The New York herald., 1877-09-05
AMUSEM ENTS.

yIrrH AVENUE THEATRE-'sTHE DARK CITY.
Mr. Ausustin Daily last evening introduced TO the
New York public and to fashionable FIRST night audi.
cncc his new drama in five acts entitled "Tte Dark
City and its Bright Sidc." Truth compes the remark
that the play was received with tho scat which
generally attends first performances this popular
place OF entertainment The result, however, may
he due TO oversight the part OF the
gifted author in endcavorng to avail himself OF 100
much material for action in proportion to the time
ssunly allowed and In m mscalcuating the amount oil
dialogue necessary to the development of an Intricate
plot Hence the audience became ,red aud 1t was but
natural that after one O'Clock they carried away more
memories OF local scenery, such as Jefferson Market
by night, the old City Park oy gasilght .he M rlVsr
front under the new bridge TO brookyn .ne Tools
of New York. evening picture on tue Ens. hl'er,
aud Now York Post Office station, rather hah o. tnc
intellectual spsrks which here ana mere orsy rnnn
dencc in the eventual success OF the work
Is attested by the care and outlay OF ms
his Situations and In his choice Of the several
fine artists on whom ne depended for tho production
Of startling effects Before the evening expired, how
ever he doubtless discovered the faults which abound
and that pen and literally used IN enihatne
condensine and boiling down are tho CHEF agents
Necessary 10 make THE Dark city, popular favorite
The story is metropolitan from bcginning 10 cnd ana
affords opportunity Tor me nrs :. or cs
lar although exaggerated and o picturesque surround
inGs which, as above stated elctea ,nc nearly np-
vents an analysts OF tho theme, and II would perhaps
be unjust TO author to comment too scvcrcy upoE
tho manifest faults OF his performance until he has
had further time correct his manifest and generally
recognized errors of Judgment The actors embraced
such names as Mcssrs. Charles Fisher James Lewis,
Frank Hardcnburg. Maurice Barrymore, j, g. stud
ley W. Davidge, John Drew and Others. vino acquitted
themselves. one and all, admirably, and lett nothing
o be desired but moro sympathetic text.
In this sight should not be lost OF Muster
Hogan, n little scrap OF humanity who handsomely
sersonated "a hive New York boy" Among tho
actresses were Miss Ada Dyas and Miss Emily Rigl,
between whom, as halt sisters representing the
rich aud poor conditions of life, strong
aud artistic contrast drawn. Both
are always good anu Miss Rigl especially,
with her charming French naipete and broken Eng
sh made of the hits OF the evening Mrs. e. II.
Gilbert, conscientious and strong In whatever
she undertakes fully maintained her reputation
for excellence, whlo Miss Sydney Cowcll,
rs an '"airdrcsser from Parcc," Misses Eu.
genia Paul and Saidec, and the little child
actress Bella Wharton, kept the audience amused
whenever they appeared upon tho stage. II rs not
difficult to in the action OF the piece, when the
dialogue has been trimmed and Whitfield, many
elements of attraction but until the pruning kniie mas
been freely used Mr. Daily cannot hope that no has
taken step forward in the production OF an original
American play,