New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-30
MCSIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE CINCINNATI DRAMATIC FESTIVAL.

THE CINCINNATI DRAMATIC FESTIVAL
THE EVE OF THE GREAT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TIoNs ON MAGNIFICENT SCALE.
lpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
C,xcrNSATI. April 29.-It is difficult for an out
,der To perceiye wherein the of the Cincln-
natl Dramatic Festival, which begins to-
morrow night would advance or It's
failure retard the substantial prospcIi'S
of the legitimate drama in America. IN.
stage is an institution which exists by interest anu
vitality, and thrives by ministry to the wants W W
civilized human nature. 1t seems, however, w 80
the prevalent opinion here that representation u
sooraI orsat ,lavs with cast of unusual strength,
will benefit the cause of the drama Ill na''o '';
.orso hv mol,ng its excellent influence more e'i-
at 10 the ublic It may be so, but at the ou,se'
a.. .toor GEMS more complacept than reasonape'
,aN'. ~ ,ha nlav, selected for this festival
,.at COMPRISES Julius Cesar. Inc
m..ohhact much Ado, otheiio
"Uau,IetY and Romeo and juliet -na'o
-. a;aarept times and in different cities OF America
n,ah,v in Boston, New-York Philadelphia anu
San Francsco-been acted with more imposing anu
fetcitous casts than are allotted to them here.
Va !, was NOT supposed that such eminently
natural and proper proceedings were invested WIN
The sapctty of an educational crusade or an artsc
revolution The play going public OF CINCINNATI
furthermore is certainly not less lnteihgeht thah
that of any other American city; ana III cahno' NC
thought to stand in need of especial Illumination as
TO the beauty and worth OF dramauc art' Inc
mahls fancy that this festival will aggrandize the
staoe and enlighten the community, though de-
lusye. lie quito harmless. Few persons
are likely to contemplate this affair as
"tbe Hottest recorded mark of human entertain
ment in the efforts to scale the heights OF Shake
,peare,s cenus - but nobody will question that 1t
tlkv mr.
highly croditable local enterprise 1t sounds a
yociferous blast upon the civic trumpet OF Cncin-
natl When it is all over the legitimate drama will
no doubt be found exactly where 1t now stands hut
the attention of two continents will have been
called to the fact that, in this young city almost
thousand miles from the Atlantic seaboard IN this
busy centre of trade and toll; active, seethng
alembic of pork and politicians there already exists
a spirit of refined and elegant scholarship, TO-
gether with both the capacity and the desire
to possess and enjoy dramatic art at hs
best. Such q state Of cultivation Is surely
honorable to any community, and such
an occurrence here as this dramatic festivals par
ticulary honorable to what must still be considered
as in some sense pioneer community on the Hoh-
tier of Western progress.
Vast assemblies have before now been cOngIegatcd
In American cities to eat roasted and TO hear
political resolutions: conventions have been held
for the liberal not to say reckless expenditure OF
superHuous wind; but seldom has an American city
paused in the routine Of its everyday labor for the
sake of q demonstration of loyalty to any form Of
art.
Whatever fanciful philosophc delusion may have
conminged itself with the motives that prompted
this movement, the result already merits thoughtful
sympathy aud respect. Neither Shakespeare nor the
ART of acting is honored IN this observance They
do Endorsement.
no added worthiness from this iaborlous ana ad-
yenturous homage but CINCINNATI h0nOrs herseIl IN
the work she has thus undertaken and she ought to
have the praise and the laures OF worthy ana
puIllc-sprited action. An immense amount OF labor
has been done. The preparations are on magn,l-
The festival will cost $4,000, and the returns from
advance sales already exceed $1,000 The actual
cost of producing Julius Casar is 9<V,VVV'
There are to be eight performances.
The scene Is Music Hail. which has been consider
ably shortened by the advancement OF the Wnole
persons and there standing room for nearly loOo
speetators besides The stage is sxty-six feet WIDE
force Of 226 persons engaged for Julius Cesar"
The properties, many OF which nave sAainGu " 70
day are numerous and elaborate, and remat HaoIe
PnnnevWcost 81 600 Julius Cesar will be
ended with set showing the field of Philppi alter
the battle strewn with chariot wheels deaa men
and horses broken weapons and STANDARDS IN the
horrible chaos of well-ordered rum. .5
The noted names in tn festival are Mary Andef-
son. Nine. Rhea Clara Morris, Marie Wainwright,
Kate Forsythe Augusta Foster, James T.. Murdoch
John Mccullough, Lawrence Barrett LOUIS James,
John Ellsler, " c. Goodwin, Edmund Collier, John
A. Lane b. q. Rogers and III. A. Langdon.
The organization and conduct of the whole atalr
have taxed, without exhaustng, the patient energy
endurance, taste and zeal OF Robert T.. .. MIIes
tue representative manager. of whose e1ertlons are
heard on every hand the most cordial aud apprecla-
tive concentrations. line city Is IuIl Vi sVi"ns0i'
The hotels are crowded.
As these words written . the merry snn mas
made "a golden SET and therein shows all due con-
,dara tior for he of a Shakespearlan festival.