The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-29
AMUSEM rs.



The Union Square Theatre crowded last night BY
people who desired to what the PLAY bill kind
enough to call ian original American comedy drama,
written by Mr. Bret Hartc and entitled 1.-TWO Men of
Sandy Bar" Celebrated actors and actresses ap-
peared In II, and II was written by ono
OF our most popular authors The audience, there
FORE was as brilliant II Mr. Shakespeare had just
produced ono OF his best comedies. The author had
no reason to complain Of the public but do not say
that the public had cause to be disappointed with
the author.
Dir. Bret Harte Is a famous man, who wrote the
Heathen Chinee and number Of capital little stories,
and emigrated to the East from San Francisco.
Ever since he LETT California Mr.. Harte has lived
upon his reputation and has failed In
his performances He lost inspiration when
no LETT tho Pacific coast, ana there
is no stronger evidence OF the fact than this play
Is based ON California life but Il Is IS II lone Of
natures journeymen had made men, and not mado
them well, they initiate humanity SO abominably."
When We say that we have never seen a
understood with this special qualification
that we have never known celebrated a writer to
produce such worthless work. No
warmly admire the originality and genius OF Mr. Harte
than We do. but It is not expressed in his play.
He has reversed tho path Of the SUM- He rose splen
didly in the West and has set in darkness tho East
That there dramas than tho sTwo Men OF
Sandy Bar" must admit. but none OF them had as
distinguished origin. The drama 10 like Chaos II
Is without form and void. Heaven forbid that we
should attempt to give dca of its plot The mys-
terry of the play is extremely profound and SO
deep. indeed, that understand
Its purpose. Bouccaut, who makes everything clear
to the spectator must have looked with astonshment
n hic copf ueiu IN n ria n tho
unfods itself from the beginning to the end, like that
offensive pyrotechnic toy, Pharoah's serpent which
stinks and smokes IL burns and expires useless
ashes 1t is Ike one OF Beade's dime novels struck
by lightning. There is not only reason for Its
istence but there is no excuse for it. Tho audience
received it as Christopher Sly did 1.-THE Tanning
OF the Shrcw,' with the observation. "Tis
Still Bret Har;e is a brilliant man. He has done honor
10 American literature but he has done no credit to
the American stage This inconsequcntia, wander
Ing, purposelcss play insults the public, and must DO
Illumination for the author.
The Two Men OF Sandy Bar" IS tho embodiment OF
the objectionable SIM Nothing can redeem It, not
even the hne scenery with which Mr. sheridan
Shook encloses It, nor the amusing acting
OF Stuart Robson, Parsloe, and their comic
companions, nor tho tragedy Of Messrs
Hamilton and Murdoch II was really p,tifrl to see so
many actors cast in such poor parts aud situations
that might have been effective turned into anyi-c-
makes. An example OF this was furnished at the end
OF the second act, when tho failure of a fcnrfully
forced fun OF tho "Hcathcn Chinec" Mr.. Robson
saved the play by his eccentric but somewhat unnat
ural comedy, and what little Mr. Parsoe could do
Hop Sing was entertaining. Mr. Hamilton and Mr.
Murdoch did all that could be done with
their parts, and tho ladies' vainly struggled with
characters which merely aroused the good paturcd
derson Of the spectators Miss Mary Cary, Miss Ida
Vernon. Miss Laura Don and Miss Maud Harrison all
acted excellenty but neither tho situations tho
dalokue uI nished opportunity for their powers This
may be SAID with justice of ev0ry actor in the play.
The piece, however, was attended with laughter and
yypro thR favo ritns
Nobody understood It, but nobody wanted to under
stand It. AS curiosity it is worth while to waste
evening In seeing II. but american drama" IT Is
the country.