The New York herald., 1876-12-26
AMUSEME ENTS.
"DAS'L pnucE" AT soorn's THEATRE.

tre and was witnessed by large and apprecatve audi
encss The piece was originally produced some three
months since at the Haymarket Theatre London,
where Mr. Hermann Vein ana Miss Marion Terry,
who played the principal parts, reported have
made genuine success. IL is indeed pleasing to be
able TO record the OF such piece '.Dan'l
Drucc,n repete, as 1t is, with healthy Anglo Saxon
vigor and morality, and not dependent many OF
the plays OF tho present day are, upon the mawkish
sentiment and but half disguised immortality OF the
French school.
The story OF ''Danr Druce" is simple but in this
play Mr.. Gilbert has again shown his ability 10 make
strong dramatic effects out OF few elements and
characters. The idea Is not original The author
says:"An incident in the first act suggested by
George Eots novel, 'Silas Marner,'n but this
acknowledgment Is plainly insufficient. Tor the 'in-
cdent is the very foundation OF the whole play, and
instead OF being suggested" has been entirely
adopted No who has read the novel and who Will
the play Is likely 10 deny this assertion. Dan'l
Druce and Silas Mariner both men who have
suffered great wrong, who have fed from society,
and who have become misers loving nothing their
gold In both cases the miscr's wretched hut is
tered during his absence and the robbers bear away
his buried hoard OF coin leaving in stead little
infant girl In both cases the ruin Of the mser be
comes the salvation of the man. The affection he
deems and digniles his lie. II is that after this
the plots OF the novelist and dramatst divergc
but there Is but one fundamental idea. This resem-
blance does not, OF course, impair the merit OF Mr.
Gberts play. The treatment is all his own; the
characters. though not entirely original hack
neyed types, and tho dialogue possesses tina
peculiar charm OF pathos and humor for which
the author OF "Pygmalion and Gaatean Is famous.
The three -year-oid girl whom Danl Druco finds in
his hut tho Norfolk coast Of England Is his own,
though he does not know II until the end OF the play.
Years before his wife had deserted him. II was her
lover, Sir Jasper Combc, who lett the child in his
lonely dwelling, thus making UNCONSCIOUS ropara-
The period is in the year 1851, alter the baltic
OF Worcester, and SIR Jasper is a fugitive loyalist
colonel who, with his sergeant Reuben. is cndcavor
ing to escape to France Fourteen years eapse be.
tween tho first and second acts, and then find
Dan, prosperous blacksmith and Dorothy a
maiden OF seventeen. The man who is described
IN tho first act as 'Ihe scowlingest black
browedest, three e-corncredest chap see,"
has become softened by her affection. A besu-
tul love between Godfrey Wynyard and Doro-
thy begins the second act. and then the action COM
menccs anew with the entrance OF Reuben the bal III
Of Sir Jasper, who accompanied him in his fight aud
who recognizes locket in Gconroys POSSESSION,
which Sir Jasper had lett with the child, and thus
asccrtains Dorothy's identity with his masters lost
slcp-daughter. Sir Jasper also appears and recog-
nized by Dan'l The act ends rather weakly, with
misunderstanding between Dorothy and Godfrey,
Tor which there is apparent necessity in
the plot. and which seems to be introduced
merely 10 prepare for an effective reconciliation
the last. The OF the third act is the interior
Of the backsmith's COTTAGE and wc find HIM prcpar-
ing for flight with Dorothy. Reuben enters and
threatens to reveal the secret to Sir Jasper unless
Dan'l Will consent TO his marriage with The maiden.
Dan'l Druce wavers for minute, but finally
the offer with splendid outburst Of wrath A scene
follows between Sir Jasper and Druce, In which
the latter learns for tho first time that Dorothy is his
child and that Sir Jasper is the man who had in
jured hm Joy in the nrst discovery is lost in Jury
the last but Dorothy pleads Tor forgiveness ami tho
old blacksmith yields to her prayers. The play ends
happily with the reunion Of the young lovers and tho
prospect Of a calm old age Tor Dan'l Druce.
The character OF Dan'l Druce represented by Mr..
Lawrence Barrett, who undertook the title role ap-
pcals strongly TO the sympathics Of an audience al
though strange say, It's most leading
is one Of the most dlsagreeabe OF human failngs-
selnshness. II is tho pure selashness Of the
which leads him TO Danish himself from mankind be-
cause he has met with great grief II Is scshness
which makes HIM miscr; it is selhshness which
drives him TO attempt to hide what ho supposes be
tue real birth OF Dorothy Yet spite OF this failing
his intense suffering IN the first and his equally n
tense love for hs daughter IN the other two acts cover
his vice SO completely that he carried with him
entire sympathies OF his audience Nj. Barrett gave
wonderfully forc,ble picture OF the wretched
msery outcasi and his one absorbing for the
only thing ol his own creation-his gold. Tho
changes IRON this earthly love the lofty emo
tion engendcrcd by the supposed miracle when tho
child is left in his house admirably rendered by
Mr.. Barrett In the later almost
rs successful His method is, however, slightly bard
and there Is want OF tho outward manifestations
which we are accustomed TO consider the signs Of
affection. His acting has more OF the classic beauty
oi statue tpan the warmer glow OF painting But
with this slight exception, Mr.. Barretts perormanco
genuine and artistic success. or the Dcrothy Of
Palmer was, In reality a debutante, the
souOrette parts which she has been in tho
habit OF playing have injured rather than
improved her acting Looking at her performance
from this point OF view she gave considerable promise
OF becoming useful addition 10 the company II this
theatre Wherever the dialogue was merry or playful
succeeded n DOr
trayng emotion wero not satisfactory The part is q
most charming one and requires besides careful act
ing and intelligent reading, the stamp which true
and womanly nature can alone give Il.
Mr.. warde was manly rover, and Messrs. Sheridan
and Reuben Haines The settings OF the piece were
good but there not much scope Tor the exerons or
ihc scenic artist The play Will be repeated each
ing during tho week and at u matinee on Saturday.
EDWIN BOOTH AS RICHARD III.
At the Lyccun Theatre last night Mr.. Booth per-
formed Richard III. before attentive audience
lie was called before the curtain several times and the
company supporting him shared in The appreciation Of
the house. There is no actor tho stage who gives
perceptiblc evidence OF hard study and so much
improvement as the result, as Mr.. Booth. He has al
ways occupied high rank in his profession, but his
earlier performances showed egotsm and lack or
versatility tnat are difficult faults to overcomcaults
that compel actor to make his life Of intense
application, and needs what is rare in
tnat profession, the simple common sense Of
believing that critics. opinions worthy Of
attention. The sequence of the practice OF these vir-
In Mr. Booths profession al life is the stepping be-
yond the crcditaole position of talent to higher
and commanding post OF genius. The fustan in his
style has gwen place to Gnish For ranting we have
robust v.gor, and the inky cloak OF Hamlet which
pecpcd out from everything he played, is reegatcd
us proper place and there worn with grace and
effectiveness. Perhaps in no other character do wc
more notice the Improvement Of Mr. Booth than ia
klchaid Ill ], once was meiodrainatc as Cap
tain Buridan and swirl oi Unending rant
anu overwhelming defamation. HIS perform
last night marked with the sombre hue
ot It's dark picture but not plunged INTO
impchetrabie EreOus DlackncsS The deep re,uisiye-
oi Its wild. ungovernabc nature loomed out with
tremendous effect; the hypocric and the cynic
boldly outlined and the sinaous paths OF the willy
splrator definitely marked Tho sentimental NJ