, 1875-10-17
The Veteran Mathews---Gos-
sip from the Green
Room.
Review of the Thomas Concerts
The Anlphion Quartctte
---Eddy Recital.
Max Strakosch on Ooera-..Musicai
Notes.
THE DRAMA.
IN CHICAGO.
fs,1tay nrtnrt1nH4n

Dr. Elrd wrote three trEgedles-"Ihe uad
ietor." 1.-the Broker Of Bogota," ard "Osa
loosa." The first two Of these are now the prop
ctty Of Mr. John Mccullough, having been pur
chased by hun from the trustees Of the Forrest
estata. Oraloosa ,s at present in the posses
e;on of brother OF DR.. Bird, who is still living
in Indianapolis and ls Aciergyman. 1.-The Brosel
Of Bogeta is thought by many to be superior tt
.The Gtadiator" in form and language. Mr.
Mccullough himself is said to be Of this opinion
1.-The Glr.dlspor," however, las always been the
faro1its With the people, and it has frequent
ly been presented when the personal preferences
OF the principal actor would have selected an-
other play. Spdrtacus is essentially physical
character. It's demands upon the Drawn and
lungs of IN actor are great; but it has not the
intellectual quality in any marked degree. Com.
paratively small mental effort is required to give
it passabla representation. Whether it is the
best work that Mr. Mccullough ia capable OF
cannot at present be said but the indications
are that it is not Extraragant praise of Mr..
Mccullough in this character is no compIi-
ment ut all TO him, for it would seem
to assume that his power lies prin-
cipally in the representation OF such parts,
and that he lacks that higher spiritual
Insight without 9hirh no actor can gain an en-
week to judge whether this can truly ba said Of
him. for -Richeiieu is as purely an intellectual
conception as Spar.acus is physical. Wuatever
the verdict may be, 1t is safe to sag that neither
Mr. Mccullough nor hH friends would 1ike to
have his Sparfacus called his best part. The
impressions which The TR1BusE recorded after
the frst performance of ts1he Gladiator wero
confirmed By later representations. Mr.. Nc
Cullouxh wAH alHa5s ut his best when he had q
speech to make. His declamatory powers are
remarkable, though it must be said that ut times
he speaks carelees}y and mechanically The
whole dialogue and monologue III the amphi-
the4tre Was magnifcentty rendero--~: and the
bitter invective beginning, " len do not war on
women" 1as burst Of eloquance seldom
1ough's voice is at present harsh and grating,
owing to the st1aining it has received after &
long disuse: but it is already improving percep-
tably. and will, before many days, again be IL
Mr. McCulloughs Spa4acus complete can
be easier felt than described. Il will
occur to the casual observer that the character
il too much man of words aud too little . man
OF deeds TINT he ia not throughout consistent,
whether he tc conceived as brutal savage or as
a Gtecisn hero that his tenderness il awkward
and constrained; that he sometimes substitutes
mere sound for fury: any or all OF these crit
c,sms may be urged from different points Of
view and, on the other hand, merits quite suf-
ance may easily be discovered. The actor is
physically adapted for tue part. He
looxs the gladiator every inch: His
deep chest and broad shoulders
reveal immense muscular powers; bis high fore
head and piercing eyes SPEAK Of intelligence to
conceive aud resolution to execute the campaigns
Of General; and his firm elastic s1eo almost
snggests picture OF the homo in the Thraciau
Mountains whence it is supposed to be derived.
Besides having declanatory powers Of high
order. as already noticed, Gr. Mccullough is
singuIarly successful in expressing fierce pas
sions- When this ls required OF him his eyes di-
late and assume new and baleful lus1re, and
his form expands INTO g'aaoer proportions. On
with Mr.. Mccullough as Spdrtdcus, Is an enjoy
able performance though not thoroughly so. It
lacks harmony, but it Possesses power. It has
not the elements Of greatness but it has those Of
snocess.
cnII1C1s1Sa CRITIC
Tho cultivated, the intelligent. the discerning.
the judicious, tho discriminating people of Chi
cago have been causing = good deal Of trouble
in quiet way by their obstiuacy ia staying at
home. It has even been questioned By compe-
tent authority whether there are any such people
in Chcaao; and. admitting that there are. whe:h-
ct they have any money they ere Fi!ling to part
with. The TRIBUNE has maintained both that
the class actually does exist, and that 1t has 4
way of spending money freely when IT ia proper
~ tempted 4 contemporary disputes these po-
stlons, ncd in aigooo-natnred way 1tdlcules the
ldea that anything can he accomplished by ap-
pealing to Intelligence, Culture d Co., except as
the appeal IL nov maize at the principal theatres
Of Chicago. This view seemed to gam some
counteuauce last Monday night, when crowded
house greeted Mr. Joau ncGui1cugh- But tne
point Of the argument which appea. ed forcible
MONDAY was considerably biunted before the end
Of the week by failing OF III the audiences.
Neither the culture nor the nellgenco Of Chi
cago WAS laigety represented oven Monthly
night, for the audience then showed by lnludi- |
cious applause aud still more iujuaIc1ous silence
thai It did not fully enter into the spirit OF the
play. The TRIBUNE is not disposed to quarrel
with audiences. managers, or actors. or with
those who differ from it i'll opinion Full
liberty OF opinion in matter Of CON-
pazatisely so sEaall moment II theatrical
entertainments cat. be accorded without pang ;
aod it will also be insisted upon in proper times
and places. Those who belleve that the very
POOR support given Mr.. Mccullough by the COM |
pany II AcSicker's Theatre had nothing to do |
with the gradual decrease IN the size Of the nu-
ciences may express their views as they see fit, |
hut they will not find public opinion on their !
MAINTAIN, in season and out OF season. that a |
poor theatrical company in Chicago il better |
business enterprise thar good one. It is true |
that an expensive company will have hard |
nsye been disappointed 30 often that they have |
acquired the habit Of staying away from the !
theatres, except when some unusual attraction.
such as that offered by Mr. Mccullough, il pre- |
scented. But common principles Of management |
viii show that it lavish expenditures on stsee- |
scenery and appointments can he made to pay, |
10 also can generous disbursements in salaries. |
Now it is notorious that McVicIer's Theatre ia !
famous for superb mounting Of plays and excel |
lent stage-manAgement.
M'cUL1oroH's pRoGRAMaE
This week Mr. Mccullough will appear in 4
new series Of plays which viii give him ample
opportunity to show tho many excellent quail
ties that are in him slack C.de" is UNDER
lined for Monday and Tuesday nights, '.yirgin-
ius " tor Wednesday and Thursday nights and
Saturday matinee, 81 Riehelieu for Friday night,
and - Richard Ill" for Saturday night. Every
one Of these performances will worth seeing;
aod. since the bill ls to be frequently changed,
tue house will probably be crowded through the
week, as it vas last MondAy. 'Jack Cada" ia
saesa& Of the prize plays secured by M1.