The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1882-09-15
GOTHAM GOSSIP.

With but two or three exceptions
all the thea res e now open but such
swash as they are giving us. Judg.
ing by their "atlractions, one would
think that managers had" suddenly
come to the conclusion that theatre
goers had become bereft of reason
and intelligence since the last season
closed. A body of who act more
like sheep could scarcely be imagined.
One Of them leaps u hurdle and earns
fair amount of applause. What is
the result. Each individual one of
them gathers himself together and
flies over after the leader. AS con-
sequence the feat which attracted
first pals on the taste and the spec
tators WHO are expected. to pay for
the fun walk away wearied of the
same news. Last year Mr.. Wallack
thought he would give the patrons of
his theatre charge. Thus instead of
producinga play in which the actors
played the principal part he brought
out one where tue carpenters, ma
chinist and scene painters were
brought to the front and Used the ac-
tors as lay figures with which to pro.
duce their effects. Thus we got
"The World" Manager Palmer at
once followed suit at the Union Square
Theatre with ''The Lights of London" "
The scenic effects at both places were
magnificent and the public poured in-
to the play house no longer to hear,
but to see. The other managers at
once retired to their offices and
thought. AS result the greater
number oil them came to the conclusion
that the public was tired Of plays and
authors of plays and wanted carpenters
and scenic effects. Thus at present we
have perfect avalanche Of spectacular
melodrama. The season opened with
revival of the 'Lights of London"
and YOUTH" the "World' being
now on the road. Next Harrigan
and Hart threw vaudeville to the
winds, and brought out the melodram-
attic "Blackbird." Last Wednesday
Augustin DAILY opened his house and
gave us "Mankind," another melo-
drama, Finally, to cap the climax,
Wallack's last Saturday was opened
with melodramatic splendor and what
they gave us was "Tpken from Life"
Now the least said about the last two
novelties, the better. Both of them
were next door to failures in London
where they were brought oat ,tast seax
son. In the first place they were
played in third rate theatres and ap-
pealed almost entirely TO the sympa-
thies of the gallery gods. That the
managers of first class American
theatres should think that this was
the kind of dramatic fare their patrons
desired speaks very poorly Tor their
knowledge of their business. But
they are always so omniscient until
their pockets are touched. Now all
these managers have gone to very
heavy expense in setting and mount
ing their plays. When they find that
there is not enough money coming in
at the 'front.' of the house they will dis
covert their cost that the public can
not be fed on coarse highly speed
melodramatic hash entirely. They
may like it for change, but as for
taking it at every course, they will re-
ject it with ''thank YOU"
Miss Laura Don has always been
regarded not only as clever but as
remarkably versatile woman Last
week she opened at tie Standard
Theatre with q play which she wrote
herself, rehearsed herself, for which
she designed the scenes and selected
her company; and in which she play
ed the principal part. This was the
"Daughter of the Nile" and if even
the clique of critics who are opposed
to her cannot but admit that she scor-
ed a success, her play must be very
satisfactory monum ent to her talents.
The language and dialogue is bright,
crisp and beautiful. The plot is in
many respects very original. The
play opens on the banks of the Hud-
son. Egypt, the heroine (Laura DOM
is the daughter of an Oriental mother
and an American father. She is rich
beautiful, charming in manner and
conversation, and of course has plenty
Of offers of marriage. She falls in
love however, with young English
noblemen, temporarily visiting Amer
lea whose life she has saved, and who
returns her passion. Her cousin
Miss Helen Tracy intrigues, to Sc
cure the nobleman for herself. and by
overhearing portion of their conver-
sation Egypt is led to believe that he
is engaged to her cousin. She then
runs away from home to seek her
fortune and forgetfulness in the world.
In the third act we find her in Paris,
where as an Egyptian princess she
mas gained renown not only by her
beauty and supposed illustrious birth,
but also az an artist and an actress.