The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-04-15
TIE LONDON THEITREss.

TIE LONDON TIIEITREs.
Mr. Henry James, Jr., in an article in the
Gadry. gives his impressions Of the drama IA
acted in London lie had gone to London fresh
from Paris, and from "a careful and citAp .Ns-
tie study of the incompatible acting H the
Theatre Frangais. the great theatre # the
world. 1t is not surpr s.u- therefore. that Ice
found ia" English stage duil 10y comparison. n
indeed It is. The theatre In London is not even
So important a thing IN the social economy a. it
is in New York and that puts j, far behind the
theatre Of Paris. which furnishes one OF the
chief centres Of interest in tina, great capital
Like our own. most Of the London plays are
adaptations from the Fr0ueh-thc same plays
Indeed. which W. see ia New York. The cunsc-
qucncc is that there H. very little - any drama
characteristics of the people. as there T. very
little of 10 here. just now Fran is the dra-
matte fountain head Of both England and
America. the source whence our puyvrl.ht-
grt their idcas and our theatrical managers
obtain plays ior d0.;oring 60 suit our m.t,'t
The main suppart. RS oi thethoatto In London
are the middle cla-.'-. The higher pay less
attention To- il. combining theu- .lkrs mostly to
the opera. which is more r,-ur table. az the
0ld -ors. Admission t. them is very DEAR
stall cl sting about 50. or twice On" price here
sufficient Indication that play going is not d
popular amusement in London. fUr tu; small
Ier cntage OF the people cam af0 rd Co. pay such
prices for desirable seats. Tho restrictions a-
o. dress also point that WY. Mr. james found
ur audiences less inieIi' 0tual uAd Dr.tloW than
iae French. ami That everything alugt VICE
iu'nir" conveyed III" inir. s-ion that fhr in-
srtliton i- il social luxury rather tan thn az
usti' f-.iiy II is iu rar.-. This mi-ut ls
said with truth az the theatre iu N.W York
viii ID is much u'arfr that ~ London than that
of the French oap.td. fhr theatre with u- being
At.' cI-r than place Of pun, recreation and
diversion. while in Paris it is school of art
aud of in-ta and criticism. as well ,s a luce Of
amusement merely.
or English actors Mr.. James docs not seem
10 have very high opuion. and indeed. there
are just now none who deserve go Dee called
sreni. though his admirers claim q ,lu.cyDr
exalted f0r Mr.. Henry Irving. who has mai -o
mu % talk IN London hy his reir.- .utfiau- e
Ha'.i', hoIari H.. au1 Nl b, rMf W.
jam les -'r- .ifi Aduir'fu hiu. Hto,.uhu'-
that d. regards hiuu- D barren failure NrlthDr
his face nor hsur" is dramatic. ani his voice. is
wholly unnN.Iuhl" i.r rpo-'- % de..ang-
tom. Shakespeare finest lines ia-- rflu-h
h.- lips without bis paying the srDut'f - tribute.
tn iAo.r IuslI'y His Nire -lar-lHn .uNt.n-
ou-. and Doc s. fail &C -tl.In. -- ANA m4au. ri-m.
T r-c .re lr tty hard t.In-- %. -ly uf un u.t.r
cor whom is claimed the l,ulus rls.. among
the actors of thn day. vino has aroused % violent
q discussion Ia Eue'Yula~ 90 his merits aud who
enjoys ana esteem and cons derat.ou o. which a.
English Iiayor since MurrudS l,it the Stage
has attained. II Mr. Irving is not a .,roat art II
bee L. plainly pretty had ou.. and t4r. I.tt q is
about the opinion ol him entertained ny Nh
,,si. a.