New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-11
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA
THE DRAMATIC WEEK.

rbs week Just ended was signalized by
As production OF absurd piece called "The Ihunoer
~, at the Union Square Theatre; another absurd
800 called The Raah," at the Madison Square inca
"a nresentments Of "The Two Roses" and Hone py
tbs Pitt Comedy Company, at the Standard Iheae an
accession of German Opera, at WanaeRs Theaire anu
,v other incidents OF minor importance Festva OF
Negro Mnstrelsy has been started at the Grand Opera
uouse Negro Ministries have capered and warbled at
Nibo's Garden. Hermann the magician, has given MS
exhibitions The financial troubles Of Mr. Havery the
manager have been disclosed. Miss Lillian Russen mas
broken her theatrical contracts and sailed Tor Europe
The remains Of John Howard Payne, the actor ana
dramatst have been finally committed to the grave AZ
Oak Hin Cemetery, in Washington And the mercury
has scared up to about hundred, and is now inuuss
in its customary auctuations-which make our cinao
90 delightful
s.The Thunderbot," which proved to be PAD pm
Wheel spuered along till Saturday night nIseu
out leaving nothing but greasespot ana pSu ouor.
"The Rajah," rational but also more nspiu
play bds fair TO last little longer The former was OF
the "damnaton foied again" order, and resemoieu
Warde's Fat Boy when he exclaims, II wants 10 mpAo
yer blood run cold" The latter, which contains
Warde's Fat Boy, aims at the dead level of mawksn
commonplace and makes every sensible spectator SICK
with disgust its puere stiffness aud dreary plattude
There is not one single ray OF mertin the work. OF any
kind whatever The story is thin and trivial The per-
sons introduced either diluted carcatures out OF
Dickens or vapd nobodies, out Of dime novel
The incidents are puny and colorless Inc
language is mere trcke OF smah
talk without fash of wit stroke of verbal fe
pcity. One act ends with yawn and another with
scream and tie chief effect is produced by the Tumble
of the Fat Boy into tank Of real water. The acting
furthermore is nspid the play Mr. George ClaiKe'
an old hand az the bellows can, OF course maintain an
sr OF Ianguid repose but Mr.. George Clarke cannot,
and does not suggest either inherent elegance or inner
ant power lie is the velvet goveor rather the velvet
een-but not the hand Of beneath It. II reader
Of these words ever j. W. Walack. jr, play John
Midway, he, at least. will know what's here meant
Mr. WlIfen with his compacent smrk and everlasting
chirrup, his angular movements, oDtruslve
erlmacing, and burlesque intonation forces small
and trite charaeter-a araway copy OF Dick Swiyeer-
into undue prominence, and becomes more than COM
monty tedious No actor has fallen on more OF late
than this one The ladies who appesr-Miss Rllhe
Deayes aud Miss Enid" Lesie-are awkward anna
Tours with shri voices, and they bounce about the
stage like peas on hot shovel The only toerabe act
ing is done by Mr.. LeMoyne, as Pecksnhan lawyer,
who is varionsly suggestive of Pad Pry, Mark Aeddte
and Mr. Sdpsea but there is too much OF the part ana
II shown preposterous situations To redeem their
vearisome trash the managers of the Madison Square
Theatre dress it in exceedingly handsome scenery
sprinkle 1t with the incense Of virtue and proclaim 1t as
"another success" 1t is not success 1t is failure
and a bad failure. And the obtrusion of such inaniiy
as dramatic literature acting is grevous offence
to truth, taste and proprety. The Mad
ison SQnare is a beautiful little theatre, and pieces
are beautifully mounted here but the persistent ehortto
dreneh its votares with Sunday slop has become
inolerable. Because people viruous aud respect
able does not follow that they like to be bored o. that
theatrical manager In the peaceful pursuit of lucre,
has right to swamp them in mush ana milk Good
plays exist, in which the spirit Is wholesome and the
language clean aud which provide opportunities for
good actors TO their best talents and 1t seems
pf,,a fhaffh ava he mar
nitted presently supersede the Professors, Raahs
and other grasshop2er of the hour whohaye become
great burden.
The week begins with ten theatres open in New
York and with here and there triaing change Of bill
Mr. Rowes absurd play Of Pop presented by the Rice
Troupe keeps its place at the BUou. Mr. Roland Reed
continues Havery's Theatre TO appear in Mr. Mars
dens bad play Of "Cheek" The slender farce OF "A
Bunch OF Keys" goes swimmingly at the San Fran
cisco Minstrel Theatre. The negro minstrels can be
heard at both the Grand Opera House and Niblos Gar
den. Mr. McCauI at the Casino, viii revive "The
Queens Lace Handkerchief" Nestayer's Tourists. Of
whom we have too much already. will come
forth at the Cosmopolitan. revival OF
"Humpty Dumpty," with Mr.. G.. Fl. Adams as
Clo1n and Mile. Cornalba chief dancer, win be
effected at the Standard Theatre. The ITALIA
company sings at Wallscks In German opera II VIII
be remarked that theatrical activity has dwinded almost
to nothing that the entertainments now current are
chiefly intended for rural visitors The most credtaOls
efforts of the last week those or the Pitt Comedy
Company In "The Two Roses" and Home;" but those
ola pieces do not TO require fresh comment now
The Pitt Troupe has gone TO Boston, but will bury Itself
here at the Windsor the 18th inst Mr. HaYerly's re-
tirenent from local theatrical management is perhaps,
possibilities of the time. This manager has
anything advance the best Interests OF the
STAGE and therefore he would not be missed orregetted
Upon the flight OF Miss Lillian Russell there has already
been than sufficient public comment II relieves
the stage Of ind yidual who well be spared