The New York herald., 1879-08-03
LONDON THEA7RICALS.
The Close of an Interesting
Dramatic Season.
HERMAN VEINS RICIIELIEU.
Mr.. Hares Speech on the Influence OF
the Comedie Francaise.
LONDON, July %. 1879.


The curtain is falling on the London season, and
in less than fortnight Patti. Nilsson, Campanini
and the host Of their brotherhood and sisterhood OF
song will have fled to their summer resting places.
So. too. will most of the best known actors retire
for q season. The court where delightful Mr. ana
Mrs. Kendall sit upon the throne king and queen OF
comedy has already closed Mr.. Irving will, at the
end of the month, 60 on yachting tour In the Med
iterranean for much needed rest after campaign in
which he has added new gems to his tragic crown
and many coins of the realm to his excheauer. The
Prince of Wales Theatre will also shut its doors
soon-and forever as far as Mr.. and Mrs. Bancroft
are concerned. that delightful couple being intent
on desertng the little theatre in Tottenham street.
which they have made famous the world over. and
establishing their future home at the Haymarket.
THE CLOSING THEATRICAL SEASON.
The past theatrical season has been an eventful
one ana generally successful. The theatres l have
mentioned above always filled in and out of sea
son. The Adelphi which began SO unfortunately
with bad play by good dramatic critic. checked
the unlucky current. thanks to Miss Nelson
and Mr.. Vein. who in "The Hunchback' and "Amy
Robsart" have drawn large audiences Bronson
Howard's play ..Hurricanes' has, under the name
of Truth" been grand attraction for Wyndham's s
Criterion Theatre. and it speaks volumes for the
worth Of Howard's comedy that audiepces are found
to go down into this hot, stuy theatre. dug it is
out of the bowels of the earth-underground, every
bit of it. from the orchestra TO the roof.
Truth" has been running $50 nights SO
far. Madame Favart" at the Strand Theatre.
has been fine success and Florence St. John. pro-
vincial opera comique singer without fame has by
her beauty and talents suddenly leaped into the
hearts Of half the young men in London and secured
a small fortune for her managers. It is needless to
say that Sir Joseph Porter has kicked his heels to
the music of Pinafore'' before immense audiences,
and the piece is close to its fve hundredth night
Drink Charles Reade's version of "LAssom-
moir," is far very successful and the Prin-
cess Theatre one of the largest in London. is
nightly filled to overfowing Charles Warner as
Coupeau has made his fame and fortune. and Mr..
Reade has proved himself an admirable dramatist by
his Of treating the disgusting French novel.
making acceptable to the English people that winch
filthy sensational and always out Of the realms
of art.
BANCRoPTs TO THE HAYMARKEr.
1t would be easy to continue through q column the
record Of success among the London theatres this
season. for there are forty theatres in London and
most of them have balances the right side There
some exceptions. One Of them. it Is needless to
say, is the Haymarket. The i'll fortune Of the
Haymarket is analogous to the bad luck
which for years followed the French theatre
in Fourteenth street. New York. and J. S.
Clarke has dropped good deal Of money during his
management Of it. Now that the Bancrofts ar
going to take it i'll luck will doubtless fly out of its
windows. The chief event Of the past season have
not mentioned at all. for the book of the Coincide
Franchise is closed, and Holingshead. the lucky
manager has long since banked the immense profits
of that lucky venture. ~
j N''" AN AMERICAN ACTOR LONDON.
Hermann Vein. actor whom IL Ia a1wavs
pleasure to and hear in everything he does has
been playing Richeleu lately at the Adephi Morn
ing performances socslled because they take place
in the afternoon, have never been in favor in Lon
don. but the managers Of the Adelphi. encour-
aged by Colonel Mapeson's and Mr.. Irving's
success. have ventured to put "Richelieu"
On the stage the last two Saturdays.
with Mr. Vein the grand Cardinal, and so en-
couraged are they that these performances will con-
tinue, There has been considerable curiosity to see
the American actor in "Richelieu" and some of the
great Shakesperian characters for it is fact recog
nized by critics and theatregoers that Vein is the
only dangerous rival Irving has in England in the
more important standard roles OF the drama. This
gedian of the Lyceum has been interesting event,
and If the critics may be believed and if the general
proud. He has what Irving does not possessDhis
superb delivery and perfect manner OF expression
have absolutely no equal on the English stag. and
ticulation OF Mr. Irving.
VEINS CAREER
On the other hand, he has never displayed the
great force of passion which distinguishes Irving
and he to have q mortal fear OF being accused
Of rantine. though he has no reason to be afraid.
Though an American. do not think Mr.. Vein has
visited the United states since 1851 when he made
tour there. but not very successful one. He
the University of Pennsylvania. receiving
three years afterward the degree of M. A. He
a
fathers object in sending him abroad was. however.
much to cure him of az ''insane desire" to go
Berlin cured the latter trouble but his ambition to
become actor was incurabe. and . few
Company Dn nc OF % Charles kean ~ HIS pAt career m has has
been very successful. At the Surrey, many years
ago. he played several Shakespearcan characters and
the AMenGum said the performances entitled him to
the highest professional rank. One of his most
successful parts has been the Man o. Airlie. and
had not the play itself been weak and lacking in
lief Mr.. Vein would doubtless have made the char
acter exclusively his own. or his Richelieu the
whole. is one of unquestonabe power. aud for
best qualities not at present to be equaled
our stage" The Examiner last week. speaking of
the same performance said Tt is piece of acting
worthy of stage In its best days aud fit take
rank with the best work to be seen during the
French tenure of the Gaicty. 1t leaves at loss to
understand why performer so gifted is not oftener
seen in parts of this kind. All who remember his
Man o. Arie II performance unparalleled, perhaps.
for simple beauty and deep pathos). all who have
seen his Richelieu, and all who regard him--as we
do-as occupying the very front rank OF English
his next appearance in part alike worthy Of his
great powers and creditabe to the character of
English stage" There seems to be probability
OF Mr.. VEINS going to America but should he
do you will ind reason to be proud OF him.
THE COURT THEATRE
mentioned above that the Court Theatre had
closed, Mr.. Hare giving 1t up after vc years of
His closing speech was interesting az bearing
the effect of the visit of the Coincide Francaise in
London. He sAid:-
The past season has been TO actors snguary event
fu nasmuch has shown to us the respect dete
and attentio paid TO calling through the medium
performances OF the OF the Concdie Fran
caiss That 10 should have needed tho advent of troupe
foreign artists TO compel this marked recognition
Of the dignity Of Is doubt somewhat CALLING
English actorsno that Jealous Of IL; the
contrary perhaps the warmest certainly the most
cative admirers OF the finest company Of tho world have
been their English brothers In Ar-but you must not
think vain " the effect upon after witnessing
their tatons s TO give feeling ot pride
strength in ourselves inasmuch that. without the
aid and advantages given by the State aud by the
yeous system OF enforced training which those gifted
artists subjected. In England the OF ndi-
vidua actors and in many around representations al
theatres devoted 10 various forms NJ dramatic exposon
have mnassted by native wit aud perseverance,
ceedcd In that have ec proud
off, aud when that general respect and sympathy Is