New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-30
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
UEAKTS OF OAK.

This nclc- 1rama IS az al;crrtios az pee" cailcu
"Tle Mariners Compass" written by IN ohscnie
English cramatift named Henry Leslie ana I'o-
duced at Astley's Theatre. UuCer the mana cement
of F.. r. Smith. in 1SGJ. Tie two plays me' ID
many respects, Identical The aiap'cr. Mr. James
A. Herne has. in the latter par OF ms work e"-
ploved number Of those old ana uSe.ui dIamauo
expcdIents which occur IL su'h dramas as Loan,
the Far,aken." Little Emily Enoch Arccn'
and The Man o Amle." The result IS WolN oI Il
mixed. prolix. and rather tedious cAafcter-ln
which. nevertheless. there are occasional CLEANS
of dramatic effect, and about which there is glow
of human feeling.
One great bemish Of the work arises from the
fact that its element of picture illustrated by mel
dental tumut ovorshaGOws its element OF dramatic
action Another is the excessive use OF common
places That good old princlpie-whieh
Hunt stated so well, and which applies
to all forms of art,-that 1t is not
the actual that is to be inflated but the
effect of the actual.-has BEEN in this composition
entirely ignored. Real water real boiled potatoes
real beans. aud real baby axe among the real
objects which are thus abused third blemish Is
the repreheusible and dreadful motive upon which
the story of the piece has been reared. young
man and a young woman who love each
other, and are betrothed deliberately con-
spirc, out of a sense of gratitude, not only
to sacrifice themselves but to sacrifice the
very man whom they wish to benefit. When, sub
sequently, this unfortunate person discovers what
has been done, he goes away, and presently is re-
ported to be dead and, then the old lovers are
married after which he returns, in a very miser
able condition, 10 die. The object was to mako dis
tressinE situations-which, as surely need not be
urged, are not admirable when neither salutaTy IN
their significance, nor founded on truth.
Mr.. Herne who acted the EROch Ardea of this tale
attracted liking by his strength of feeling and his
simplicity. but he is a phlegmatio aud
inonotonous actor, neither brilliant in quality nor
fine in touch. lie received. however many plauO-
its and the several tabeaus III the piece were more
than recalled. The representative OF the nero
inc, Miss Katherine COrcOran, though OBVIOUSLY III
experienced is an interesting actress She has
sweet voice, soft brown hair, blue-gTay eyes,
slender graceful figure. and, III the lighter parts OF
the piece. her acting Is natural, graceful ana VIII
ming but in moments of excitement she breaks
into shrillness and general wnlrL Several
noisy and gluttOnOus old mariners hover about the
thin thread of TINS drama ami there IS lnls scenery
aud stage BUSINESS blending OF the signal service
the flour and meal trade, and the avocaton Of
miscellaneous RQuatics on the coast OF Massachu-
sets. which, to persons who know that region, IS
most extraordinary.
elaborate, and. at several points, beautiful. Inc
fying-scud. IN the first act Is exceedingly well
managed, and the subsequent view OF the quiet SET
side dreamy, pOetlcal, aud uucOnnoflY
strong i'm color. The piece could not nave "A
better setting-eXcept upon larger stage II nee,S
thoughtful revision, much compression, ana the
refining influence of taste; and the acting
of it is largely IN need OF that poetic to1ch
which prosy people affect 10 despise, but
winch alone has ever made the success Of
the art interpretations Of rough human nature
PegOttgmay ever coarse, II his heart Is III the
Ient place but he must not talk to us about his
dirty hands.