The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-11
AMUSEM ENTS.
PARK THEATRE--"oUR ALDERMEN."

PARK THEATRE--.oUR ALDERMEN"
II 10 regrettabe 10 SOC so much genuine effort AZ
was by the Park Theatre management In putting
sour Aldermen" the stage absolutely thrown away
Ia It's present shape the play Is mess OF roth and
trash, In which the motive Of the German original
Is obscurcd and dissipaied. II Is not without
fun oil . very fagcica kind--tho fun OF stuaton-but
IL wandcrs on without purpose and Ii chopped or
into the requisite number OF acts by devices
that may be tolerated In . Niger minstrel
sketch, bat which arc an arront TO an audience
ia q comedy theatre. Tho story which
nm excresconco oilpointed local politician business
has been erected like a hugo tumor is a simple one
and capable enough OF rational dramatic treatment
II the story Of retired merchant, hypochondrac
with all sorts Of imaginary diseases, who has
boon tempted into politics, and Who
aitor an experience OF the rough odgo
Of things POLITICAL rotires into private iifc
curod alike OF his ambitions and his fancicd diseases
Theirs lovo stories, Of courso-tne merchants
daughter and young architect the architects trend
and another 20 ng lady. Whatever may have boon In
tho original as "Amoricanizsd' is almost clumsy
as "rhe Mighty Dollar, and has not ono-nitn OF The
interest OF that queer piece which ut least bad one
strong central character. Whoever remembcrs tho
mign have done with this piece. The old pro-
lessor who went Tor a month on the stock market
that hard school was the enjoyable centre
OF m amusing comedy, but although tue clever
actor, Mr. james Lewis, who gave us the grabbed
Old professor played the amateur politician last ght,
AND played with aud effect, hts dramatic SUR
rou ndings such to make success impossible
Tho playful shifted the play on its ccnrc leading he
audience TO believe that the caricaturcd Aldermen
the be all end all the peco, instead Of tbs
accessories. Tho endcavor OF the play bill was
coarseiy assisted by the mistaken emphasis OF tho
adnpter local politician introduced aud the
suit was a confusion which was never cleared up.
tiers tho piece. and all OF them iarIy sustained, N
except tho very poor German Alderman. The cos
tumng Is Tor tho lodies' part, very handsome, ana
| tho stage setting ~ very rich. The drawing
room set tor the last two acts Is IN w.
| seif OF the finest Of tho kind ever
| on q New York stage. Indeed, We found our
solves ptyng the players aud the scene painters and
everybody VINO had hand IN putting the piece be-
| foro the public--except the adaptcr. Him wo
would nay alive. Dy what process he In
duced capable manager 20 accept
play which snued ono act by the trick
bringing the IRE department. another by process
drums anu third by IN idiot rushing on to say NO
was ruined, we cannot Imagine. Tnsre II 10, how
ever. The aldermanic business, on which SO much
stress Is laid, Is relieved ntte oy
| the ingenuity Of the players, Mr. Regs as Alderman
0'Naliey, and Mr.. La Moyne as Alderman bwncy par
| ticuIary, who help 10 save the caucus sceno rom
/ absolute boredom. We do not fancy Miss Cowell
much out Of soubreto parts and her young lady was
net desirable pattern OF culture, but thers 10 very
| iiise use finding particular fault where ars,
| class acting would not have redeemed hselL MT.
Thonc and Mr. Save did their best with their p1rts,
the o she former NJ Mr.. ChaIerbox- with Nj.