The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-10
ADJUSTMENTS.

CONSCIENCE" AT THE USIoS SQUARE THEATRE.
Notwithstanding the rain this theatre filed last
night with an audience OF intelligence and culture,
brought out by the drama OF sConscience,"
written by Mr. A. l. Lancaster and Mr. Julian Magnus
To say that complete success is not 10 exag-
geratc The house received with continuous applause
and It certainly achieved legitimate success After
the fourth act the authors loudly called for and
after modest reluctance appeared in a stage box
whore ofenbach had just been sitting in state ana
bowed their acxnowledg ments to the audience. "Con-
sciencs Is TIE strongest original drama brought out In
New York ,his season. This verdict was unanimous
Their lis not much original material in the play, but
the oil effects have novel combinations Tho spccta-
90 anticipate the well worn road, but are con-
tinualy surprised by unexpected events The interest
steady increases the end The murder which Is the
incident and which happens in the second
act made unpleasant, but simply serves the dra
matte purposes the drama 1t dexterously used to
display character and TO reveal passion and pathos
s.Conscence, is expressed in the somnambusm OF the
guilty man. who confesses In his dream his crime
There are traces of imitation IN this, but there
IS direct copy in any act of the play. "Mac-
beth" .'Camlc'' both recalled, but they
not repeated. 1t is difficult OF to discrim-
mate between the merits OF the JOINT authorship-a
kind Of Beaumont and Fletcher arrangement-but We
think that the humor and lite OF Mr. Mag
may BIO recognized tho comic pas
sages and then the poetry and passion
OF Mr. Lancaster mind has expression the serious
business The fault OF the piece is the redundancy of
talk IN the first two acts This clever dialogue
Ing enough in itself, but it impedes the action
The first act occupied thirty-lve minutes
and It's action only justified fifteen. Twenty
minutes of conversation might be cut out OF II and
the dramatic effect would be increased The second act
is To the criticism though to less degree
but IL has very awkward and unnecessary scenic
ransement The third act is the most rapid and com
pact OF tho play. Tho fourth act is particularly pow
srful ard the nth is crowded with incidents The play
Is like all first plays, long. The authors should not
doubt Mr.. Lancaster will remember the advice which
Or. William Elder gives 10 young authors-'Whcnever
you think have written particularly lne passage
strike II OUT With the proper condensation Con
science" will be without special fault As II Is, u is
stronger than "Ferrcoln aud has less improbablli.y
The play admirably acted, and the authors
should appreciate the energy which the company DIS
play much passion power and energy as she did in
lhe fine character OF Constance Shc was
The central figure of the drama, and yet
had character OF unsual difficulty In the third act
abe remarkably fine in the fourth she was superb.
The next best character, comic one, was played by
Mr. Stoddart, who contributed largely TO tho success
Of the drama. Mr. Thornc displayed great energy IN the
nth act and Mr.. Stevenson OF Wallack theatre never
acted with much vivacty and force. Mr. Frederick
Robinson and Mr.. John Parselic were excellent, and
very entertaining, humorous pathetic pcrsonaon was
given by Miss Marie wilkins The scenery
and beautiful Altogether Conscience
was unquestonable success, and we are
very glad be able to conscicntiousiy
say for IL is American play, and after many
fine French aud English dramas this season 1t is
pleasure TO lind that something good can come out OF
knxnr