The New York herald., 1877-02-06
THE DANIcHEFFs AT THE UNION SQUARE
THEATRE.

That greatest of all novelties, really new play
last night presented TO the New York public at the
Union Square Theatre. IL deals with state OF Russian
society that only passed away few years since, and
n is called s'The Danchefr" We owe 1t to the well
known pen Of Alexandra Dumas and Russian author
named Pierre Newski Tho story in its strong
est dramatic situations is so thoroughly
outside the experience OF a Frencnman and
has 80 we'll preserved its distinctive local
color that think therc Is no injustice In assuming
that the real author Is the Russian NcwskL But, no
matter who is the author, the work itself belongs
TO q class which is seldom the
modern stage II IS honest and intense In
its motives, and though there is much
in the peculiar relations and habits of thought OF the
people who are presented to us that has no par
ailel In our civilization. StI the underlying
human feeling, which is common to all
men, are SO wrought upon that
lake the joys and Of these mimic characters
10 our hearts and make them own 1t is perhaps,
necessary for the greater part OF the audience to
make effort to place themselves rapport
with the state Of civilization represented, but
this obstacle overcome IL is diG1cut to refrain
from entering heartily into sympathy with the strug-
Rles, pottngs, sacrifices ana sorrows in which
the characters Of the "Danichens" are In
volved The authors have been very happy
in telling their story In succession or strong and well
knit situations which give our sympathcs time to
flag, and carry US to tho end Of the
third act with absorbing interest The fourth act In
reality adds no interest to the play, for when the
curtain goes down the third act VIC know that the
lovers who were separated by the cunning device OF a
supcrhumar self-sacrhce Vi man prompted
BY unseif love. There were unweaving Of the
naturally enough excited little interest," because II
ihe mere mechanical carrying out OF what every
ths I%s I'm third act the house was electrified
and twice insisted on the raising Of the
curtain. This was the climax OF interest and OF popu
larty. Like most plays derived from the French, the
"Danchens' has suffered in It's dialogue during It's
translation into English In part this due
part also the inability OF English speaking actors to
deliver long speech aud maintain the interest In
The case r,oroo OF op ns sSr nS,s
able His spceohes In French are, no doubt
pretty and we'll rounded, but in English they drag
and become prosy. They require to be cut and made
more tcrsc and 10 the point All ms important speeches
full OF psssion and every unnecessary work should
ss are absolutely necessary TO express exactly what
Oslp wants to say In the scene with Anna In their
home tho poetic speech s IN us pace ana M apc
decp feeling II probably the most successful pas
sage in his performance OF tho evening We're his
lines cut down somewhat for instance IN his interview
with Vladimir, when he tells him the story OF his mar
rage this scene would be rendered more effective and
such magnificent situation 'nas s no enor's Sn0u'o
The materials used have been woven into remark
ably powerful and effective play which Is destined 10
com1etept artists TO Mr. O'NciI and Mss Sarah
Jewet fell the task OF pcturng the sorey tred lovers
and Mr. O'Nctl more than sustained tho
Iaurels he has already won as an arst OF
OF high merit. The scene with Osip was marked py
powvr and se-commsnd.
Miss Jewett had very dalcut role TO play and one
that called for moro than avernge subtilty ana power
ia the rendering, and II IS to her credit ina. sue
scouuted bcrseIf satisfactorily. Her impersonation
of Anna Ivanowna was marked by n swectness ana
deIIcscy that than compensated Tor the aosencs
IN ssrsnsth and v,gor Mr.. Floyd gave % very good
1ksssh Of . diplomatic Trenchman. bus mr.