The New York herald., 1877-10-02
ADJUSTMENTS.
Mr.. BoucIcAULr's ''MARRrAGE"-THE OPENING

Mr.. BoucIcAULr's "MARRIAGE"-THE OPENING
NIGHT AT wALLAcK's.
The frat night OF the season at waack's and the
nrst night OF q new play by Bouccault would be
separately events sufficiently important 10 call out
New York's best audience; combined, 40 last night
they were, they constitute unsurpassed dramatic
attraction resembling those double stars which re-
vove around each other and blond their rays In
splendor. Marriage" therefore, had naturally
IN audience OF exceptional brlliancy, which
honored much of the play aud more Of the perform :
ance with hearty applause. The scenery, which In.
cudsd Two interiors and woodland view, s superb,
and received Its due share OF communication At the
end OF tho fourth 9ct the author was called
for and mado brict and Bouccaultian
speech, IN which he declared that the succ ess
OF "Aarriage" had justified his decision to take up
again the pen with which no wrote .'London Assur
ance," thirtyssven years ago and promised another
legitimate comedy in i've acts hereafter Mr. Bouc-
cuut was overcome by emoton Mr. Lester walnck
also summoned before the curtain and gracefully
welcomed his old friends In behalf OF his excellent
company and himself.
"Marriagc' is, Notwithstanding these advantages a
failure The main and obvious Is that II has
strong and clear dramatic purpose, that inter-
est becomes lost in the labyrirth OF minor
plots. There is NO we'll sustained development
Of an idea In which the spectators be-
como absorbed; no fate, either comic or
serious, held IN suspense; NO climax logically
and powerfully wrought out, but instead OF these
crowd OF inherently disconnected situations, artih
cay fastened together and forced into the scmblanco
OF natural plot bv tho will and skill, Of the writer
Whoever compares the clear, sharp work of "London
Assurance, in which evcry stands
distinct picture. with the cloudy and confused story
Of Marriage" will probably admit that thlrtyscven
the construction Of legitimate comedy. Thus there
arc two irrcmediablo defects IN clearinghouse tho
spoty and fragmcnary nature Of tho story, and the
other, which the greatest the want OF sufficient In
terest what story there sustain the weight Of
Ave acts.
In compensation for these defects Mr.. Bouccault
has given admirable single situations in which
his humor finds full play The staple material is old,
but the treatment lively. fresh and charmiHA.
But when the characters and tho literary
merits OF "Marriage' are examined the reasons why
II will be finally adjudged failure legitimate i've
act comedy appear more plainly. There Is not
character in the play, nor arc any OF the
types dstinctively modern. They seom to have
stepped out from the shelves OF libraries
instead OF from streets and libraries The dialogue
frequently witty aud always laughable, but It is GER
tainly not Of that episrammatc kird which W.
had been led 10 expect, aid to compare
Mr.. Boucicaults repartees and jokes with the
imaginative text Of Congrsve or the diamond son.
tences Of Sheridan the atflusnt humor OF Gold
smith would be an unnecessary labor The humor
and wit Of this play have cosmopolitan
air; sometimes they French sometimes
Irish, sometimes American II is not play that
is likely to endure in literature, and therefore cannot
be called legitimate success, plays that gain such
success live in the library long upon The stage
That tho comedy was finely acted need hardly be
said. Mr.. John Gilbert Mr. Beckett Mr.. Arnott, and
Miss Roso Coghan, Mme Ponisi and AIrs John Softon
being particularly effective. The following Is the