New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-01
THE DRAMA.
wALLACK's THEATER-THE DONOvANs.
Summer. which ia commonly deemed a JUST

wALLACK'S THEATER-THE DONOVASS
Summer, which is commonly deemed justi-
Hcaton for cholera has long been viewed also as an
excuse for bad plays With the thermometer at fifteen
above no manager would dream Of bringing out such
piece as "The Donoyans" but with the mercury run
ming up towards the eighties this strange medley OF COM
mon places and meodramac sensations Is considered
and probably will DO accepted-as quite appropriate 10
the stage even OF Wallacks Theater. Taste ana dsy
In other words arc laid aside, and the heats OF June
melt the starch out OF the classic standard Serious
thought on what Is offered seems not to
no either expectcd or desired aid certainly,
I'm this case it Is not deserved. The Donovans" has
no merit whatever q dramatic structure or
literary composition It's incidents, such as they are
have been used In earlier melOdramas and in much
more skf manner than marks their present aSgomera
ton 1.-The Streets OF NewYork The Lottery of Life"
Treasure Troye" Fritz" and others Of tho kind do
noted in the ment Of these, have previously
trayersed the now newly explored in
1.-The Donovans," and have brought away pretty
much all tho treasures Of realism therein to be
found Villain number one, in the power Of Villain num-
Der two constrained TO admit him into partnership in
new scheme of vlainy. Number one is religious and
clean; number two is drunken and dirty. There is lady
to be sought marriage and there is child to be stolen
and killed. in order that Hypocrisy may get an estate
and divide il with Medford Rum And couple
of comic Irish persons happen In and mean
der out. and defeat all the improbable efforts
elements thus indicated IT, OF course of the clumsest de-
scripon The play is frame, in other words. for the
salient features of variety entertainments and while IL
IL wretched of nonsense, looked at az play,
it assuredly has the merit OF being SER
yiccabe frame and herein it satisfied
what has been indicated as the warm weather
standard of theatrical art Tho variety elements in The
Donoyans" were furnished by Messrs. Harrigan and
Hart and every word they uttered and every antic they
exhibited caused rippes and roars OF laughter we dd
not for part, fnd them to he nillny Ihey as
sumo Irish character bat they carcature it, and their
proceedings resemble acting very much as Glowing re-
sembles humorous embodiment. They walk about In
fantastic manner aud twrl banners aud comfort them
selves and sing duets without good brogue, and utter
comnoDplaces and farfetched wittcms with the air OF
persons who saying something very amusing, ana
who think themselves very 1rol but, in fact they are
performers Of inferior order, and not remark
ably good even of the class to which they
appertain-if We may judge by what they
night. Nevertheless, as already said, they
pleased their auditors immensely that they were often
compmented by applause and recals and this L. 10 ac
complish. In q practical point OF View the main thing
II grinnng through hOrsecoar VIII please the public,
a theatrical manager is doubtless wise to grim We
have that spect for the dna however as an art and
an institution, and that consideration Tor WailacKS
Theater as place Of high character and sterling WORTH
which do not permit TO approve OF either The Dono-
vans Messrs Harrigan and Hart upon that stage.
hangers and the blowers Of Harmonious and aInazes
both them and public by thrustiDg them forward as
actors. The substantial merits OF THE Donoyans"
were found in tho scenery aud stage effects.
The rescene better than the excellent one or
like ORDER In Lost at Sea-" and the tenementhouSe-
set surpassed ex0cttude and detail the fire innset in
Ellie both well remembered scenic hits upon this
same stage. Respecting the miscellaneous acting 1t
would perhaps, be unknd to speak Actors are in
trying position who have to act feeders to people
whose art mainly consists in tumbing over stove
tunnels. MIR. Sheridan, competent and serviceable
actor, Madam Ponisl. Mr.. j. W. Jennings, Mr.. h. NJ Ho
land and Mr.. G. f. Edwin worked with tact and fidelity
to mako the play rational and Mss Ada Monk displayed
the astonishing solidy in The most agonzDg con-
dtion that the adurations to be calm that were lib
orally addressed to her, seemed quite superuous. The
spectators who and goodnatured were not
infected by this example, hut Justify gave their approba
ton to views OF the Bowling Green, the old Walton House
the railroad yiduot at Harlem, and other objects Of like
prodgious interest and impressive novelty; and The
Donovans" was thus cheerfuly embarked It's
There can he doubt that the Summer theatrical
season has begun, and Mr.. Bellowhard may bring his
fatted calves to market as promptly as he likes.
BOOTHS THEATER