New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-13
ENGLISH 1HEATRICALS LAST YEAR.

The London Iin,es OF January II prints review
nearly three columns long Of what was done last
wear on the English stage. In native lr duets the
English theatre it says, was barren. Nnou." hy
Mr. Wills and "a Nine Days Qnrcn" u.Gny Janc
Grew by Mr.. Buchanan, were tie NOS. ambitious
rla IS produced. The heroine Of "Ninon" repealed
sympathy by the base and unwOmany motive and
conduct which her late suppression OF rcv'ngciuI
purrose did not redeem; and The play seems 20
have failed for lack OF moral dignity. In "a Nne
Day,' Queen The merit literary rather than
dramatic "Cobwchs" and Mr.. AlbcIy's "Jacks
ard J.llS" were failures at the Vaudeville. An ell
fort was made in he case OF the Latter lnH To c"i"
the ,ubllc condemnation hy calling III tile bob
bics,: and it is remarked that sit VIII be an evil
day indeed ior theatres when bad plays can be kelt
upon the stage by the Aid If the police"
Mir Bouccault came upon the scene at the Adc'-
ph and at the Haymarket. ~ author ana acioi.
His proceedings receive a significant Wen'Ion-p'-
culiarly significant to readers mere, in view oil the
fact that Sir. BOucicaut will soon be visible nj
NibIo's Garden, striving TO make money by inilam-
matory and sulphurous appeals to the Local l'hcr-
MAN sentiment of rebellion against the British Gov
eminent The continent made Oh Mr.. Doucicault Is
pertinent and jndicla:
The O'Dowd" IN Irish melodrania, produced in
the autumn al the Adelphi, may not claim TO rank
with Mr. Boucicaults former labors in the same
field. while his Bridal Tour (''Marriage y. con-
densed version of piece which no lad placed
with small success on the American stage, found,
despite some clever acting, but little more favor at
the Haymarket. The "ODOwd." Indeed, though IL
cannot be classed with the colleen Dawn" or Ar
rai. na-P ogue." nor even with "The Shaughraun,"
might have pleased more strongly than 1t did, had
not Mr.. Boucicault with strange want OF Judg-
ment in one of such long and various experience.
choaan RI m ke he stage n for the
display of certain opinions on Irish politics which
were at variance alike with popular sentiment and
with fact 1t felt, moreover, that the extrava-
gance of these opinions was heightened by the
time and place of their expression. aud that the
question of Irish reform was one to be discussed at
the tribunal. not Of the imagination. but the rea-
son. Tho "ODOwd" is an alteration of
Daddy ODowd." one of Mr.. Boucicaul's best plays
in it's original shape-romantic, domestic. tender
and even beautiful. 1t was based on "Tho Porters
Knot" Mr. Boucicault has evidently spoiled it, 10
try to draw and satisfy an ignorant, wrOng-headed
mob.
Mr. Byron has produced three plays" The Upper
Crust n"The Light Fantastic" and Bow Bells"
The last is o patchwork of the authors previous
plays the other two have the merit of having sue
cseied. "They were designed as platforms on
winch Mr. Toole might dspOrt himself in that pc
cnliar fashion OF his which apparently brings
pleasure to many human beings who have passed
the age of childhood, and which may claim to be. if
not very refined or intellectual. at least perfectly
good-tempcred and wholesome, and they have
proved equal to that not very arduous strain" Tue
palm of public favor. however, is assigned to Ihe
World" by Mr.. Henry Petit. "1bough neither
in plot nor dialogue, nor in any OF the
higher attributes of hedrama. docs this work attain
very lofty standard. II contains more than ordl-
nary proportion OF striking scenes. contrived and
presented with much technical ingenuity" The
Inner Crust and rhe World" ara both UNDER
lined for production here, at WallacRs Theatre
romantic drama entitled "FaustIne"by Sir Charles
Young. was acted by amateurs. without attracting
much attention. and Miss Jennie Lee appeared
without success, in piece named " Nudge" at the
ROYALTY Theatre. one-act trlfe called " GA Gro
piesn by Mr.. They're Smith. author of " Uncles
VIM VS. found pleasing by reason OF its humorous
dialogue. Messrs. Macintosh and Wenuan acted
this. at the ST. James's Theatre.
In Mr.. WIllgs adaptation OF Jerroids play Oh
" Black. Eyed Susan" Mrs. Kendall made an impress
sve Success "In no previous character that she has
played has Mrs. Kendall gono 80 near to touch tnat
highest point Of art which seems to lose ITSELF ID
natures "No play better played 10 every
ort hss rsrbsna been seen mon our stage since the