The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-11
=" THE CRUCIBLE."
A. Oakley Halls Retirement
from the Stage.
Letter from Manager Fiske Proposing .
Complimentary Benefit

6R-lL as the press declared, the debut Of Mr.. A.
Oakley Hall at the Park Theatre "a dramatic
event." certainly his retirement from the stage The
end Of three weeks another equally dramatic
The types stil hot with the announcement Of hm
great success" when they put together in tho
advertisement OF the 'ast nights OF Oakley Hall and
The Crucble'" The festivities at Elsinore
versed and the marriage baked meats did coldly fun
| nish forth the funeral table
In the very wise and witty speech which concluded
the performances at the Park Saturday night, Mr.
Hail, resuming his natural ease and apomb he fell
himself rid OF theatrical shackles skilfuy let himself
the play, the company and the management down as
gently as possible Even the man who Kissed in the
dress circle was only punished with clever Latr
pun. But Mr.. Hall had been in the witness box in
stead OF resumng his old arts advocate be would
have told very different story about the manner in
| which he has been supported ut the Park
| both before and behind the footligbts
| Since he did not choose TO speak out
his friends must bear witness for him He has always
been good friend to the theatrical and Journalists
professions be allowed slip OF the stage pacaded
for the nrst time his life, with that fatal word
failure"
There is possible doubt that it is very good
thing for the dramatic profession that Mr. Hall did
succeed II he had demonstrated that IL were a very
easy matter for anybody leave his lifelong occupa
OF hand, our theatres would have been demora.zed
The public losing sight OF the exceptional qualities
training OF Mr. Hall, would have concluded that acting
required no study, experience, art. Everybody
who failed in any other business would have made
raid upon the drama, forgetting that Mr. Hall did not
20 upon the stage because he had failed elsewhere
because he surieited with other successes The
theatre would have been transformed into
homo for ncurables Physicians would have
sent their unatc patients TO Booths instead
OF Bloomngdalc. Tho whole profession would
have been turned topsy .turvy and would have
lost even the dubious artistic position which il has
struggled so many years to acquire in this country.
Success might have made Mr.. Hall rapidly rich but
his reputation would have been patchworked OF tho
lost regulations Of all experienced actors and ac-
tresses.
These the sentiments with which thoughtful
artists regarded Mr.. Halls advent. On the other
hand the public considered 1t as great curiosity.
Stimulated by able editorials interviews which did not
tell too much and rumors which protean in theiI
assumptions, the people were anxious TO the
Mayor, ex-editor, expolitician, exawyer in his
role With ordinary managerial tact courtesy and
honesty the largest theatre IN New York could have
been crowded. on the FIRST night at So q seat ASIDE
altogether from tho question as TO whether Mr.
Hall is good actor, or 1.-THE Crucible' a good play
such managers Messrs Jarrett IL Palmer
would have insured a tremendous business for
q month in their immense building; such
manager as Mr.. DAILY would huve run" this
contemporaneous personal sensation as long
as ''Divorce' "Pique;'' such establishment
wallack's would have been filled for the season. But
the public have not yet seen Mr.. Hall play The man
agement at the Park seemed admirably designed 10
keep them away. Thanks to the Thursday matinee,
the professionals had chance pass judgment upon
their ola friend and is their verdict and that OF the
critics which goes upon the recordno the verdict OF
the people to whom Mr.. Hall evidently intended TO ap
peal
not properly billed and advertised The management
relied solely upon the gratutous notices OF editors and
reporters But when theatre goer reads notice OF
play player, he turns To the advertisement 10 learn
the details OF time, prices &c No such details
| were given in the Park advertisements Mr.. Halls
| name not mentioned in them until day two be-
| fore his debut BY this time the public had begun 10
look upon the affair as huge practical Joke When the
advertisements did at last appear tickets
had at the theatre Intending purchasers cooly
referred TO the hotels or the spectators Five dol
lars SO and 81 were, TO my personal knowledge,
charged for 81 so tickets The public naturally re-
sented these ticket frauds, and on the drst night when
personal friends the little pneumonia breeding,
cremation threatening unfinished and unfurnished
Park Theatre only oiled IN spots. the dress
circle nearly empty, the standing down
crowded nj 81 head. few days afterward Mr. Hall
issued special card to announce that could
be secured at the box office, but this came too late.
