The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-10

The Condition OF the New York stage.
The theatres Of this city have always held
the leading place in dramatic art in America,
but want of that uniformity of excellence
which has always been our boast seems to
be the chief deficiency Of the drama at this
time. This want is to be attributed as
much to the character of the plays as to the
shortcomings of the artists. There, for in
stance is Mr. Byron's comedy Of 'Our
Boys" at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. 1t is
bright chatty comedy, often brilliant as well
as witty in dialogue, but deficient in incl
dent and situations. There are eight parts
in the play-too small number to people
stage for whole evening and
of these only one or two afford
scope for really fine acting. Then
again "The Flying Scud," at Booths, has but
one first rate character part; and although
this is acceptably played the rest Of the
cast is not adequately filed. The same re-
mark applies to the mighty Dollar, at the
Park. 1t is new DEPARTURE upon
which the actor is to be congratulated. Slote
is great deal better than Ragged Pat, and
Mr. Florence illustrates a certain something
in this creation which is typical Of our West
ern statesmen" Born in Massachusetts,,
unsuccessfully struggling to get rich IN
Pennsylvania and finally going West to
''grow up with the country and obtain
a seat in Congress, the Slotes and the
Sellerses have not yet received sufficient
attention from our playwrights We would
be better pleased, however, if our the
aires avoided this one-character business
altogether, and gave US instead that COM
pleteness of ensemble which has been our
boast and which now, for so many years, has
been exemplifed by the Wallack company
on the Wallack stage. AT the last named
house the season has just begun with Tom
Taylor's drama, ''The Overland Route
play which affords fair scope for acting
and some good opportunities for scenic
effect. All these are very fairly met as
the piece is nightly presented, but whether
the play is to prove a great success it is not
easy to predict. II is likely that it will have
a good run and hold the stage until about
Thanksgiving, when we hear ''Caste" will be
brought out. The manner in which plays are
presented at this theatre, commendable in
itself, is besides in every way worthy Of emu
lation, and is the lesson we now seek to en-
force.
Another point must not 60 unnoticed. So
far as Italian opera is concerned, the
Academy is empty. The Wachtel company
purposes giving a season of German opera,
but the sensible thing to do clearly is to
unite the forces of Mr.. Neuendorff and Mr..
Strakosch, and SO afford US a musical season
worthy Of the metropolis. Unless this is
done we shall have very unsatisfactory pro-
gramme for the winter, with only the Wach-
tel season, the Titiens concerts and the fort
night Of English opera at Booths Theatre.
Miss Kellogg is very acceptable singer and
her season will doubtless prove a very agree
able musical episode; but these things are
not sufficient for the wants of great city.
We have not yet heard whether our sugges-
ton in regard to a Titiens- Wachtel season is
to be adopted, but no stone ought to be left.
unturned in accomplishing this great object.
Even the old subvention bugbear should not
be allowed to stand in the way. 1t would be
much better that the stockholders of the
Academy of Music should subscribe suffi-
cient sum to bring the prima donna and the
tenor to their stage than to allow their house
to remain empty. If they will do this we
cannot doubt that every other difficulty in
the way will be removed, and that we shall
have a season Of opera that will be memora-
bic in the history of music in New York.