New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-16
,,rc1C AND THE DRAMA.
THE AMADAN.


,,os shown in Boston, some time ago,
lH'' s occounts of It were then published.
M" coy If ,c,s pre entcd al the Star Theatre, ana
Las drew together a brilliant concourSe OF
'n' i friendly spectators. by whom II was re-
co., with marks o. both interest ana as
continent MI Boucicault has III TINS uIau'
.on an uncommonly free rem 10 HIS
;,,aoinatiop. The Amadan' IS the most lmaR'h"-
,vof all his Irish plays, ana Tor that very ic"'o"
>, RI aus tn, most ineffective. In stncty urd'''''
sense. L ii, predecessors the element OF power va,
chiefly resident in situations and IN the Su"' ''''
fciicltou. Il . yelopmcnt of humanity oil o"''
H. t,. ,,i,., tle stress has been nut on ConI'''"
tion of . OF and upon wcHd, ShaS'S' ...
ot,nosphere The scene Is lald on 'Ho
sea.coast of ireland. and mnch Vi '"o "O,
masses among the ruins OF an ahclchV Avn
,,, j.; .oronrised IN three acts, which contain
nine scenes and introduce fifteen persons louI u
,rbo,, ar, women and the story Is the oio cohN'n-
.;,,I narrative of a scheming scOundreFs enort 10
h.ain rho estate of an embarrassed family ana 10
ii tho daughter of the ancient house III 'hI'
abroad or fiction there is nothing fresh, ho'hns
that has not been used over and over again ~ -i'
Eoncicault himself. The special felicity - III ''o
Treatment and in the analysis ana oppoS''''"
two remarkable characters-CoHfy' ", '"'
played by Dion Boucicault, IT., anu ~"
IJT,ory played by the author Inc l"iHio' %
balt-witted boy, who haunts the cragS anu '"
and consorts with Owls anu o"0,
whose heart is wholly deNo'eU-"i'"
upreasoning passion oil Il o'"'O
a.. vnung mistress of the estate ON when
he dwells The latter is a coarse Soi"i' ". ;
,rickster-the 0untessence of ali that Is OFFENSIVE
=, ,ho Irish character drawn in tins case, by the
bond Of q master in the revolving colors OF aDSoute
Ill m c,y,js endcavors to obtain the hand Oi the
mined beiress. and tie Amadans proceedings le"u
inc to his discontinue, make IN the pay l" &"
dramatic sense Mr.. Bouccault has done no nio'e
with The Amddan than he did long ago. Win
Dappy Mann The fine preservation OF cer'"'"
haunted and CHASTITY tone, however III MS mah"so'
msnt of this character is worthy OF his genius az
its hest and shows its poetic aspect III s'ioHs
light For the reason however. that the cohu"o'
ofbis nersons in this play is frequently strained
away from the order and sequence oi H","',
and because the entire structure of the work Is
weighted with an explanatory an-as II mover
were being analyzed rather than story tod III
oction-" The Amadan is unlikely to take a deep
hold unon the public fancy. one special dr1ind'c
felicity in the construction is the establishments "V
def use of circumstantial evidence, OF SuNP'"",
betwcen the two young lovers. OF the a'rn'p''u
murder and robbery Of the loathsome y Lc05'
There is a vein of humor. too. that hckeIs "oH"
through the piece like the muimur OF hidden
brook in the woods. Mr.. Bouclctult has often Won
greater sympathy than he did last nsht Du' nc mas
80, ootod with greater fidelity TO life than IN his
,rosortnont Of Michael OLcayN The younger Dion
took the chief honors of the night. His Cooley was
only sketch, but it had freedom and force, magl-
nation and tenderness and its execution was hrin ana
clear. He will assuredly, become a fine character
actor MissCleyes surprised thehouse by moderate
sweet. wcn-balanced piece Of acting clearly indica-
tive of reserve power The full cost IS given hero
,,or .,,a ,,,a5ant .. Uion Bouoicault ir
Nir Michael o Lesry of Mount o'Leaiy
'
Sir Bowie Carew Of BalycaIew.. La IS 80,
flel
Fooucv an old servant Bailey carew---- MI Nsiion
TOYey KeOgh. OLearYs man. az ' '
Colonel o. kecie. MasIstTata 80. MT Id,sc
clancy Corporal r. l.. ConstDularY MI feVioHa
Nungan sentry ~
y
DOdd " LeVerty
kdt