The New York herald., 1877-11-04
WHAT IS COMEDY 7
A Talk with the Critics ?.
Racy Compliments.
vOX POPULI.
A Perplexing Conundrum-Musical and
Dramatic Notes.
OH. S0THERN AND HIS PLAY OF "HOME."


famous conundrum, what is Comedy ?" the town has
been scratching its intellectual head for tho right
answer. So tar the author comedies that but one
definition has nearest the bulls-eye, TO wt-that
COMEDY is French play and pair OF SCISSORS"
Other critics, conaning themselves closely to the
subject, have preferred to sit in judgment on the
man, and moro less words of severity have been
the result OF the discussion. "Fair play s jewel"
however, and since tho HERALD has become the me.
dium for the public presentation OF the views OF its
readers OIL this nowengrossng topIc tho fact Is cx-
cusable that We to-day give the result of several
Interviews with gentlemen who are well known
In connection with critical dramatic work
and are supposed to clean and well cut opinions
on the subject which Mr. Boucicault has brought to
Tho suriace. II may or may not be significant that
some of these gentlemen to the OF their
names in connection with the matter.
MR.. Il. c. sTEDaAM
Mr.. +. G. Stedman, the poet banker OF Wall street,
for instance, who has written few OF the sweetest
lines that illustrate the tender phases OF American
thought, remarked. ''why come here, especially in
business hours and expect write five.
ten twenty minutes definition OF comedy?
wouldn't attempte 1t. It's easy enough TO
-ecall ones classics, but who has reputa-
ton to lose IS going to risk II on spasmodic state
ment Besides, don't pretend to be a critic. on the
stage never saw Boucicault In my life. On II, how
ever, respect and admire him as artist and au-
thor. Whether he uses scissors not enjoy the
beautiful pictures he has given to tho eye and appre
ciate the talent which Tor generation has made his
name run n'round the world. That's all have say"
The writer next ran against not only an old play
wright journalist but an ARTIST and IN the latter
capacity he was engaged in making comedy on an
easel he too was unwilling 10 allow the or his
spected he SAID frankly in humorous way, "You
See that color-ts RED; there's another-its blue;
an and there's yellow They make our combinations
mi faP n (snp vi ahnn IA nah
are talking II is made up OF several kinds and
coors Those by Shakespeare unapproachablc:
comedies that are made for the million from
md poetical sweepngs pllered by the modern
hiDoner and strung in three, four and five
Dut Of French plays, running il through his mental
hash foundry and producing certain stage ELECTS. In
with the originals his garments have strong smell of
The dye shop Now, just here let me tell you of
san.ls sar,ous letter II was was from the agen. Of Mr
Bouoieaul.'s BosSa,a plays in my theatre without
long list OF plays, among which was called, "Used
Up" and which was clear translation from French
farce-comedy, called, al Homms Blaze" Other pill
erings, equally bareIaced, through the other plays
In the list Ia my reply 10 this piece OF brass simply
psy kchapd and se woua have
Me Kindness to let me play Hamlet.
But to the main question.
''What is a comedy, Mr.. B-d?"
"Weil," answered this old timer who had soen all
he actors and actresses in America for the last forty
years, 'Tnybody with little common n
Bwer your plain question; but there negro In the
fence here which all simple minded folks don't see.
The comedies OF these modern playwrights new
and ingenious methods OF getting advertising
paying noteriety. Modern comedies the steal
and ''od gags" the sources from when they
are drawn. and scissors and gum do the rest
nowadays. SO many plays are called comedies which
are not that we can only throw overheard these
mondern productions which rise the brains OF
oil real genius and class their sensational productions
with the vast mass OF rubbish that now degrades the
DRAMA"
Little warmth Of satisfaction being obtainable from
ihis party the reporter sought a thrd-Mr. Frederic
schwa6, the dramatic and musical critic OF tho New
York 7imes-wth whom the following conversation
snsued:-
FREDERICK A. scHwAn
REPoRTER-Have you read Mr.. Boucicault's re-
marks upon the criticsy
CRIrIc-CertainIy; road everything Mr.. BoucicauIt
writes
REpoRTER-How do thoy impress you?
