New-York tribune., 1883-03-11
THE DRAMATIC WEEK.

BayrcUth. April 4, 1878
THE DRAMATIC WEEK.
The record of theatrical activity presents no
fresh of signal Importance new piece 'aled
The Dime Novel" was disclosed last Monday night at
the Bou Theatre, where il met with signal failure 1t
IS the work of Mr.. A g. Gunter, and 1t vulgar and
trivial attempt of the bOmbas and pattnde OF
low class of popular fiction Mr.. GuDter Is the author
OF Fresh, the American" piece that was made ehec
tive by tie adroit and felicitous conduct of Mr.
Raymond and Miss Laura Don who, on the
night OF first performance, suddenly turned Its
cuent into tue channel OF buresque thus chang
ing svilted and foolish drama to servicesble farce
Since then Mr. Gunter has been enabled TO impose
various yapid compositions upon the public of VIII Oh
'The Dime Move is the latest and the worst The ex
plots of so bad writer need not however at any time,
long dctain attention The principle which they serve
Illustrate obvious to all thinking perscns-tbat
dramatic writing to be of real value must from in
nate dramatic ability and fitness and spontaneous
dramatic motive and not from speculative experiments
made for Cowes and market" Every literary hedg
ling nowadays, writes drama-tnuch in the incidental
manner in which a child develops tho measles and the
product in borh cases is abOuG equally pleasant.
MANY really clever mai. likewise, when lie addresses
tie public through the medium Of tie stage, seems
10 suppose that he must address them
as If they simpet0us-humorng their supposed
tastes aud appealing their assumed desires and capri
ces. 1t is wonder that-with due exceptons-"e
have mUsh instead OF literature and posture mongerns
instead OF art. Thepay Of Siberia" by BARLEY Camp
belI-now current Havery's Theatre-provdes al in
STA { opposite Illustration In this pieoe-which
gathers iis situations from at least half dozen old
plays beginning with "Jack Cade" and "Back-Eyed
Susan " and ranging through Leah the Forsaken "
AM Never Too Late to Mend" 10 oulmnate IN "The
Ticketo Leave-Man there is the pretence OF
reason or nature The object sought is theatrical
tab can this merely transfused with panged
banner buncombe, and trite and tumid DO bas about
the rights of The topic that was chosen lhVolNes
Russian politics and Russian manners and customs;
but The play sort of acquaintance with either
IT is shrek for freedom AS If freedo" necessarily
meant civilization Ii is series Of pictures loosely
strung together, without sense and without point
though, Of course not without mechamca
adroness. Mr.. Campbell knows that this is
On age OF sentimentalism in politics, and In
pretty much everything else. and that Wild
yell for liberty likely sOothe the waving ears OF
multitude Of individuals whose time is spent IN vapor
ing about sun-Dursts but whose real need meanwhlB
not freedom soap. Equally ne knows that sensation
stageefecs are intelligble 10 "the meanest capacity
And IT would not appear trouble him that as a matter
of fact Sibera" is exactly fitted by the old epran
,nalie remark that 1.-THE good things IN II are not
new and the new things in it are not good" II was
hammered together "fOr Cowes ana market" and 1t
serves its purpose What be desired Nothlng;
except Mr. Campbell when he disgrdces authorship
must not suppose that he ought 10 be admired for IT,
Lawrence Barrett has acted all the week at
the Grand Opera House, ana his performances have
afforded rare intellectual pleasure, and have served to
sink deeper contempt the petty and Trivial proceed
ings current at of the theatres OF New
York Mr.. Barrett ended his engagement last
might. He las given eight performances
and he WIS seen as Richeiict Cassls Hagiei YOricL
Shyioek and Darid GaTriek The adequate sustainmeDt
OF tuesc various and contrasted characters Implies
splendid concentration Of mind and the exercise Of high
imagination and deep feeling In earlier days the men
tality was Oyersraned IN Mr. Barretts and thus
he was made precise, mechanical and over
yi1apt as to effect and az 10 the public comprehension
of his meaning More recently that painful tone has dis
appeared from his works, giving place more and more
TO tie soft tranquil dreamse spirit OF poetic repOse
His embodiment Of HamLet particular-altbough st
absolutely sane and overhno Of texture and purpose
was utiul In the exalted tenderness and inherent
oraee which appertan that intricate and wonderful
character. His CaSSs remains without u peer and he
bas elevated Vortex TO the dignity Of classical embod
pent The reception gwen to Mr. Barrett, at the Grand
Opera House. full Of Kindness, and therein, even
more than Of large attendance was such as elo
ouenty his established place in the ahecnoate
esteem tue best classes In this community I1is was
the third engagement In New-fOrk that nc mas nled
since tue present. season began, ana IL was ebuie sue
cessfu
The l50th consecutive representation OF
"Young Mrs. Winthrop" by Bronson Howard
was commemorated on March at the Madison
square Theatre, and notice is given that tnis
piece will soon be withdrawn In April
comedy called A Russian Honey MOON" which has al
ready been acted here by amateurs viii be presented by
the regulars Of the Madison Square This piece is diu
ton of Iobin's play Of "The Honeymoon and BulwePs
"Lady Of Lyons" 1t probably will not have many rep
resentatons new piece to begin the regular spring
and summer season at this house Is underlined Mean
while many companies from the Madison Square Theatre
are travelling through the country utilizing the past
succses Of tine institution. Another interesting event
OF the week lust ended the revival here, al the Wind
sOr inca re- lr BOuciOauts nue. drama OF Inc Long
Strike" work based on one OF Mrs Oaskclis HOVeIs,
and B0tabe Tor s superb use OF the magnetic Hcghpn
t. create dramatic effect We Lave sald so uch az ut
play IN times past that must nave become an OK
ceedmgy old story TO most OF our readers MI StoluIt
(wDOse by the way - not StOddaTu hihougD tle
Newspaper. 60 frequently aud libsraly furnish with
final d) has never gwen The public work more nearlv
perfect tuan his performance OF the suIif; ,kH'
tfahbed, hun and altogether deHghIu Old Ia -
hT MortypennU Aud tht performance II as Eoou ~"
a. ever ~ was MISS Sara JeWett, MI joe MhtclocA'
Mr. Edward Lahr, and MI. L. H. 1itOu ma e up sple
nid east for the Old play, and the revival Of 1t was
ugnAl success.
With the new week arrive q few incidents, |
involving change If not novelty. Mr. j. X. Emmet will
present himself at HibO's Garden as Iiizts time In
England" reproduction Of "The Black Flag" will DO
Effected tine Grand Opera House. The Minstrels Of
nessrs Thatcher Primrose a West will emerge at the
Cosmopolitan Theatre. Mr.. Mapleson Will brIn1 back
hs Italian Opera Company TO the Academy OF Music In
ther quarters there will be change nor will the dra
natic field become especially lively until Easter Mon
lay. the Goth Of April "a Partisan Romance Is still
ixture at the Union Square Theatre Mr. Days new