New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-19
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
FORGET Me NOT.

Interest of story strength of misunderstanding,
suspense of situation. and frequent pungency of dia-
logue are the corduer'ng merits OF this drama Ii
has had ahund mt popularity IN England, and the
cordial accepian with which 1t was greeted by
great audience III Walack's Theatre las! night, Is
decided aurury thatIts good fortune will be re Gated
on this side of the ocean. 1t has been acted
in San Francisco and several other American cities.
we believe. hut not till in New-York. BY the
time the first curtain fell. ast night, the sparkling
dramatic art and the interesting personality of
Miss Rose Coghlan had made il success. The
character of Slephdaie carries the piece, and the
whole structure and fate of the work, therefore,
depend upon the actress of StepkaaiC NJ Geneveve
Ward played it in Enga and her performance
of il has been chronicled with ardent admiration.
SttphdKie may be described as brilliant she-devil,
and the play is a framework for exhibiting her
schemes to wheede society. and her ultimate dis
Comfiture.
Ii Is not striking play. in its intrinsic dramatic
idea. 1t is based upon the exceedingly simple and
fpll-grown formula that the public - al
ways interested in seeing that A. has
hold over H.. which c. IS determined to break bv
means OF the deadly and destructive influence OF d.
1t does not use that old rnula with The wsest
Skill however, because 1t refrains for quite long
time from taking the public into It's confidence and
these let il be here said. there are seven, and the
piece three acts and its action passes set
ecene-a spacious and beautiful lta ian IN eTi0T-ln
modern Rome. 1t NAV well also be noted that
the tragic element IN Forget Me Net" proves to
have been. As was long ago Intimated, used by Mr.
c. A. Gunter. in his " Two Nights III Rome" pre-
scented last summer at the Union Square
Theatre. The dramatic scheme which
borrowed and mangled in that-mangled be-
treated feeby aud rmreriectly-
is. in Forget Ne Not" thoroughly worked out;
and. when all the basis of the action becomes clear
to the spectator the delineaton OF bad feminine
nature is carried forwarN with excellent breadth
and vigor.
Sfeobanie. however viewed as a dramatic charac-
ter exists under one perpetual bligh of disadyaD-
tange-that she is not sympathetic. She Is dejested
at the same time that she /, admired; and parts
like this do not live long. Her condition is that of
rich, luxuTiant. fascinating glIttering wOmanhOod
ripe in experience. splendid with cold intellectual
purpose, baleful with an under-glOw Of passion
and rOseate with the eternal y0uthfuiness of IN
carnate selishness. Her favOrte mood IS that of
satircal rHillery She is, in brief, n lovely
edition of Becky Sharp. Miss Rose COghlan
sustained this singular individuality with
firm power and dazzling volatility. and by her
dangerous calmness. her pIquancy. her graceful
variety. and her airy and mpudeDt hearthness-
under all of which attributes there the persona
power of an attractive strange 7esSshe affected
her auditors that they recalled after act first
and after her exit III act second. and three times
after the second curtain fell. Her lmpersOn-
alton lacked sustained 6rmness of grasp, and
depth OF traglca feeling; but il viii grow IN these
II was an assured. solid and bright suecsss. II any
thing could make detestable woman charming. II
certainly would lie her lnvesliture with such ma
ture as thai indicated i'll the voice and ways Of Rose
Coghlan. Mis- BOniface and Mr.. OsmonG Iearle
rod al n WI 9pllltE. Henry
wards gave charming pOrtraiture OF a French man
81 fashion.