The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-24
MANHATTAN BEACH AT MISS MINNIE CUM
MINGs' DRAWING ROOM THEATRE.


A rather motley audience assembled last evening to
witness new departure in the little building III
Twenty-f street which first given to the
muses. under the name of Broughams Theatre, some
ten years ago. and which after merged into the
Fifth Avenue Theatre. where Augustin Daily first made
known his peculiar comedies of ''contemporaneous
local interest with vigorous dashes at the "emo-
tional'' drama. 1t was burned down on New Years
Eve Ave years ago. and long remained melancholy
ruin. Last year j. fitted up for the late Mr..
Heller. the conjurer. and last nigh. it
NAMED in much the same condtion-an open
hall with miniature stage. The occasion
The inauguration of venture by Miss Minnie Cum
mings in the line of providing home in New York
Cor Light and short pieces Last nights bin included
opcrctta and old farce. but the latter not
performed owing to the illness OF Miss Cummings.
II would be mockery to speak Of the performance
success. but musicaiiy, the work not without
It's merits. but the faults--ah! they theme in
themselves More atrocious bufoonery in the name
of acting has seldom been seen and the singing
Ut times hard to bear.
The musical composition of Manhattan Beach; or
Life Among the Breakers done by Mr.. Edward
R. Molephaur and the Ebretto. il may be called.
by Mr. Charles Barnard. The story is, briefly, that
Mrs Gay, who is of firtish disposition. having
received letters from two lovers determines
oddly enough to punish them. Her husband
returns from to Manhattan Beach. and she takes
him into her confidence He obligingly retires ana
she receives the two lovers. one Of whom brings q
hot lunch ia basket. The lovers eiephantine
basso and an idiotic and extraordinary bari
tone Having made each believe that he is
the favored mortal. they tolerate each others
society. The husband begins to return He Is heard
singing outside. and the lovers after quarter hours
hurry burly of fright. arc introduced into closet
which occupies one third of the stage. During the
second act the lovers in the closet tortured by
Mrs. Gay, who first brings in her husband with
gun, and then the lovers wives who
they Let on. and rcconciliations take place Upon
this bowling improbability, wrought out in all
music of the popular waltz and comic song order.
showing ability in the orchestraton aud in
the concerted pieces There are traces Of
of the melodies, which sound oddly, treated
they TO ambitious accomplishments more
less in the Wsgnersn form. There is. however, too
add that the orchestra was large
enough for house thrice the size. and
that the singers trpled their efforts to howl
IL down, it may be how difficult judgment of its
merits becomes. That under the circumstances
Of the pieces gave pleasure notably the drill song OF
Miss Kate Goodali and the song of THE Widow" by
gastronomic bass solo Of Mr.. Bartlemann in
the rst act in praise Of clans and soft shell crabs Is
thing 10 be wondered at but not explained. Miss
GoodalI worked very hard, and in her endcavor to
carry piece through uveracted her part although
she sang with grace. Mr.. Glover. tenor. who has
seen his best days. was gentemanly and conscien-
tious. The rest screams and hideousncss.
Beset by such difficulties it rather CRAFTY
ing than otherwise that the performance
not prolonged last night The house, whose
paying quality ridiculously small treated
tho affair a huge joke, showing plainly
that there greater dangers than empty benches
on . FIRST night. This evening Miss Cummings. who
may be remembered OF kignolds Julicts, will
ondeavor to fill the bill.