The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-11
LMUSEafENIA
Thro' the DIRK" at the FInh Avenue
Theatre.

Mr.. Steele Mackaye's new play was pro-
duced upon the stage OF tho Fifth Avenue
Theatre last evening before a large and
fashionable audience. 1t is a decidedly SEN
sational melodrama somewhat OF the class
to which tho Streets OF New York"
belongs. but much more ambitious in its aims
than that drama. and more elevated in the char
actcr OF it's sensntonalism. Produced as it
was last evening with an excellent company
with every evidence Of tho most careful
preparation. and with a general stage setting
that was in every way creditablo TO the manage
ment. It did not fail to make what in tn main
may be regarded as q very favora bic impression.
Mr.. Mackaye has shown no little skill in its
general construction. and 1t holds together
singularly we'll. considering nm. unfortunate
tendency to confusion inseparablo from the
extraordinary amount, OF VARYING incident len,
and several decided improbabilities in 1t. and
here and there, in the development OF certain
characters n lnck OF reRsOnabeness and sufii-
cheney OF motive. These. however. are not OF
such conspicuous character as TO disturb the
chiefly from being too diffusive.
, The spirited and courageous Mrs Graham OF
the prologue. for instance, Is not readily trans
lated into the OIL Sal OF the third act. There
is no more adequate explanation Of such n
change OF character on the part Of such person
than there Is OF SINKS elevation from the Fagin,
as which he appears at first TO the habituG OF a
fashionable London club. Such lack Of plausi-
bility and absence OF proper concentration OF
motive retard the interest and movement OF the
The majority Of the incidents are strong and
well handled, but there is great deal
n disposition TO DO involved intricate.
and obscure when little simplicity
effective. The character Of Aum Phjuis. nm at
iached colored servant, Is ,incongruous
way superiluous and out Of place.
No interest attaches to her nothing
ceptional strength. which the part was not, and
perhaps cannot be. II would simply detract from
tho merit OF the context
Tho character OF Arthtu AHsion is insult
1cienty drawn. hut "a far ms 1t goes II il cacu-
lated to elicit warm sympathy, particularly
Wheelock. That Of Robert Hdrdie is somewhat
confusing. counterteittng and practical fcdcr-
acy with pickpockets being somewhat for
eign to fashionable London club man.
The other parts arc moro nationally con-
structed, and fit in their several places very
"Thro' the Dark" Is full Of vitality and OK.
cellent material. and when Mr.. Mackaye shall
have. relieved himself q the emharrqss-
created around him his play will doubtless
assume = more rounded, complete. and salts
factory form. Mr. lIarkins. however. has put
1t on the stage 80 skilfuly. and 1t is SO admfra-
hy acted in almost every one OF its characters.
that It can hardly fail OF generous recognition
on the part Of the public.
waiiaek's Theatre" Scrap OF Pepper"
The comedy o, intrigue which replaced
a melodrama OF horrors in wallack's Theatre
| last evening. is more in consonance with public
| expectation regarding entertainment on a stage
which Is not always devoted TO so delicate an or
der OF work rs "a Scrap OF Paper 'tSardous Les
Pattes de Moricho - but which, nevertheless is
seldom so utterly given over to blood and thun.
der as 1t has been during the past fortnight
After " spellbound." Mr. Palgrave Simpsons
revorential and honest adaptation Of perhaps
| the most brilliant specimen Of the French au-
| thOr's powers OF invention, considered ms re-
| spects Ingenuity OF plot and not development oil
| individual character proved peculiarly CRATE.
| " Tho Purloincd Letter" suggested the
motive OF the play; This was but On
original with the author OF e Les, PItte.
do .Mouche." who has almost exhausted
devices in dealing with -, tho compro.
depends tho happiness OF tho hcroinc's once
imprudeut friend now married to verl
| cock. tossed here and there by n battledore; 1
IL always kept In the air. and its pursuit leads 4
innumerable new. Developments, the task Of IL
heart between the gentleman who retains 1t II
HE possession and the dapntess lady who un
triguc Is FAR moro plausible thnn tina
ofany OF Sardou's later works. and that o
from japan as clue 10 the mystery seem
far fetched compared 10 this perfectly facil
ana seemingly unconscious story, which un
folds itself without effort and quite without
violence to probability.
A work so dependent upon fine troatmen
must necessarily suffer in being interpreted b.
others than trained French artists the blum
Saxon manner Ignores some Of the ca
priciousness and volatile character uf tn
story. not TO speak OF the nudnce
81 the dialogue. Repetition will doubtless d,
much for the performance al Wallack's Theatre
which seemed somewhat wanting in delicac,
aud grace. although not deficient in spirit. Mr.
Nalack's assumption Of Prosper had Il cnvalie
like audacity. that did not fail 20 cause flute
In the stalls and boxes. and he smacked his lip
over the epigrams with all the relish Of gour
mand. Those who fnucied that Mr.. Coghlal
might give them like gourmet. coul,
alone have been disappointed in thi
powerful performance. Miss COghlan lnGkel
distinction and that alriness impartcd.to the rdl
10y Nine. Clarence when she played SiUdHit
at the Lyeeum Theatre. but her ncr
Vous eagcrness in the attempt to ex
plain the situation TO the suspicious hus
band was excellently carried out. Master y
5. Wood, making his FIRST appearance since hi
venture at another house as The Boy Hamlet
WAS not fortunate but Mr.. Rockwell was NOR
successful than he has been this season. an
Miss Gormon and Mr.. Gilbert gayc value I
comparatively unimportant roles. The au
dience WIS large. and at the end Of the secon
act the principals were twice recalled.