The New York puolic may forget, but II forgves,
and the mismanagement OF the front OF the house
the hrst night IS alone sufficient TO account for the fall
OF the whole engagement
All the papers gave criticisms OF Mr. Halls debut
but none gave report OF what he did how nc did t
and what OBVIOUS obstacles he encountered. In other
words, they paid him the compliment Of treating him
precisely as II he we're Booth or Davenport appearing
in a new part. They made allowances for his nat
ural nervousness They added that little cruelty
With which we always consider the performances OF
our dearest friends Perhaps they did know that
Mr. Hail. with all hts nexperience, had TO carry the
whole play on his unaccustomed shoulders Nobody
had helped him rehearse. The company hastily gath
cred from the four quarters Of the country had
been properly drilled and consequently played IKE
militia instead OF regulars The manager, who boasts
OF his zone nndrcd months" OF management, did not
have strength OF mind enough 10 cut out the irrelevant
third tin which Mr. Hall only appears in tableau,
for q momenp and made farce OF the jury scene-as
will he tardiy done There not q
competent person 10 see that the prop
crly Mr.. Hall forced 10 be manager
stage manager, prompter scenic artist and call boy in
addition 10 his dual roles Of author and actor Thus
overweighied the wonder is that he did so well and
that the play survived the first Yet with all these
drawbacks, | challenge any critic with memory TO
deny that Mr. Halls hrst night 'sThe Crucibev was
far superior TO Mr.. William Forence's FIRST night in a
similar play, 'sThe Ticket OF. Leave Man - although
Mr Florence had the advantages OF long experience
the study Of English actor IN the past and compe-
support upon the stage IL must be added TO Mr.
Mr Halls credit that he improved with every per-
Torrance, and had he played had he been allowed the
chance play, well upon the hrst night upon the
last, the result Of has engagement might have been
But, for the reasons already stated do not regret
that Mt Hall has resolved TO return the Bar where
he facii> prtncspS. and your valuable space shall
be wasted conJectures 10 what might have been
had his Centennial manager been possessed Of the
managerial sense. As play The Crucibc' IS good
enough 70 take care OF itself Properly Topped aud
trimmed Il will live and travel when takes
faucy Mr. Hairs part that OF the 'craity Craft
As Tor Mr. Hall himself wish, with your permission,
10 conclude this sunday dramatic with prac-
teal application The theatrical world owes a great
deal TO Mr. Oakley Hail. and there Is graceful OPP
pOrtuny 10 paw part OF the debt His attempt to JOIN
the profession was intended, and received,
compliment 10 art and he should not be permitted TO
leave the stage without reciprocal compliment The
money which he has wasted upon the Park Theatre has
gone-some Of H. at least-into the pockets Of actors
aud and all the artists IN New YORK Will be
anxious give back 10 Mr.. Hall, that be is TO
retire. Let Us organize grand farewell complimentary
matinee beneht Oakley Hall. At the Academy Of hu-
scS cast hts play, THE Crucble TO the full strength
OF all the best theatres in the city place the
ment In the hands OF our leading managers aud ask
Mr. Hall ~ play WmOt kierton Tor the ast time with
| the ecldf which ought TO have distinguished bis hrst
night The public viii be very glad TO oil The house.
and tue proceeds, II Mr. Hall Will not accept them eau
BE- donated 10 the dramatic fund
Since Mr. Hall has decided only 10 remain upon the
/ he's rec he M be rcrar.cl