The New York herald., 1879-02-05
ANOTHER THEATRICAL SENSATION.

BoucIcAULr VS.. POOLE & DUNNELLY-A CHANGE
TO ANOTHER NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. CON-
HfENTs.
Much comment has been elected in the professional
circles that attach TO She stage by the singular
ceedings of Mr. Dion Doucicault II was announced
o few weeks ago in the HERALD that he had
contracted with Messrs. Poole Il Donnelly, OF the
Grand Opera House, to play an engagement
of six weeks, for which he was to receive $24 600.
This contract is in process Of fulflment and up
to the present time Mr. Boucicault has every night
received check for the proportionate sum to which
he is entitled The audiences have been large and
the management of the Grand Opera House in every
way were satisfied with their venture until Sunday,
when it announced that the celebrated actor
would appear ut Booths Theatre the 10th of Feb
ruary and during the Forthcoming week present his
four most noted Irish plays, with cast selected
from Wallack's Theatre consisting Of Messrs John
Gilbert. John Brousham and Harry Beckett be-
sides whom were named Dominick Murray and Miss
Ada Dyas. The information is very direct. however
that the artists from wallack's Theatre have been
loaned to Mr.. Bouccau. only for the Wednesday
matinee when Mrs Doucicault agnes Rober,son)
makes her farewell appearance for the present the
American stage. Their presence Is intended as a
compliment to her, and large audience will doubt
less give her the greeting to which she is entitled
The original announcement. therefore, being calcu-
Of not little criticism, in which harsh language
has been banded and many words uttered that called
for further investigation.
Poole 4 Donnelly at the Grand Opera House last
evening endeavored to make inquiry. It certainly
was not propitous moment for "My1es-na-Coppa-
lccn' wos playing on the stage and in hour more
would receive his pleasant check representing $780,
Nevertheless, Mr.. Dopney said
II am surprised at the action of Mr.. Boucicault mt
this peculiar time inasnuch as he is taking money
out OF his own house Again, he is honorably bound
of his by other parties during his engagement
at the Grand Opera House is an Infringement of
contract"
Have you had any unpleasant words with him
concerning the mattcr?
"Not at all," was the reply. whatever course
Mr.. Bouccault may choose to pursue does affect
us. We think, however. that professionally and
in business sense he has made mis-
language or the spirit Of his contract
and il for moment believed that
before concluding his arrangement with us he would
have advertised a reproduction of his plays at a
ncighboring theatre should have written
selves fools before agreeing to the payment of sum
larger u certainty and in amount than any actor
has received under similar conditions"
Mr.. Donney here produced from his safe pile Of
$500 checks representing N sVI NV a,res,y pad
at Booths after leaving your
II am at u loss in answering the question, nasmuch
as Mr.. Bouccaut gave MS to understand that he
would return here in April and open in 'Arrah na
Pogue." fancy, however, that q desire TO appear
with hs wife and certain her otnss ,ts
matters OF which I need not speak,
have Influenced him in this curious and certainly
unbusinesslikc dissemination. have rarely known
Mr.. Boucicault TO 90 behind his word and there
must be some remarkable reason why he has per-
tted his agents in the present instance to lead him
into his coming enterprise"
"with regard TO prices. Mr. Donnclly; what does
he propose to charge 2"
II understand that they will be Broadway prices,
that is to say 81 80 for reserved seats. But after
all, he will b. Obliged TO much of company,
can produce the plays no better and will therefore
give the public an opportunity to see that
we present his pieces just as well IL not
better than they can be given elsewhere at
half his figures. By the way, let say
to You that long before the present engagement
with Mr.. Dion Bouccaut had arranged tor the
rentte of Miss Agnes Robertson and she would
probably have played with us but for the present
combination with her husband"
HAS your business fallen away In consequence OF
these rumorsY'
1T has (emphatcaly). However, rs Mr. Bouci-
cault plays Colleen Bawn" and kerry" on Friday
aud saturday these plays may possibly compensate
for the losses of tic earlier portion of tho week"