The New York herald., 1878-09-14
Theatrical Events.


Theatrical Events.
With ten theatres open and cloud of
minor theatrical and musical entertainments
from which to choose city people or visitors
from the country need not be dull these
autumn nights, unless they prefer to humor
themselves in that way Indeed, the fall
season for amusements is initiated with
a display of bills that range through
almost all the possible moods Of
variety, from Sheridan Knowles to
Wilkie Collins, and from Boucicault to the
unknown and misty American author.
People have naturally fallen into the habit
of expecting great deal when the doors of
Wallack's Theatre are thrown open but
this season the reality seems to have fallen
short Of expectation. 1t is the common opin-
ion ofthe critical faculty that "Clarissa Har-
lowe" is not success that it was not worth
while to dig up poor old Richardson merely
to get a few names for use in dull play
on a commonplace and not altogether pala-
table theme But there are fashions in plays
as there are in bonnets and there are, it
appears, ''off years" for, literary invention
rs for politics. Sometimes it is the fashion
to work over the old materials In fact, it
is always little the fashion to do that in
literature. Somebody in London made
play out of Goldsmith's ''Vicar," and
Immediately the wonder arose what other
writer of the older generation could
be pressed into similar service.
Boucicault caught at Richardson, and
what is remarkable is that man with
such wonderfully cultivated perceptions as
to what there is accessible in literature that
is useful to him should have made such
mistake in this case. Is it not q little odd
that whit may be called the theatrical in
stinct does not exist in the theatre? How
is it and why is it that u manager of Mr..
Wallack's great experience, judgment and
tact cannot tell good play from q bad one
until it is actually performed before an
audience?
And the unknown American author has
failed also, ms usual and on this occasion,
and for once he is in good company.
Everybody waits and hopes for the Ameri-
can drama and does not despair of seeing
some day the brilliant successes of Ameri-
can wits in this vein but we are afraid the
author of San Open Verdict" has deferred
the happy occasion for twenty years at
least. He will do this by making himself
terror to the managers, who will fly
from the announcement that he is at the
door as the people in the Mississippi Valley
fly from the fever. But these are the less
successful aspects of the season so far. 1t
has it's more satisfactory features, and these
are all, singularly enough, associated with
the names Of women. Few cities anywhere
have been able to boast season in which,
in different theatres, there was such an ar
ray of talent as is shown in the names Of
Mary Anderson, Genevieye Ward, Ada Cav
endish, Rose Coghlan and Fanny Davenport.
Miss Coghlan is the one redeeming point of
sClarissa Harlowe," and Miss Caveudish, the
latest conner is an actress of tested capacity
ON other boards and has made handsome
success here. But in the general opinion
of competent critics Miss Mary Anderson is
the star of first magnitude on our stage just
now. Young. with nearly all the physical
attributes that nature can contribute toward
an actress of the first quality, she
has also the mental aptitudes and the in
dustry that are indispensable elements. Her
future on the stage is what she may choose
to make it. Miss Genevieve Ward, like
Miss Anderson confines her efforts to the
strict lines of the legitimate drama, and
even in the musty story of Shores WIFE
none the better for the tame style Of Mr..
Wills satisfies the strict judgment of the
people, In short time Mr. Mapleson's
opera company will add to the other attrac-
tions of the city splendid performances in
grand opera, and the season will be in the
full career Of glory and success.