The New York herald., 1878-09-13
ADJUSTMENTS
SAN OPEN VERDICT" AT TIE STANDARD
THEATRE.

sheldon Parker the states elngg9d
Judge Court ali disnits.......Hx T. Weaver
os o Ss@s Jars az ali
Hester stanhope purpose and tate Mrs Emma Waller
Florence iisnt In shads Miss Nay 0i paSsDpars
HraSs ns. M an innocent Jo;. M.I isn ;l
Lille sais s:ssx:
.....Miss May Hsrro's
new and orgnal American drama, entitled IAN
Open Verdict" was produced last evening at the
Standard Theatre to large audcncs, and proved
decided failure, OWING to It's faulty construction
and lack OF coherent dramatic form. In the
whole cast there is not single strk.
ing character, and it is diflcult to under.
stand how any manager could be induced to produce
IL. This may be considered sweeping criticism but
IL was by means an open verdict that the spec
tators rendered when the curtain fell for the last
time.
Tho plot OF IAN Opon Verdictn is, as tho playbill
announces $50 peculiar" that 1t requires consider.
able space explain 1t. The first presents the
rivalry between two Southern planters-Nel
Delaned or. Plympton) and Godfrey Pope Mr.
Evans) for the hand OF rich and beautiful girl,
Edith Miss Rose Osbornel Hester stanhope (Mrs.
Emma Waller) mysterious gypsy looking creature,
appears upon the seene to tell Edith OF tho despca-
BILE character OF Pope who is urging her to marry
him clandcs,iney. Edith suspects that Neil had u-
with Pope to church to be hastily married, and on
returning introduces him to Neil her husband.
The act ED hero though the fact Is revealed that
Florence Miss May Davcnport), ward OF Nei is In
love with her guardian. In the second act Two years
have elapsed Neil has married Florence; Pope has
become gambler and runian. Hester Stanhops still
pursuing and spying upon him for some mysterious
wrong done her. She denouuces Popc for murder
he has committed and sets mob with bloodhounds
ono1A fnpc co(a
and Is by him protected from tho fury OF tho mot
and houuds. This makes a striking scorc, and the
curtain fell amid abundant and heartfelt ap.
plausc. The third act opens ten yeara
after in the city OF New York, the scene bo-
storm. wedding party arr. .ve a. a mansion ana ins
deserted street Is occupied by Pope. who appears,
has been acquitted the murder through the efforts
OF Men, who acted as his counsel Florence Is dead
Neil has just married Edith, she having procured
furious sccnc ensuos between them. Pope announces
hts intention Of entering the house and demanding
money as the price OF his silence On Hester seeking
to prevent him Pope stabs her rings The bell and gsius
admission, the negro servant going TO tho "a OF Hes
ter. Through an open window the TWO mon are seen
10 meet, and as they struggle tho curtain falls.
The fourth act is really a part OF the third Pope
throaons Neil IN words and tho dumb quarrel is re-
enacted. A mysterious pistol shot 10 hrca and Popo
falls mortally woundca Ho dies after denouncing
Neil his murderer but Hestcr declares that she
| court room whore Hester is trial for murder.
The District Attorney valves the charge. and Hester
|
| ecutins ollicor orders Neil who Is acting az
| Hester's counsel, into custody for the crime,
| but tho Court refuses permission, though
strangely enough allows the attorney 10
examine witnesses in support Of his charge. Then
Hester again declares that she killed Pope but as she
mas already acquitted she cannot be tried Sec
ond time Thcn tho denouemcnt, such as II 10.
Hester declares herself half sister OF Pope's, and
| that, though the wifo Of white man, had been
| claimed by him on the death OF their father as his
slave, her mother being one. This was The motive
| Tor her long pursuit aud Anal venGeance.
with such plot there was no scope or acting. Mr.
Piympton manly enough. but he really had moth.
ing to do Mr Evans the villain was as villanous al
one could wish Mr. Maginley as an impossible negre
| was tolerable. Miss Rose Osborne as Edith looked
loyabe enough but she had scarcely anything to do.
Mrs Waller WAS melodramatic and wcird. Mr.. La
Clercq as cantins, hypocrtical minister, endeavored
to make something of his part, but, hko much
Of the cast, be might as we'll have been
Tor him. There may have been worse plays presented
in this city, but II do not recall thom az this
moment AT the close OF the lormanco there were
| loud calls tor tue author, when Mr.. Hcndcrsan
| appeared bofore the curtain and declared that
| he did not know VINO wrote tho piece, but
| believed ''thoyn were in Washington. SO tho audi
| ence dispersed more mystifcd than ever. Mr. Heu.
deson deserves great credit tor the liberalty he has
mounting tho play, and his company isso
| good that with more intelligent drama, they will
doubtless achieve all the success they seek TO attain