The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-23

DARKNESS AND DIscoRp' AT THE ACADEMY
OF MUSIC.
This unpopular performances was given last night at
the Academy instead of the sacred concert for the
benefit OF signori Aibites and Palmer which had
been announced Those who assembled steps OF the
Academy soon after eight O'Clock were surprised TO
the crowd in the LOBBY the long line
OF hundreds OF leading the box Office under
the careful marshalng or policemen. II looked at
first sight II the deserving and cntcrprising mana
gers OF the Havana Italian Opera were to BIO
rewarded for their labors in the Of musical
art But unfortunately this vida no. the Tho
people werc not going in but coming out; paying
their money, but waiting for II TO be returned There
was no concert, because there not enough Of an
audience TO make the event prof table. The manage
ment would have been glad 20 have given the enter
objected. Drums, cymbals, nfes, horns, ciaroncs,
volins, trombones, flutes and obocs all joined in n
general dlscord The orchestral appeared TO be
mo pay, play, and the inevitable result tnat
the audience dismissed With apology, and that
which was intended to be real benefit was changed
into an injury
The sympathies Of all who present at the
Academy were with the management An American
audience Is probably the most good natured IN the
world, and tocratcs many things which IL should
sure; but IN this case II had good reason for being
satisfy the pubc and had honestly sought 10 Five New
York a good season OF Italian opers. Hardly nm ex-
preston oil discomfort was heard IRON tho persons
who waited tor the rounding OF their admission ccs,
and tho general sentiment was OF regret Tor the
unfortunate event. About nine O'Clock the doors OF tho
building were closed the orchestra had departed, and
The appealing silence eloquently took
The throne which II forsook.
is elsewhere announced that in Of the
indsposton of two OF tho leading there Will
opera this evening, bet that ..Rigoletto" Will be
positively sung on Wednesday evening. Wo trust that
ccivo the support OF allwho love and respect an
earnest and intelligent effort in It's behalf.
ANTONY AND CLEoPATRA-ITs FAILURE AT
NIBLo's GARDEN--THE PLAY CONSIDERED
FROM NATIONAL srANDpoINr-THE ONE
TERM AMENDMENT
"Antony and Cleopatra" was Withdrawn from Niblo's
not long since. Its failure gain popular favor
be regretted for many rcnsons. The Of Its
success, however, arc apparent 1t not adver-
scd in accordance with the spirit OF tho times and ut
the end OF It's first week the advertisements
porarily taken from the newspapers. Although some
OF tho acting was admirable yet tho cast AS whole
was not strong enough TO meet tho requirements Of
what may be regarded one OF Shakespeare's masor
pieces Not any Of the faults however should reflect
upon the merits Of the principal actors the roles
which they assumed belong school OF acting for
egn to their training Notwithstanding these objec-
tons, we believe the magnificent scenery and in truth
tho energy OF the would secured for the
play happy had Il been brought
out at earlier period In the dramatic sea-
1t was announced early as last
autumn that the pecc was to be revived
ana II then hoped that tho throngs
OF people who had gathered al Booths Theatre
Tor than hundred nights 10 wit
ness Julius Cmsar' would be afforded fitting
opportunity the contin of that portion or
Roman history which Shakespeare has clothed such
inmitable language Indeed the curtain fell on
that unequalcd production, lingering desire re.
manned with many people to hear moro from Marc
Antony and his fellow trumvirs who passed on 10 ter
upon the Oriental OF "Aniony and Cleopatra
In recalling also, the hercmlean performance OF Edwin
Forrest as COMMUNICATIONS counterfeit prescnt nent
oil that character has been chiselled from block OF
marble INTO massive proporonsthe desire to witness
tho coming tragedy was considerably increased for
the three plays are indissoIuby connected by the
bonds OF history and the genius Of tho poet. Shake
spearc's treatment OF tho important events which
they illustrate something unparalleled in dramatic
art
These historical plays peculiarly adapted to the
theatres OF a republican governments. Rome
mighty Republic, and in contemplating her rise and
TALL the imagination must picture at oncs the most
lofty and fierce ambitions Of man. her luxuries,
loves, ntrgues, passions. conqncsis and gorcs, at
which tue world wondered, are now pile OF
magnificent in thor tall as tho Coliseum itself. This
Is the Rome OF history, but in the Rome OF poetry,
which we lind on tho pages Of the great dramalis we
TO the past recreatcd and Its heroic figures
move before us as vividy II they lived II their
Intense vitality and truthiulness that make the
influence OF these plays SO valuable. Shakespeare,
with absolute impartallty, has described the famous
mon aud women which they portray; has exhibited
their virtues and vices alike, and shown how their
selfish ambitious ard love Of power brought
tho creates. Republic Of ancient times TO
Republic oil the United States was 10 exist
he could not have rendered her n greater SCR
vice than he has by means OF tho lessons which he
thus drawn from Roman history. They show us the
dangers That beset liberty and point the methods
OF avoiding them. The word "Cesarism" means, IN
fact, Roman mbtion and the extension OF individual
official power IN republican governments "History
repeats itself" and tho United States may prove
an exception to the late OF previous republics The
results Of our recent Preside initial contest however,
II may DO remarked here with singular Significance
lend assurances that dcatora power alter the school
OF Caesar, may yet be prevented by the enactment OF
1.-THE one term amendment" II tho evils OF one
mans ambition, ms the leader OF q republic, pic
tured Ia Julius Cesar the curse Of the corruption
and crime attendant upon II are revealed with equal
force in "Anony ana Cleopatra" For this reason
the play, whenever is produced at theatres.
serves the support and encouragement OF all American
citizens II teaches them lesson which II Is al once
thor duty aud their interest TO heed.
The best minds regard ''Antony and Cleopatra as
ono OF the greatest OF shakcspeare's works II was
written at a time when ms genus ripencd Ho
brought 10 It's composition not only extensive dramatic
experience, but also remarkable knowledge OF the
facts and spirit OF the Roman age. He writes II he
had talked and banIuetcd with his the time
they nourlshed This play Is not gloomy Julius
Caesar though IL is equally as Impressive. Tho ire.
mcndous struggles winch shook the Roman nation
when Antony quarrecd with 0ctavus Caesar dis
closed with astonishing vgor; but they arc combined
with scenes gayety aud spendor which brighten tho
darker elements OF the story. The mag N hcent prof
legacy of Antony, who gave away empire Tor a
KISS; the vonptuous lilo OF the Egyptian Queen, and
the revclries and discipline of the Aexandrian armies
blended in one picture OF vast dramatic power.
The poetic construction OF the play is superb; the
place OF action is continually changing from Rome
Egypt IRON sea 10 land and from palace 10 camp Tho
elegance OF us dicton not surpassed IN any Of tho
authors plays With all these attractive features,
however, Shakespeare did not neglect to represent
Cleopatra 10 her proper ligntas a woman more DO
n MT
select the successful periods OF her In which no
could only depict vicc as triumphant but, excluding
her from the play OF Julius Caesar, wrote Antony
and Cleopatra almost expressly topoint tho moral OF
her lie, which ended in suicide.
THIS marvellous tragedy was probably written In
1910 and first printed IN tho folio collection OF 1928
lis plot was undoubtedly derived from 'PIutarch' S
Lives" Much doubt exists 10 the OF It's orig.
NAL production tho stage Daniels play OF .Clco-
patra" appeared In 1904 aud also ~ the same year
Antonic,' from the French by the Countess OF Penn
broke. was published. The subject to have