The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-18
An US EMENTS.
Dramatic and Hen-Dramstic Use Of Animals
aud Things on the Stage.

At the Park Theatre In the new Irish
drama called THE Kerry Cow" horse and
some carrier pigeons are used ostensiby to carry
on the action OF the play. The happy ending OF
the piece hangs upon two points. One Is tho
escape from prison and the demonstrated inno-
cence OF the falsely accused hero; the other Is
the winning Of q horse race by the heroine's
brother, and the winning OF II we'll as the pay
ment OF the stakes before a certain hour. which
10 just upon the stroke. The hero is black
smith, to whom q horse Is brought to be shod.
This horse lie recognized as famous racer, OBJ
tanned by the rich villain, and sure to carry OF
the purse unless prevented. The blacksmith
undertakes to, snd does, prevent this result by
pinchng or prlcking the horses foot when shoe
ing him. The shoe 10 made, fitted, and nailed to
tue hoof on the stage. The whole is a simple
scene In q blacksmith's shop. Toe horse Ia do
ase hs foos or clicked
contest OF any KIND occurs. You know that,
provided no one Of Mr.. Bereh's officers is pres
ent, the hoof may be nliod with prickinR nails
that the blacksmith may have II all HIS own way.
Something like dramatic effect is indeed pro-
presence Of the unconauerable courser; but
this fact 40 well as all that transpires on the
stage during this scene, Is. for by far the most
part, only inform dtion necessary to the full
understanding OF the characters aud how the
catastrophe Is brought about. few lines would
do to tell II all. But then the audience would
be deprived OF all the dramatic pleasure obtained
from seeing horseshoe made and horse shod
seriously apeaklng, however, TINS scene mlRut
have been made very dramatic, so that the su-
ditors should feel that the fate OF the charac-
tiers depended on tue result OF the contest II.
instead OF a weil-trained and docile horse, the
rich villain had bought lively mustang ana
brought him to be shod by the hero, II Is al
most certain that dramatic contest OF a very
| lively kind might have been enacted. AS the
fate of the heroiue and that OF her father and
| lover as well would have depended, as now,
! upon the winning the not winning OF the
| race bv her brother, and as this would have
! depeuded on the result OF the lovers EFFORTS to
| IA rl.sl fha NH afanu "A n
| terest Of the play would have centred In the
| struggle, and would have been OF all Intense
| kind. The realism OF the drama great as II
| now is would have been largely Increased, since
4 the auditors could, at one remove, as II were,
have bet upon the race, by betting on the re-
| suit Of the contest between the mustang ana
| be put to "a dramatic use In the representation
| Of the play, aud his presence on the stage
| would be warranted by high authority, As the
| scene is now performed however this Is hardly
the case.
The use Of the carrier pigeons hiss a much
| greater semblance OF dramatic propriety. Iney
| bring the news after each OF the three meats
| from the race course, and did not the parties
| i'm mediately engaged In tue race arrive so very
| soon after the last bird, the eject would be
| good, something like that OF the telegraph III
1.-The Long strike" where that instrument
| plays a most I'm poItan aud most dramatic part
whence the very stirring effect OF that scene.
The Kerry Gov" has many 20 nts that slim
ulste an ordinary Theatre audience. Mr.. Muir
ply presents but one phase. but that Is buoyant
selfreliant. courageous, and honest. save Tor
the horse-shoeing Tick. For the most part ms
play Is good, aud wins the sympathy OF the
assembly Tue other parts are Commentary
acted Miss May Nunez impersonates ths
heroine, and displays mucn talent and suscep,
tiblty to dramatic feeling. The play !. well
set upon the stage, and Its representations dur
ing the week have been witnessed by very large
audiences, whose laughter and applause have
sufficiently demonstrated their enjoyment VI
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