New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-13
TIE DRAMA-MUSIC.
AN OPEN VERDICT.

The peculiar and inestimable blessings which,
IN the angelic shape Of theatres encourage tins favored
community augmented last night by the reopenlhg
OF the Standard Theatre and furthermore by the dis
closure OF that priceless jewel new American drama
These occurrences manifesty momentous. and they
carry with them an obvious benehcence. Words can
give them bat an inadequate homage and Imperfect
oonmemOration. Yet in the presence OF such
comforts IL would be ungraciOus TO muzze the mouth
Of gratitude or suppress the accents of accamaton
Tho emotions OF the assemblage. not large but very
smabe that cOngregated in the Standard Theatre last
night and saw the first representation OF An Open
Verdict" were apparently. blissful The remarks OF
the sympathetic and happy journalist must be no
less ecsatc The reOpenng OF the Standard according
b. recognized event Of quite ineaculabie public
Importance IL lets loose more, the elegant Grand
tsonian mind OF Mr.. Henderson, OF Pitsburg; and 1t
instantly scoses the visual ray Of our popuace the
lovely FURNISHED mirrors of the erudite Joshua Hart
These lofty and noble sights were contemplated with
many thrills Of admiration. perceptive sense Of
new ideas deepened the popular content There
vas musie-deplorably reminiscent Of Grandfath-
er's Clock-to fill the ear; and there were the
sonorous Mrs Waller and the expeditions, agile and
feryent Mr. Eben PlymptOu 20 furnish occupation Tor
the eye Altogether this felt to be one Of those Few
great oeeasions-the openings, namely, OF local theatres
which ought stir the deep foundations OF human ma
fure and make tnkfu that we are extant In the
latter end Of the nineteenth century
"An Open Verdict was the play, It had never been
seen before disclosure, therefore, was followed with
the lveliost interest, and was esteemed boon Few
such productions have been set forth TO an admrng
crowd ItpnrpOrted to be exclusively American" 1t
ia Itbegins with street row. 1t introduces, IN its
first scene borse-whips and pistol and its talk is OF
nameess crimes and hideous cruelties 1t then pre-
sents singing and dancing negroes and hunt Tor an
assassn, which Is prosecuted with bloOdhounds; ana
again s talk violence and gore. 1t advances then
20 real and real policeman capers nimby upon
the theme Of bigamy, and eliminates In muir
der It's termination is the picture OF
court OF Justice and Of the trial Of cap
iial cause IL Is American, without the least shaoo"
Of doubt IN all these materials Nobody can POSSIBLY
mistake the fine old cornergroggery mayor OF th NIX
ture Il Is American, also in its style There Is no lite
nature under heaven excepting the cOntempOaneous"
stage literature Of beloved land in which an author
would even dream Of using the method OF blank
verse for the treatment OF subject chosen
from the Police Court II is American likewise. in It's
eeeetieisn Il combines effects which occur in TIE
OctoroOu" in Uncle Toms Cabin" in Kit" in The
Streets Of New-YOrk" in Colonel Sellers" IN old
piece by Lewes-that Mr.. YaIlaek produced about
dozen years since-and in recent melOdrama by
George Rowe IL thus recognizes, IN the most truly
bgbearted way thst great national doctrine, around
which our people have ever proudly rallied
that anybodys literary property is every
DO Tvs literary property who chooses 10 take It, and
he ia the wisest aud ablest who makes away with
all that he can possibly carry. IL Is American turther-
more In the lofty manner with which quite ignores
and utterly squeohes the eee doctrine which shake
speare and other fossils have imposed upon the dramatic
art-tbat no play ever grasp attention ana felah
syrpathy except 1t first takes the spectator into Its
confidence This is a great gain-ior, now, we know
that the larger purpose OF the stupendous stage OF 10
Day-whno the wild eagle screams, and the
dowu-trodden freeman spreads hB ballot to the
breezes solve Chinese puzzles and filter out the re
cords OF celebrated criminal which nobody could
IL a Aranr 1eef
Tie use OF big masses OF OutOfdOOr stuff; In It's piDR
these up into conrsted heaps; and in its placing Ia
beau instead OF action IL in brief, loud, tumultu-
ous yolent hal hazard melOdrama, In which the PIC
lures are painted with mop and the language
IA squried out Of q hose. The OLD North American
abaus Of Che returned husband confronting the newly
welded pair-the old, old antagonsm OF MI Pnhc0ddy
and Mr soutte-iVes IL a fine national twangi ana the
ttalscene crowns II with top and round OF sovereign
rovelty Through the OF It's plot there Is not
tine TO wander. That truly noble tragic address, Mrs
Waller, wandered through them last nigbt-a Kind OF
Aectra OF the western wdsa sort OF Medus or ancient
Fsie embodied for the IN The earb OF the plan
iaton Il was good TO feel sTlendid sincerity But
Mrs Waller Is not the kind Of person who should
Nreste with the American drama She is not heeed'
mas said by patriotic persons that the American
drama an institution that not appreciated There
who think indeed that coDspiraees are framed
against Il; that British influence iDsidiously under
mines It's growth; that a Difference 70 Partisan
successes Is permitted IN the managerial pind
TO outweigh its indigenous merits; that the cor
rupt hirellngs OF a nercenary press are always
hehenDs tOling for tie defeat-so that they can
fons Upon yirtuous peaaanty their own vspld ransa-
uona from the French; and henes that loca creative
geuus the line Of the dramatic art rs constrained 70
faiae tnrnips In Williamsburg and blush unseen IN West
FsEiucket These detected and depressing beliefs
should now be abandoned The genuine American play
has come.
ORGAN RECITAL. AT TRINITY CHURCH.
An oro,r, roo;t.I g.. tI,o ha,,aRf Of the reIiOw