New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-02
THE DRAMA.
..-,,.,rr,,r, n1, ,rI1I, pARK TaEATRE.

RFOPFNING OF THE PARK THEATRE
slender comedy, and a still more slender
farce" Old Love Letters" and Hurricanes, Do'n ~
Mr Bronson Howard-were produced az tho I arr IN
stre ON saturday evening, when that mousse va" 70
onad for the regular dramatic Both pieces are
"a moth were received with Observant atterhon
and kindly interest by numerous and represeh'"'''
guidance II would DO pleasant 10 say that tue NO"
avs sucoeeded and that they deserved tDeir suooo
INT this as a matter Of fact Wonid DO hei'nei N" ~
iust The performance, In both instances WIS PrUA %
6,on leaving the general impression that much talent
a-... md foree on the part Of the actors, ana
uob TINA and consideration on the part OF the puDc'
mad been extended upon commonplaces and fnvchty,
Ia ID" oia Love Letters" however, II may DO assumed
that better effect will be produced hereafter Ih's
eee at all events Is effort In the right uec,lol'
Though not original either in motive or IN forin II Is
nteIeotua able pure and at several points, palmetto
II offers dramatic stuaton-quiet but rea-Whlch IN
olves two persons and winch is illustrated by gooa
d,alogue and such as grows naturally out OF the rea-
ton of the speakers In quality this little piece IL XIII
dred with A Morning Call" and delicate Ground
In form and sentiment 1t is kindred with MI GilDert
asweetbcarts" It's language could be improved by
condemnation and by polish; its dramatic point us
Touches of what may called regretul tenderness ana
M suddep and passionate climax would be more Sharply
ard vigorously exhibited in action more free, more ar
dent and more polished than was employed by M DE- T.
whiting and Mrs Agnes Booth. These performers
eynced as matter Of intelligent appreciation
and competent mechanical skill but the one was con-
traped and artificial and the other was icy Due
allowance however should be made for the teehhE OF
uncertainty which necessarily restricts the first per
formanee Of a new play. "Old Love Letters Is piece
that deserves TO last. and, under improved conditions
WILL doubtless, keep the stage II Is work ne muoh 70
The credit OF Mr. Bronson Howard as the farce OF hu
reanes" is to his disgrace. Upon this latter work IL Is
peedful 10 bestow only few words. Hurucanes"-a
e4,b hon IN
sons-s vulgar in conception, in spirit, common
aee IN character frivolous in style aud tainted with III
delicate nnueudoes and with the suggestion OF vicious
and repreheusibe theme. It's subject is the alleged
profgacy of bachelors the inhdety OF husbands ana
the saence as to these matters OF the widow and the
moher-in[aw. The piece assigns itself to companion
ship with Forbidden Fruit" Pink Domnos'
{" Baby" and champagne and Oysters" The
evil that il contains is the same mephiuo prurency
which pervades those obnoxious pieces. Mr.. Howard
struck this vein long ago, his himsy play OF sara
tOga" and it is painful to observe the presidency WIN
which lie adheres to its pursuit There Is some conf
caity in the attitudes that the characters are made TO
assume in Hurricanes" and thisif the central idea
were clean-wouid make the piece acceptable farce
somevhat. OF the calibre and value OF WoOdcock's
Little Game" The formidable Observation-Disclosures
reiteraye OF unjust, unknd and commonplace preu-
dice characteristic Of petty minds-s wedrawn piece
of caricature The grayheaded prOhigate is amusing
except 70 Such spectators as may happen W oH'''
how poorly debauchery and alsebOOd cOusOr with gray
hairs There is likewise notable ingenuity in the
idea OF the dissember who shields bis deceit under the
lies OF others. Mr. Howard's work ls by no
means deficient either Of talent or Of patient
LABOR; but it is talent mIsused and labor thSown
away. Hurricanes" perhaps, may succeed for a
while. with thOughess people, but i, can bring to its
author neither honor nor advancement. The work has
been set upon the Park stage in sumPuoqs scene and
M chief parts-allOted respectively Mr. James Lewis,
Mrs Gilbert, Mr. Frank Hardenberg, Agnes Booth, Miss
Sidney Cowe ano Mrs. Alen-afe acted with uncommon
6umoT sprightness and variety TIE
strong pOut OF the the comic perpeXY that en-
sues upon dsComfted lying ana upon the placing OF va
mons persOns at cross purposes. The principal Blels
OF construction the threeOd repetition OF tho same
effect I'm Act Second. This retarded the movement OF
the niece on its first representation. Mrs Gilbert made
the best hit Of the night The theatre presented bril-
liant appearance In business the opening. per
haps was s2iicisnty suspicious, but IN that higher
sense which intellect and selfrespect ought always 10