CRric-l think Of them more in than in
anger. have great respect lor Mr. Boucicault's
talent, ingenuity and experience ana he al
enemy, even, should stiii feel blunder
wholly beneath his ability IL Is incoucevable that
an author, actor and manager OF equal skill should
forget the proverb "Qui sercse sdcc,sse," and tur
ther, try to create an excitement upon topic not
worth quarreling over, and which, too, has been
handled by the critics that he compelled the
ground before taking these gentlemen TO tas at all
controversy In the newspapers will help IN
which people can be brought TO take interest," in
which some lively nghting has been done, but IN
"Marriage" Mr. Bouccaut has, in legal parance, no
case. He intended, suppose, to repeat the tactics
resorted 10 when 'Formosa'' was acted in London.
He then had different material to work upon.
REpoRTER-in what respectY
CRiTIc-Somebody made the discovery that "For-
mosa" was immoral and said As do not believe
that two persons with identical views what con-
sttutes morality or immortality be encountered
the world over, Mr. Bouccault promptly bethought
himself of raising a discussion on the subject.
The London newspapers were nlcd win communica-
lions, and ior short time much attention was directed
10 "F0rmosa.n People not puritaucal
q q d mr. pIpg nnup nj Mia
who were had chance OF listening 10 II under pre-
tence oil enightening themselves ON what appeared
to be u disputed point. "Marragen Is not immoral;
has called forth censure OF tho mdest Sort and Mr.
Bouclcaut is, therefore, lett to both sides OF
The debate
REPoRrER-But is the author of a play not entitled
TO be heard In behalf OF his work.
CRrrc-surcy, but Mr. Boucicaut cannot seize upon
any iilgrounded statements made IN regard to "Mar-
rage" 20 he puts forth the sweeping assertion that
INC criucs KNOW notn,ns anu IKE inc oaker 10 ihc
Hunting OF the Snark," sets them conundrums 10
guess.
REpoRrER-You refer TO Mr.. Boucicaults challenge
to his critics. calling upon them TO supply definition
OF the word comedy" take IN
CRInc-Precscly Now, 500 hnerateurs might have
hity deGnitions each and no Two be slmiiar Tho
best means Of securing formula Tor a comedy would
be gotten, fancy, by an analysis oi the standard
pieces known In English, French, German, Italian
and Spanish literature. Would three tour out OF
hundred even be proved TO contain the eeentsY
Are GodoDis comedies not comedies because they
are not bullt oil the very material and in the very
style OF Sheridan'sY Must all compositions OF tho
same order have exactly similar characteristics? II
mua, what chance will dramatiss OF the fuiure have
they are told that 81 900 worth OF furniture
essential ingredient OF Mr. Bouccauits latest le
gtmate comeuyYo
REpoarER-Mr. Boucicault implies that works which
critics again and again denounced have been sue
cessfuL Do not facts Justify this assertion?
CRIrIC-A critic in my humble opinion, has nothing
whatever to do with the success OF a piece BY
success Mr.. Bouccault and myself just at present.
mean "drawing power" and Mr. Boucicault knows as
well do that aesthetic excellence. originality, form
or any OF tho thousand and one requirements oil first
rate composition do not necessarily delight the
uge public. the police did interfere, speciacles
could be placed upon the stage which would ex-
coed In remunerativeness the writings Of either
shakespeare, sheridan or Boucicault Why, then,
twt the critics with reflections upon the populartyn
OF, Tor example, "The Mighty Dollar 2n The critics
pronounced THIS achievement trash, and their
opinions we're almost unanimous; but many thousand
persons found the play comca, and went repeatedly
10 be amused by Its characters ana Incl
tents. Mr.. Boucicault once said that newspapers
ought to have reporis" Of representations ana not
scrilicismsthat to say, that the reader ought
be told on the OF The "Drst nightp how many
lines tho spectator laughed and at what stages the
procecdIngs IL that course were adopt everybody
tsaiS htl.r,tx A.