, 1877-01-02
AMUSEMENT
St,vICKEn,s THEATRE.

M'vICKEn'S THEATRE.
A new mctodratna, entitled "Tho Law OF tho
Land,'' was produced at McV!cker's Theatre
yesterday afternoon and repeated IN the eren-
Ing. The play Is conventional enough, and so
decidedly 1netodrama OF tho old school that, II
there were a Dowery In Chicago, We should hope
10 lai It first IN the sacred precincts OF that ln-
stItution. 9ome "reminiscences Of "The Ticket
of-Leavo Man " lluges In "The Law Of the
Land" In tho latter play, however, tho In.
tcrcst[ng convict ls not the much.abuscd person
exhibited IL the earlier composition. He IL
1orgcr Of the old school. who has been sent 10
prison because he deserved II, and repents after.
wards. Ills tlckct-bf.lcayc does not nrrIre until
tho end OF the last act, and !. then introduced
rs means u harmony rather than As tue
u 1.-THE Law Of the Land Is In the
third act. It represents the struggle of
the conv!ctfathcr between tho motives suggest
ell by considerations ot hts security from recap
ture and those connected With his daughters
happiness. This daughter loses u young lock-
ssnltl, ~ho has been wrongtully accused Ut o
robbcry. The cony!ct-father, who l,as escaped
from his keepers, knows that tho locksmith t.
liz 'ns :e' E ss e ssoo til e
truth without incu!r[ng the danger OF sending
himself hack to prison. Tho conflict Of oppo-
si.c emotions arising from this situation Is well
1ssesd n te @ &c @n. and e. IT, hoas fa
yond this, there is nothing particularly
requires detailed description As good
melodrasnas have lgen seru at much less pre-
tentinus theatres. In the present instance.
moreover, there Il trace Of unsktllful chooptng
IN the lust net, Else how could tho victim Ut
ali attempt At murder recover from llis stupoE
and gu to fetch the officers at distance OF
tEcnty-s!x miles while the nction Is proceeding
un the stage! There arc tnany indications OF
crutlencss In tile construction Of the play,
Which pcttlRps are scarcely worth the pointing
out. Incidents have been interpolntcd rather
lucnt action than with my reference to their
or their probability. Such Incidents arc
the. Tie leaving gths Of ,,eet the young nsn
place where tho intended robbcr must fall
upon them, and tic appearance of tho younger
daughter at II remote anh lonely NIL! Just IN
time 10 prevent tho murder Of her father. The
SHOWS tho results rathcr of the Jealous cntleav-
nrs Of a stace-tarpentcF than of nuy Intelligent
workmanship. TIC netting of The plny Is rs
Gousl as It's ncrits deserve. Mr.. Tlornc Is mt
nFally ut home in melotlrama. and he exhibits
the pccullaritics Of the eouy1et-fatlcr In vivid
md picturesque manner. Miss Tracy rs the
cider daughter IL not a!ways satisfactory, miss
inE spn,o opportunities to bring forth
asie, S hssSi ai g. 9aa,tis ier u cs the n,ep sat:
Ing htrolcs Which arc not caled for i'y the text.
Nj. Lee has q gUol cllarnctcr-pnrt-that Of tho
yolatlc yiliain-whcll he tlues full justice TO.
Mrs. atunloc., and sfr. llutto arc violently
thrust iuto the nctiun to accomplish sone fun,
nnt succeed indilTcrentay. THIS character which
Mrs. Muslloel, assumes flas IN 1t suggestion OF
Iit'tu Wafer, particularly In the sceus In ttsu
Office where tho lunch ts partakcn OF; but, as .
respectable icllalc, tho lady Of tho play must
l.avs some difficulty In explaining why she
tramps atout the country mud visits lonely o.
1lces 1T 1ate hours, with her ovcr-fond iuyer.
Tho loser himself, It may be remarked iii pass,
Ing, ia broad butlcsque, much given to drop.
ping Into grotcsque rhymes without poetry o.
scetlc In the second oct representing tho roof.
uf London, anil that In thu last act showing
the old mill, bciu. especially noticeable.