, 1877-10-07

advertisers in the theatrical profession. Tie
ouly difference between the two is, that while
Sothcru very often let's his tendency towards
practical jocularity run away with him into all
unsolicited noturiety, Boucieault is unntermt-
tin"ly laying his plans aud watching his oppor-
tunities Ills allacious letter to Disraeli in be-
half OF the Fcniaus was a clever ruse to
make his name popular among the Irish people
and nut money in his purse. His letter to the
North american Reeiew On ''The Decline Of the
Drama" was iu like manner calculated to
awaken widespread controversy, and that he
did not miscalculate WAS evidenced By the fact
that hardly q newspaper Of any prominence
failed to utter some reply to his auimadyer
eIons. This was precisely the effect INTENDED to
be produced, and he meant it to be produced
Just at the proper timc,-namely, little while
in advance Of the production Of Ills new COME
dy. And now note the result. "Marriagc."
Mr.. Bpucivaut's ,nrw comedy, which WAS
brought out ut Waliacs's last Monday, and sim
ultaneousiy aL>Pililadtlpnia, has met with tue
almost unanimous condemnation OF the New
York critics. They condemn it heartily; and this
was exactly what the author wanted them to do.
Had he not inditea that famous epistle on the
decline OF the drama. in which he assa.led the
newspaper critics so ychcn.cntly, they might
have passed 1ne play over with 1alnt
linn no opportunity Of raising 4 row. And it
was row that he desired, aud highly inter
csting row he has managed to raise in tue East
over his new play. The PHILADELPHIA critics
praiscd it, the New York critics snecrcl it down,
and the auth h:lnsrli-wllo seeuls to have
command over unlimited space in the New York
lailies-turl,s round and cCais hard blows at the
critics. He has been spinning out Interviews by
the yard, all contributing to the renown OF his
new dra,,la. lie clcycrly tauilts the critics into
ever fresh rccri'niuations, anu SO keeps his uaulc
and Ills work before the world.
The only New York paper which finds MS
"Marriagc' y altogether loVelyls the trdM'.c'
which says the plot is unusually good Tor the
groundwork uf i comedy. = ltlc Wit anu hu!'ior
Of the pla; arc Of very high order. The audi.
envc is kent constantly surprised and delighted
not only at the novelty OF the situations and
dratra1ic effects, but at the spryhttincss, ri
yac,ty and real wit Of the Dialogues. Another
merit of Marriage is its cieanness- The stury
is ,oId in Il series OF scenes which describe the
day before III. marriage, the weidli--Ilorning,
the webbing evening. tile day after the wedding,
and til.. iirst Of tile lluncymoon.'
Ont!.c other Aand, tile Sun says 1t is bad, anu
goes on to show why: sin the first place.
Marriage is not interesting. 1t is devoid oi
plot That With Mr. Bonclcault l;is cndcav-
urcd 10 substitute for one is an unaelernil1latc
narration, illustrated aud frightened by incl
dents that 10 not grow out of it, anu only aud
to its bulk. The Interest OF the spectator is
trlttcr,ti away on snowy and clever lrrcleyan-
'';,'s IRE ',,a-n thrr,l il 50 s,irht tia. the CO.
;'rannis ,,,,,Ir all his chrtori: on to conceal
h;s ,'I,v,.r,v ot iuyrutn,n.'
'' Ti,c unr7J .l,rlclxr;y.s the p}ay as ia non
a..s,ri,,r wnrE r,ittrriur with tinstl, brilliant
MI, 'i,.,,, NJ; and s11rres,ful only by reason
~ ;.s il.,n.,r,u. The NAV las neither = natural
.1rs,t"r ,,wer.11 ;n,l;v;Ii,1aIistn. nor Il req
sn,' sn,s H.. H. s,1ucn'.. p IN rhc nlot. y
r.. T1;31,,s s,rs. :. III me essential element
f cs,..,x ~ Il Iis,n,,,in,s and The lack Of this
"ion.n1 -" Iii ,iwnys a.nar it from, auy hold up-
~. III nnnnIar heart: II is deficient Of ennobIi,..
e',;r;t W,rrare j. crrsta]izcI around an cx-
1r,r,v ,nnjict. story bit it is not story
th,t - her INTERESTING ar representative, or
'.,,c from whitl auythin, il to i. derived i,l,t
,..in,r i,nnh T;3rrt is Int little attempt at
'h,rarfrriz z5f.,n.1
Th U,r1,J . # has no strong and clear dra-
,,,atic ,u,rnose and That interest becomes lost in
+h., iaEvrnth ~ minor nltts. There is 10 we'll
sIs, anJ Irycl ,rInrnt Of in idea in which thr
.,ators ,.,,, hat.,,,uc ahsnrbc,l 10 fate, either
s.o,,;r or serious. hrli in suslc,hc; no climax
1,n;,.1I.. and nowrrfl1lly wrought out, hut in
tp:.,I ~ these ! rrw, of Inherently disconncrt-
81, staa,inns ar.tially fastened together, and
forced into the semb1ance 0: natural plot by
The Times: 1t brings together many impor-
tan. pCrSOliaEtS anu embraces l;li Ao1eu piols'