The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-10-11
A NJ o s E NJ E N T s .


Last n'ght q novel aud exceedingly interesting
Dill was onered by Mr.. DAILY, and there gathered
an audience brilliant and d sIinguished even be-
yond the usual hrst night assem0laees We
are wont TO see in this iavorite theatre.
The great attraction OF the night was
the proposed representation OF Longfellow's
last poem In tdbleaur uiudnts. ana In addition
new comedy adapted from the French. These nov
elites were further strengthened by Sheridan's
amusing comedy, The Crliic,r which was revived
with cast OF unusual strength. The
mistake was made OF cutting Sir Fret
ful Planary's role out OF the latter
and introducing some gags, neither change
Improving percepuby the value OF the play. Mr..
Days new comedy Is called "The Two Widows.n
and, unlike most of the dapta ions from the
French with which the stage has iamiii.rized ua,
is remarkably tree from Objectionable sifua-
tons or equivocal dialogue Its motive is, how
ever. very slight ana. though the dialogue Is
bright and hanpy. with occasional Galllcisms, il
seems. somewhat long drawn out We have not
yet reached that stage OF culture which induces an
audience 10 support talk, however, brilliant, eX-
cept what may be necessary TO the action OF the
piece. fnls state oil the public taste has been
forgotten by the adapters. aud. as
result, the effect Of our otherwise clever and in
This, however, Is a defect easily remedied, and we
hope u may De done, as we look fayoraby On the
III trOQnctlOn on our stage OF those lively llttle
comedies which have all tae interest OF i've acts
crushed into one. Mr.. Harkins was selected 70
read I.ongfellows poem, 'lhe Hanging OF the
Crane" during the presentation OF the tabie0ur
otr0nts by the company. SO far as depended on
him he discharged his duty with praissworthy
his mss w asa ons sO the
most remarkable features OF this novel entertain
ment Nothing was neglected to secure tue
effectiveness OF the pictures presented. The per-
sonages were wen grouped, the coiOring good, but
somehow tne impression created was, not that we
were looking at real picture, but rather at wax
work. the inmobiity OF the assistant Is contrasting
rather unavOrablv with tue movement ana
action we are accustomed to look Tor on the stage.
Neither does the poem acquire any new force rom
teDttOn IS rather distracted and We mss the beauty
OF the mind pictures IN end aavoring to associate
them with the realism OF the stage. without the
poem the taDieaux would be effective as pictures,
increass each otner's value. The novelty OF the
idea Will no doubt secure public favor for the
snort time II Is intended to keep the taDeauX
on tue bill, and in addition they have
the double advantage OF occupying very little
tine and beng sandwiched between two amusing
pelfoi mnnces. The entertainment concluded with
Sneridan's amusing play, "rhe Critic" The
cast was very strong one, introduce
ing nearly the whole OF the company In
characters widely difre ent from those
excellent actor, Mr.. James Lewis, was introduced
with the role OF Puff, but though ne acted 1t with
in tel.gence, the easy grace. seii-possessi0n and
dash with which Mathews invested it were
formidable comparison to struggle against
and as q result appeared to do better. We regret
that the laie hour at which the curtain ell pre-
cludes the possibility or more lengthy notice; but
as the performance will be continued through
next week we may be able to return to the subject