New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-26
"DANL DRUCE" AT BOOTHS.

w. s. Gilbert's drama of "Dan1 Druce,"
which has been running for several weeks in tue pres
ence Of large audiences at the Haymarke Theater Lon
don ,y:s produced for the first time IN this country M
Booths Tlo2tcr Yesterday afternoon. Many notape
opnngs have been made Christmas night, as when
Edwin Booth appeared for the first time In Julius
Cesar" but has been unusual TO present new piece
To the public at Christmas matinee Henry d. Palmer
said yesterday IL would be impossible to produce
many PLAYS for first time at matinee but tbat the
compactness of Danl bruce enabled the management
TO represent IL yesterday afternoon. The story of the
dramais briefly this: An English blacksmith living on
the Norfolk coast has been deserted by his wife, and
the love which he had longed and hoped to be-
STOW upon child s turned into n love oil
gold and he becomes miser The play opens soon AFTER
the battle Worcester which put TO flight the friends
of Charles H. and the is the backsmiths novel on
stormy night Officers In the Royalist army stop thore
on their flight with child which has been intrnsted 10
tboir care They cannot take the child with them fur
tbcr and leave n the hut IN the temporary absence OF
the blacksmith taking in its place the misers bagoi goa
pou his return he finds the child there and the money
gone He believes that his prayer has been answered,
and that the gold has become the child when ne had
booed 70 love The child saves him from an evil life,
and he resumes an honest occupation Fourteen years
afterward the Royast officers appear again upon the
scene in the persons of Sir Jasper Combe and his balm
Sir JasDer is recognized by DanP Druee who attempts 70
conceal the identity Of bis daughter assStea ~ tgG 10
have tried with affections She oyerheaIs MS sso
,ent and believes Il, and Dani Dee In anger drives
him from the no At length Sir jasper discovers VINO
tho g a. aud claims her. D1nI DTncs IN despair nnay
CONSENTS 10 give her up Thcn the denOuelntht comes
Che r Is the daughter of DTnee and OF the WlIe WHO
ed with Sir JASPER The sailor is recalled ana the cur
tain falls. =. -. ,.o. ,r,,o,ded hy the
p,aagenent az little than dress rehearsal ie
cnoagempnts OF Christmas afternoon are SO numerous
tbat large audience not expected The atiiheoDs
AZ Crstrnag dinners and seigging In the PARK mgHt
well he supposed interfere with hrs representation.
About 200 pcrsons however were present, anu ne
dencc was different from those which usually aaSenpy
ar theatrical openings The gathering was af ely one OF
FAMILY parties though many Of the tbcatc proiess.1
IrLn had no agemeuts 10 MI were preseht. 'iI;
anucicauIt sat ia ore OF the prOscehuih boxes pI'
gIemed t enjoy the performance thoroughly Inc huI-
sUce was ont attentive and appreca'lVe III Us
SnIause THE character OF the play was not snc as 10
scit TEc most excited demonstrations OF approval put
the enjoyment OF it constant and evidently genuine
At tie eud OF the Grst act Lawrence par,
Tctt who peTsonated Dani Drpce, was eai'tn
and at the end OF the second a nto,, ne
and Miss Minnie Palmer, who took the part OF DoTO"H
The daughter responded TO q similar demand. -, l.. IN
THE NAV of Danl bruce" is not aud could not DC III
any seIsc specaCular. Only three scenes are Iople
se9fcdtle inisGr's hOye the black5mths forge ana n
anariucnt in DGnV DTucc'S hGuse-each Impressive ny
f appropriateness, but one of the three c0sty OF
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