New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-24
THE DRAMA.
STRUCK OIL.


ties Of domestic life the materials employed in Its
composition. The drama is. in respects so good
that the spectator compelled rather keeny TO regret
that should not be in all respects better II is good
for example. intention. situation aud eharActF'
hut it might well be sku in construction IL might
contain substance and II might easily ne more
terse simple in language IL consists, at present OF
a family separation and family reunion Between these
two events much action and experience supposed 10
occur bat nothing is shown The piece is in three acts
the scene is laid in the oil region OF PennsyVanh Us
time ia that OF the recent civil war in this country
and its chief person is amable German eoDoier'
Two Of ITS acts are occupied with the exhibition OF TINS
PERSONS transit from the cobbers bench the seat Of
war as substitute for one Of his neghbors. The
other act shows his return home, five years later In
orazed and pitiae condition The incidents-lke beads
mon thread-which make up his story are his sale OF
himself as a substituted" his reception or tLedeeh
In s home his concealmcnt OF that deed underneath
brick in his hearth; his parting with Ills vile ana
daughter; his march toward the front; his arriv-
al home: his volube utterance Of a mental con
diion commnged OF Daniel Pratt and King Lear; his
fan from an oil-derfick; his restoration TO reason
through a surgical exploit; and his advent in his own
Just time 20 produce the hidden ue-deed to Bis
property and prevent his enemy from getting pos
session OF IT, The play through which ne thus
moves must have been fashloned-as viii readily
be surmised-much more out of the desire TO
q the with opportunities Of expression than out OF
any spontaneous impulse toward original dramatic crea
ton. For this reason among others il is common ana
ndistincve work. It's writer has rather than re-
membcred Grip Van Winke." The Man Of Alrlie,'
"The Chimney Corner" and Ours" The rascal u
struck Oil might be tine twin brother OF Derrick or Of
Dickenss Mr. Tareton orfof the hardbea1ted uncle Of
Blaceycd The march OF the troops, which ends
TO have been calmly gathered from the
personal of the late ing uious Mr.. Robertson
unless indeed that stage effect be KIND OF theatrical
is M of
90 use o. Papers have been hidden liz the vicinity OF
stage chuneys before now and there is certainly moth
iug fresh in the presence Of Teuton who is humor-
GUS in the first and d0iorous in the last
Yet as already minated there ~ good dramatic
Iessu excellent feeling and effective situation
IN tins drama and the author viii be- credited with
having made a useful piece Tie might have invented
middle for i-so give it body as wen aa head and
ect he might avoided the stlts Of verDage IN It's
emotional passages and he might have made its climax
sharper H. has 90 a events, provided scenes Ia whch
NH. c. williamson and his vfe-Miss Maggie Moore
can exert their talents with much and charming elect
and 90 have done tbs is 90 have done wei.
Both these actors possess dramatic faculty, as
gentle and kndlv I'm lts influence s it is hne in nature
The lady. We believe this stage. she acts in
struck OIL" young German girl who, at first, is isno
rant but who Is developed by love by sorrow, and by
the force Of slight accidental culture The subtle
intangible manner IN which Miss Moore expresses tbs
experience k strongly significant other dramatic instinct
size is not scfconsciOus in art Duo is easy, graceful
simple, piquaut and sympathetic In the parting
scene she would have been perfectly natural
by which we that she womb have
used artistic with entirely natural caect-lf her
uttelance OF the words Of lamentatou had not been
uneed with arufce The fact is, at persons OF rad-
calv merry temperament good heart wholesome health
and slender imagination never much al ease in mo-
meni- of fictitious grief. Miss Moores VEN is that Of
sparkling mirth. she is for the Prucs and Jenny Cam
nous ANA Cceys and uc!cus, OF the drama. Her voice
is soft and pleasant her vOcasm Is pretty ana neat;
her manner is playful; her animal spirits abundant,
an she diTuses laughter good cheer and cOntentment.
Mr. williamson this public remembers with sincere re-
erd lie used 10 play Waacks, and one OF his excel
lent early works was Dc Sciree. He ou, ago dis
ungusLed skill and hdeity in dressing and inter
pretia eccenrc character Hesurpuses his auditors now
by the practical insig that he eviuce INTO deep human
feeling and into the condition OF disOrdered reason.
he sares them likewise by OF three touches OF real
ythrng pathOs aud by the general DO.autss ana Fg1r
of his action upon plane Of imaginative emotion access
BILE only 20 artists or high class His mad-ccne lacked
I'D forlorn ana IN bitterness; be has not yet read
he whole Of the awful book OF insanity; and his eXccu-
ron would be the better repOse OF method and
FOR clearer stimulation Of feebleuess-albet tie da-
r,atist las made unatic waudcrer miracle OF recu-
uraon not preten ling 20 take the privilege Of the ideal
domain But he ulters, truly and sAluIyi the eXata-
ton Of madness ana ne ceayes TO the original simple
]
ordeal Of uracy. There ars but few clements IA the
came character itself lie is afectOnate, he Is droy
sfupid he h nnocently shrcwd; and this is about al.
The madness Of such must, OF course, be limited
"a 10 phases The fall OF lamp-post is not the fall Of
.irrb-Oyyer The actor however Sd WIS deeper know
edge and better being simple in hs treatment OF
lnacv in this case than he would display n trying %
load the situation with unwauanted effects Il is,
/ psrbaus. needless to say that Mr.. williamson 10
easily equal 10 the droeres Of the TeuiOn, and %
be xpressiol OF honest human feeling the of
domestic farew L. The scenery devised and painted for
struck Oil at the Union square Theatre. is represcn-
tativeof a hOmcke cottage interior, the city Of Pitts
,urg al a distance and OIL City at hand and it j.
dreadfully faithful 70 its originals. Smoke climceys,
new brick scaFodings emp0rums and rstcass lawyers
in shining new hats make up these aurng pictures Of
American enterprise Mr.. and Mrss Williamson are for
inmate in the auxiliary power Of Mr A. II. Weaver who
acts the hvpoertical Deacon skinner repulsyely we'll
and likewise IN the sister magic OF Mrs sol Smith, who
npersonaes the eobbeTs wife, and helps TO freight the
serious moments OF piece with requisite emotion.
The cast furthermore includes Mr.. T. j. sullivan, Mr. i.
$ Peakes Mr. sol smith, SIr 7. " Thorpe, Master XII
day Mr. ". Il. wilkes, aud Mr. Lysander Thompson IL
NAV be well 10 addes greatness be negected-tha Sir.
l. Levy tootes wonderful upon the cornct az Intervals in
fine course OF the representation. Mr. and Mrs. William
son Will remain Union square Theatre until the
drsl Monday in November
INCIDENTS OF TONIGHT.
Several notable changes Of programme will
.rau 1aaa fufunp fnnf thee