The New York herald., 1877-02-06
ADJUSTMENTS.
IN. NEW LOCAL PLAY OF ''fIFTH AVENUE AT
BooTH's

Tuy NEW LOCAL PLAY OF FIFTH AVENUE Al
BOOTHS.
Tho frst production OF u new play In New York
especially local pay-is always of deep Interest TO
The public Booths Theatre was therefore crowded
last night on the occasion OF the first representation
Of Mr.. George Fawcctt Rowc's "Fiith Avenue. =
rhs enthusiasm was great, and in the lighter
portions OF the play the laughter incessan"
There are two events in tho play which inten-
sized the Interest OF public Ono was the collision
OF steamships which was supposed 10 refer 10 Inc
General Transatlantic Company The other was the
presumed reference 10 the Nathan murder One scene
In this play represents tho assassination Of ne"
York banker, and rumor had 1t that II was
meant 10 be a theory OF the manner IN which MI
nathan WAS killed in his house. within block oil the
theatrs The mystery OF that murder has never oecn
explained and as tho police failed IN their INQUIRY
the people looked TO the dramatist Tor the SOLUTION
II Is understood that the sons OF Mr. Nathan pro-
scented themselves at OF tho rehcarais and insisted
upon being allowed to witness It. This privilege was
refused by the management tho ground that there
was no reason beyond the rumor that the Nathan
murder was referred 10 for such supposton
Notwithstanding this the OF Mr.. Nathan
formally protested against the Introduction Of
tho murder scene, aud 1t is said that tney
threatened to cnjoin the management. The great
scene IN tho fourth was, therefore, awaited with
curiosity by the audience.
The story OF this play is simple. 1t Is narrative
rather than plot Oi lata years the Now York pubic
has been accustomed 10 highly wrought dramas In
which mystery gradually and eiaboratey unfoldcd
Tho French have furnished the majority OF these
plays and their interest exists moro in the develop
ment OF . purpose than upon single Situations Mr
Rowe's play wholly different from these comedies
such an important part The story told to the auD
in natural sequence, just as we woeld tell
story 10 cnld rhM ana nero o. sn0IiH the piav is s
Richard Blake, young American, who "
returning from Europe on French steamer.
The hrst scene Is the cabin in which some oi tho
principal persouages assembled. There Is young
American lady, Olivia SCHUYLER: betrothed to Graham
Laddisdale an Englishman OF noble family In u log
of the Newfoundland Banks the steamer is run into by
another vessel and sinks. Olivia Is rescued by Rich
ara Blake In the second act the characters appear
in New York Mr. Schuyler, the iather OF tho
lady, q stockhoder In manufacturing company
which is nearly ruined oy INC treaGnory ea; " o. us
ut meeting Of the company by Blake Blogg's desire
for furnishes the darker element OF the play
In the third act tho tho Hudson Iron Works
and the residence Of Mrs. Smythc. The company is
restored to prosperity and ON the occasion OF the
a launching U monitor Blake receives tho honors
Which he has earned. the time OF the play
Ing opportunity Is afforded Tor patriotic ad-
dress TO the workmen IN when bakes pras IN ms
covery that while Olivia loves him she Is oetrothed TO
another and intends TO keep her promise In this
act the robbery OF Mr. Scnuycr's house is planned.
In the next is executed. TEcn there Is murder,
and ulss gwen by tho victim on telegraph dial
This is the story. and II Is attended by subs
diary narrative, Introducing number OF Irishmcn,
negroes and q Dutchman, who arc slightly but ln-
geniously connected with its events.
.sFiith Avenue will be from this sketch, does
not equal in construction the "Geneva Cross" or
Brass" but It was impossible TOR Mr. Rowe to treat
the present subject iu the manner OF those plays.
With a collision Of two steamships at sea- the sinking
OF and the OF its passengers and crew by
the other; with a street scene in New York IN
front of Trinity church; with the launching
pr a monitor; with the picture OF Fifth
avenue by night, and realistic murder, and finally
with the representation OF the riot OF 1868 aud It's sup
pression by the Seventh regiment Mr. Rowe could not
De expected combine deep and comprehensive
plot The situations are detached and the scenic
Effects take from the story something OF continuity
cohesion. 1t evidently written to display tho
resources OF the theatre and TO be what lsa local
drama OF much variety and force. Mr.. Rowes it,
erary abilities, however, too tine to permit him TO
do careless work. The dialogue Is natural and IN tho
come scenes rich in epigram and humor
The managers produced the play In most elaborate
manner. In the first act the cabin Of the steamer
sinks into the stage and the ocean is revealed, dimy
seen through fog. produced by steam, an imitation
OF the methods OF Wagner, adopted at Bareuth. AS
the fog disappears ocean steamer, by night Is
vealod with sails set and the lights shining through
her cabin windows. Tho launching Of the monitor
presents a beautiful view OF the Hudson. The Wall
street scene and Filth avenue by night are capital
pieces OF realism
The acting OF the play was fair Mr. George Rignold
did not the least resemble an American, and walked
through the play with the cool deliberation with
which he might stroll down the Strand Occasionally
ho displayed something OF the fire OF his Henry w. but
a rule he altogether too indifferent and unim
passioned Mr. Tay lor and Mr. Collier were excellent
Mr.. Warde fortunately had an English character to
portray and was, therefore, al home than Mr.
Rignod. All the comic roles finely done, and
must specially mention the inimtable Dutchman
OF Mr. knight, the traditional lrshman OF Mr.
Meade, and the coored presentations OF John
Wild and Miss Kate Singleton. Miss Maud Granger
expressed considerable feeling as the heroine, and
Cleopatra was charmlngy acted by Miss Kate Girard
Annie Deand and Miss Marion Sackett were satisfac
tory in their respective roles