New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-20
TIE DRAHd-MUSF
THE DRAMA.
IIETu AYENIfE THEATEK-OER BOYS.

At last, amid the dizziness of this busy
denpnstatiyc, hut rather barren dramatic season, wo
conn upon q feature that il fresh and charming Mr.
Henry j. Byrou's our Boys which reprcs' ned
for the frs, time America Saturday evening" at the
Fifth Avenue Theater-provcs to be. for Mt least two
tls Of IA way genuine comedy and II ~, all the way
ii a delightful piece OF literary aud dramatic work In
II witnessing IL perfOrmGn the spectator sees number
II ol human bengs-cdch natural each distinct each inter
II estipgl,lng acting, and talking in possible and co.
hetnt ~ we'll d,cut and sensible social relations ana
cxIae ,sng their respective characters by various ana
hvely conduct slch IA springs naturally from adequate
motives and results in dramatic Circumstances. whoh
arc not more forced away from strict probability than Is
warrau,abe ia fiction. In other words the spectator
Is Brought into contact with work OF art, written and
| constructed by man o brains. This experience Is
somewhat exccptlonal-and the comedy s OF course.
bright 1t is slender piece 10 be sure IL does not
II aim TO crystalline national charnct, stcs into epSram
H matte expression present Universal types and
truths cnbtmatic OF human nature: hut II IL not the
II less fine comedy for not being great one and its fine
ness s Of high order It's topic is the relation OF father
and and thcrewithal tho relation between men or
different quality in society that supcradds tht tstinc-
tons made by rank to the distinctions made iy wealth
some of the elements thus considered were Will l" re-
menbcrcd. used with subtle skill. and made tributary 10
touching dramatic effects and sau;aTy suggested lessons
Of life. in SIR. RObortsOns beautiful comedy of Caste
We do not think that our Boys" is substantial and
since 1t is bright, pure dro thoughtful, teuder sii
GENTLY faithful TO the actual in human nature and
society, select in materials, seemingly spontaneous In
and written in vigorous and duce English
We have not Tor a long time met with play That
is potent In stimulating chccrfuncss, so
productive OF Geutc thoughts. and so certainly
calculated to leave the spectator in c0neniment and
good humor. Its during the first two acts, is
rural place. IN England It's final action passes in the
garnet OF a lodging ouse in London. 1t introduces ten
persons ant it tells ordinary and perfectly perspcu
ous ovestOr' OF the present time Like all of the best
plays that exist 1t takes the spectator into its confidence
and lays upon justification and surprises. The
boys are the son OF baronet and the son of rch
tired tradcsman The blronrt is of fine quality in tenn
permanent and ber. The tIadesmal Il coarse Both are
good in heart aud excellent ia principle. The
prove to be both Gcntcmen-wiih the slight dis
incton, that the buttermans boy Is rather finer
than the boy Of the aristocrat. These boys come
mo collision with their fathers on the question OF mar
ae and 50 get di,inheTted: and then, in desperate
struggle W poverty, they endure privation and haId-
ship tin last their reent. their swecthcars and
the elderly aunt o one OF them, come to their rescue
and they are rcinSiacd in home, position, and happi-
ness. Both Laughter and tears are awakened in the
shoN ing this and there is moral enough for those who
want 1t. Fathers who have systems OF bringing up
children may learn from this piece how little Is the power
systems when opposed 10 the power Of the passions
and the current. Of character and how futile is the
patcrnal expectation that presumes the snap
ing and controlling OF the future OF pos
/ ;crity: and fathers who have had the sorrow
seeing their defects repeated in their children
viii be somewhat ccnsolcd, they muse over this
delicious little play,sO fragrant with wisdom as well as
purity Of spiritand reflect that there some cOnse-
qucnccs which cannot be- helped and ~ to which neither
nature duty accord the parent either the right TO
NEEDLE the power 10 mold. II not by lessons how
,rr bu by the charm ~ interest and OF wellfonrasted
/ .il and
piece will make its it il certain to do-nto
extensive and enduring popularity Mr. DAILY has gwen
Il ric and tasteful sci ing, and generally competent
cast ~ the parts the Firth Avenue Theate ana was
rccriycd Saturday night with applause Of the heart
col description Al the end OF the second act this was
mo.t ,cLrncht aud II then became evident that the
public heart had been seized. No need can possibly exist
hereafter s,Ould say, for either the snowfall OF
"papcr" the catter Of the ebullient clacqne.
" our Boys" ia good piece, well done
aud it Will conquer by its own strength There
wa much merit IN the acting on Saturday
night; but we think the climax OF the scene
Of Ii,inlriitlnco should be made more earnest ana
solemn ana that there should be compression IN those
subsequent passages wherein the comedy relaxe' toward
farce. The aching Of James Lewis as the Old buternan,
is notable, aud will become memorable for Imagination,
eccentric hunor comic character tender feeling aud the
foicool Spontaneous embodiment and symmetrical finish
~ Lewis has made his mark upon the drama Of his
time AMI taken his place with the few actors who can
really merge into Individuality which the agnatiOn in
part apprreni. aud part creates. Mr. Charles Fisher
-a4 the mere mention Of hi5 name suggests, to those
aware of his nature an tacnts-excmpihrs perfectly
well the refined British arstOcIat Mr. Maurice Barry
more has neither tho natural hauteur nor the elegant
eticcnce implied i'll the circumstances Of his
identity and position yet particularly toward the CLOSE
he acted well. MI Harkins, though a little bury ana
resonant, excellent foil to his langlt couride'
Mss Fanny Davenport has a part that exactly
suits her rich beauty ~ person and her mischeVo Gus
coauetsh temperament. The performance would better
harmonic with the rest of the picture, though, if the
actress were tone 1t down little AS to richness OF
dress and spendor Of decoration and discard the nasal
ntona: In her speech with the acting OF Miss Lewis
GOOD taste would be better satisfied think If 1t were
dive.cd Of sefcOnscOusncss arti1ce, and over-much
play ot the features Ms Gilberts Oldashioned, WIN
ming WAYS aud no;her-like sweetness were expressed
with her sal skill and drollery. Miss Sidney Cowe in
a sol of Mlrchoncss" part-a little soiled- siacrnly
housc,i aid Of perky and bright sort-dd herself much
credit and ontrbu I'd tho character aud mirth Of
spirit ed and enjoyable representation We record the
conpc.c cast ard 50 commit Our Boys to the public
affection they well deserve:
81 .aoGIy Champ keTpster'..-..--; ID Devean
la.Dn Ch@mP " BARRYMORE rose Miss Fanny Davenport
,.'rt,n Middle. Violet Melro,e.. Miss J. Lewis
/ NJ - lnlcs Lewis Miss Champ =, c,,...,
sics H. Harkins Belinda. Miss Sidney CoSeii
DRAMATIC NOTES.
Miss Julia Mathews ended her engagement
NJ WallicA- rhoaJ.T. saturday night MI bifry 9nl
Uynals, ended On saturday night his performances IN
tnis city.
The BRYANT Memorial Fund has been in
creased by t addition el5O. raised by the Moore and
burgess Ministries, in London am SZo, gained ny per