, 1876-06-25
The Performances Of the
Union Square Com
pany.
The Acting in "Ferreol ''-.-The
"Two Orphans This
Week.
A Call for lied Astrayn~ New
York NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Room Gossip.
GGenbach and Aimee to Appear Here kext
Week at McEicker's.
Carl Rosa's Opera Company---
Musical Notes at Home
and Abroad.
THE DRAMA.

he absolutely 4 bad play. Only the Union
Square Company makes it endurable- We say
the play, under the most favorable eircum-
stances, lacks vitality and strength; the asser-
tion carries with It the obligation to explain
why. Let us try.
The construction Of "Ferreol" Is faulty.
The curtain rises on the interior OF
French lady's house, in which
an evening party is being held. The company
are discussing the merits OF shocking murder
case, the accused person being common ac-
uuaintancc. This Introduction is easy and
artistic. The spectator feels that lie is being
brought ut once to the middle Of the story. So,
indeed, lie is. The great misfortune is that, be-
ing thus happily arrived at the middle, he ca1-
not advance ut: once to the end. The dramatist
has willcd otherwise. lie advances, like the
crab, backwards to the beginning, and does not
make the circuit to his starting point until the
end of the second ast- Thence he takes up his
line of march through two acts more to the cliG
There is thcsame kind Of ingenuity displayed IN
this backing and filling process that nc used
to hear the yoluntccr-iirc companies exercised
i'll III running to fire; their motto was, "Thc
longest way around Is the best way to the fire."
So NJ. Sardou seems to think tile circuitous
route is the most elective way OF rcachinsour
emotions. lie desires to come upon lis like
thief in the night; to conquer us, VINO stand like
the gallant band at Thcrnlopyln in defense OF
our liberties, By finding secret patti and ct
tacking us in tie rear. Ills failurc is caused By
his i,npudent assumption that his enemies are
deaf, dumb, and blind, as well as few In NUM-
bers. Ho doesn't surprise US. We sec FROM the
start al J movements, which are Intended to
be secret; We consult with each otae: on the
xtfJ Il AM
thc clatter Of his camp equipagc. The noise OF
lis final charge stuns and dislnays MS; but we
are overcome at last by forces which might hive
attacked Just as effectively in front as III the
Itwould be instructive, If We had the time and
space to spare, to estimate how large u nart Of
tie first two acts OF ssFcrreol'' is de-
voted to bare narrative. Thee is ,r, a
vast amount OF stoIy-t4elliing. +r,o, I.ac -.
touduud tells Ferreol, newly-arrivcd, Of the ar
rest ana indictment OF the prisoner; Ferytot
tells Loberte of the actual scent OF the muruer;
Uurl;al tells the Judge OF the trcaehcry OF h's
(:Tartiurs) wife. thus arranging motive for tlic
crime Us it Is finally revealed. Notice at this
Dpint how closely the dralpatist follows tue back
track from the rising Of the curtain till its tail
on the second act. Each story carries US farther
away from the present, and towards the genesis
OF tie crime. With the third act the interest of
the play begins, and it is fully sustained to the
end, Admirable work is shown In these TWO
nets. Tile anguish Of Roberfe and ferreos cul-
inmates; all the minor personagcs, VINO inccn,
Inred the previous action, are swept away anu
forgotten. The spectator sees now only the !au-
happy Ferrto{, who seeks to destroy himself Ill
order to sayc the honor OF woman that Wom-
ILL., who has the appearance OF oe4nS luse 10
hcr h,sbau1 without the sin OF it; that nus
band whose upsightness In MI the of1'clal and
I personal relations of-1ifr makes al attack on
bis honor unpardonao'e and shocking; the true
murderer, stupeled By liquor and craze9 ny
1,Arrf fTEAEE 1y41f1t
| the public prosecutor, whose nature as . friend
| and man OF honor has riscl, above the barriers
| of official decorum. The situation Is thrilllng.
It takes hold Of the sympathies Ut the audience
Far the sake of it we cun almost PARDON the
mortal m suffering Of two hours Of dreary stupldi-
ties and STORYTELLING which preceded It, Put
We caunot u,lite bring ourselves to extend TINS
| nlcnary Indulgence. The impression, even alter
the strong scce at the emu, IS one o. wea1s 1a:
| pleased and displcased us equally. ING terms
If the equation cancel each other, and there IS
| no unknown quantity Of delight to calculate at
ou Il has been said that sarou, in the construc
I! tim Of this 11ay, has adopted new method.
Snmeth:nr of tue kind there does seem to bc.
When tits has been said, however, we arc no
better off than before. Then we decided that
ny oa9 to of add tRas Ray a
method, according to which the play lsconstruct-
ed. is faulty also. II his method means, as was was
intinlatcd in TuE TRIBUNE OF Iuesday,
that climax may ne feaeneu c.ar,t;ys ~
interest, or if it ncaus that true dramatic action
may be assisted by doing small quantity u 1t
up in roluminous wra2pings the sooner A. n. S;'s.
duu discovers his error the better. Nnal uocs
he intend IL this play by tnrusag uou m o oS rit i
it. III; etyeutric iury.nan his asininc photograph
er. lis cousins, and brotiers-n-law, and betrotl'
eds, and heaven knows what clses Docs hc IN