New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-17
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
TIE WEEK AT THE THEATRES.


Last week was altogether, the drearest that has
been known in New-York theatricas since the sea-
son began. Its stupidity was hardly relieved by
single bright incident. 1t was not merely dull in
ITSELF but it was made duller by the fluvIal heavens
which poured upon it copiOus deluge Of cold water
II was a washed-Out week of hackneyed attractions
and fag ends and the memory Of it is far from
blessed
There was a fresh incident at Haverly's NIblo's
Garden Theatre. where. on the 18th inst. Mr. Hav-
erly and the Kiray Brothers produced the spectacle
of 1.-THE Black Venus" This proved to be Bar
NUNS Museum or Lents Circus showpiece of the
od-fashioned tanbark stripe, very long, very odor-
ferrous and very iresome. 1t may be fine affair in
Paris but it IS not play at all represented here
it is the scenic illustration of narrative of suppo
sititious adventure. Its tale is of travel and
"moving accident" and it was, doubtless prompted
by Around the World in Eighty ys"-which is
much better piece. The story is that of lady
whose husband has disappeared in the heart of
Africa, and who goes thther, with a caravan, to
seek him. and finds that a sable queen has doomed
him TO death for refusing to revcl in her coffeecol
orcd affections. The elimination Is his rescue by
sef-sacrifcng friend, and tie termination Is the
rescue of that friend and the defeat of 1.-The Black
Venus" in avery ferocious battle of the Amazons."
There are, Ostensibly. live acts of this work, but
the curtain is dropped over each of its
prominent pictures. panorama of the
Nile which is badly worked. forms a
good background to the incidental travel through
Egypt and there is good stage effect of fire, pro-
duced with a burning ship; and there 10 particu-
larry effective portrayal made with rapidly glanc-
ing lights, of the optical terror of sand storm in
the desert. Indeed, the effects Of light, wrought by
the deft use Of colored mediums, the most at
thut n ahou To obi how.
ever tho caravan is the great incident. Half dozen
goats, donkey, q horse OF two, several camels.
several zebras and q scared cow constitute this
pageant. For adults. of the male gender, the
attraction is the frequent ballet-which is intro
duced into all the interstIces of this loose ointed
composition, casting oblivion upon each dramatic
haus and soothing the tired senses with no end OF
caperng Leg Upon this part of the subject 1t seems
desirable to speak guardedly; yet the opinion may
be ventured that, to effect upon the mass OF man.
kind, this magnetic object is potent In black-and
tan as In cream-and-rose.
The scenery is mostly sumptuous. end the paint
ing of it is admirable. The view Of the temple of the
Black Venus IS as fine in color and adjuucts and
grouping as anything of the sort that ever was
shown on this gittering stage Mile. de Rosa leads
the dancers and she has lost ot Of her enormous
vitality of action. With beautiful face. this
yarn about Margaret Fullers idea of poetry and
Emersons idea of religion AS it is she will not hit
the philosophers. These would take more readily
to the lovely mystery OF the Black Venus herSelf-
which 20 hasten to say, is very far from being
question as to the color of her carriers.
The strictly dramatic element is supplied by Miss
Gabrielle du Sand, Harry Dalton, W. H. Lytell
Emma Wilmot, d. L. Young and Harry Meredith,
who are imperfectly heard at nfrequent times. to
converse with much energy of manner and strictly
professional feeling. Mr.. Meredith appears to enact
Mctamora-or possibly it is Garriek as OrinooEoo;
anyway, 1t is sublime. Another gentleman-we did
not catch his nsme-entered into cage with four
large tigers. and discharged his pistol several times
and struck these splendid brutes with rod upon
their shouts, so that they should do him homage
and they did.
There was another fresh incident at the Fifth
Avenue Theatre. where very silly piece named
"Saviat was brought out-and acted Eve times
with Mr.. Frederick Paulding In the chief part. Mr..
Paulding 10 o new hand ct the theatrical bellows.
aud one who appears to think that any man may
become distinguished In art by persistently decar
ing himself to be go already. He presented Sauisa.
o squalid Unlocking individual. who--as nearly as
we could determine, after two hours inspection OF
his ngs-had resolved to hold his tongue for
eighteen years, because old Count do Med,ci had
married young Wife, VINO mac MIN take MS gFuei
and go to bed with the family chaplain at
o'clock every night A fearful effort, how
ever TO understand why he should have
taken this rash resolution, or whose aunt
the lady really was, presently restored his vocal ap
paratus to its normal state, and caused him to
howl like stenterj whereupon they gave bun
bath aud some good Clothes aud vice was punished.
Mr.. Pauldings personality seemed dramatic and It
Is likely that IN time he might play such character
as Marran very we'll. His true vein is, probably,