t successful career. 1t has also
the merit OF novelty. Its action does not depend
On mere stage mechanism, and the carpenters for
once had little to do. The play makes great de-
mands on our thinking powers, for the ingenuity
OF the plot is sucn that we are left in doubt
TO the last moment what turn Affairs may
take We may here remark that the
denouement reached Is Disappointing because
the natural dislike OF an audience to o tragic end
ing led the spectators to hope that some incident
would be introduced TO prevent the tragedy FORE
shadowed IN the first act. SO clevery and in
Reniously had the dramatist wrought in laying his
plot in the first scenes that one felt justified IN
hoping for something better than the enacting OF
areal tragedy IN place OF mock one. II would
have shown greater skill to maintain the dread OF
the Nemesis and yet avert the punishment Of
those who were but half guilty OF crime.
Tne plot or the play may be rapidly sketched IN
this wise. An actor VINO has won lame as a come
dian, not content with making the public laugh,
desires ardently to appear in tragic role TO prove
that he possesses the power to make them weep
Shakespeare, with whom we are made acquainted
IN the character OF theatrical manager
"guide. philosopher and iriend," tries to
dlssuade tae comedian rom his rash ash
consideration has vanity than sense. He
therefore 1uarrels with the kindly criticism Of his
relations with the theatre, taking with him his
wife. Alison, who IS also great iavorlte with the
reients, and the COM Comedian is made happy by being
sass %ass iGp eo as o Ra it. and oDs sa
fn m usiD n q q G ed nv
the comedians rehearsal OF the heavy part and
his failure to render the authors meaning even to
his own satisfaction The tragedian OF the COM
pany has learned that the part originally intended
Tor hlm las been intrusred to the comedian lie
rage and disappointment He even volun-
rsers TO aid his rival to rsaearss seo,ns tine
'' up Of the he plot '' on Which the future action
is to rest. The part intrusted to the comedian
confidence is betrayed and honor blasted BY the
man he has protected and loved. This is Yoricks
ew pae ne wom he has
and loved as his dearest friend, enterIains
ST the oys s Of ns rstursss DssacH Se gr 0
physically honest but ner heart and soul belong
TO ner lover. BY an accident OF fate all three are
play Of ''Yorick' consists in the cleverness with
which real and mimic incidents are nterwoyen
so that 1t is not always easy to distinguish
whether what the people on the stage are
or the painting OF their own own passions. whose
presence has been announced to the audience
the last act, when the treason OF the friend and
vile IS discovered by the vilany OF Walton, the
place 10 real one-Yorick killing the destroyer
OF his peace and dying himself filed with remorse
@ T be seem nom this hassy W sRelch % that
there are no lack OF horrors IN the play.
70 reeSe aa ,ae n' eoa% ns!e Tse % as
offers several splendid opportunities for acrng OF
10 wat wnr hfad nv
and yet both did admirably. Still, the opportuni-
ties for s0ul-paintlng were SO magnificent. the
thoughts running through the passionate speeches
30 elevated, that unusual scope was offered, and
It required more than good acting to satisfy the
is supplied with situation q the strong.
est dramatic interest. Tne first act awakes
at once noVei and pOMerU In the second act
the struggle between the husbands faith in his
splendidiy conceived. the interest cuimInates In
the last scene OF the third act where the husband
the treacheFy OF his bosom friend. This scene was
hardly made as much OF as 1t should have been
1ether; they are each acting on the mimic scene
. role tnat resembles 30 closely the domestic
nea spoKen By suits s
own case as though written expressly Tor 1t. The
climax OF the dramatic acton IN tne play 10 wmcn
tercepted packet This IS reproduced by Walton
handing to Yorick letter from Edmund TO Alison,
making arrangements for their el0pement This
discovery turns the mimic into real tragedy,
rs Yorck kills his false friend IN earnest aud then
0ies himself Poetlcal justice is reached by Walton
ialnng on his sword and expiring-happily behind
the scenes. The dramatiss having thus disposed
OF three principal characters the curtain naturally
comes down. "Yorickn ls certainly . most re-
markable play, With . public that would &C
cept the merely intellectual drama 1t would
be great success, and would deserve
20 be. Its construction is ngenious-its plot novel
and emtnently original. There Is more thought IN
the dialogue than could be hoped for from bushel
OF plays OF the period, albeit language somewhat
tinged by the gorgeous tints OF the southern sun.
ALAS poor Yorck." Thou comest To teach when
We but desire to be made laugh. Gotham prefers
the other Yorlck-.'the Fellow Of infinite Jest.n
Concert in Aid OF the Home for Chris
tian Care.
On the 11th Of March, 1873, a few gentlemen in
this city obtained charter for benevolent inst-
tuition called "The Home for Christian Caren its
aim being to stretch forth helping nand TO the
homeless ana degraded children that crowd our
streets and Ill our prisons and try upon them the
efects OF the wholesome, loving discipline OF
Christian home. With this view farm OF forty
acres has been purchased, situated two miles
from Sing Sing, on the Hudson River Railroad,
and one and half miles from Pieasantvlle, on the