National Republican., 1884-12-20
ANiISENIENTl.


play, "rhe Blot on the 'scutcheon." There
we're many distinguished people present in
the auditorium, including Gen. Sheridan
and Marshal McMichael The audience
gave evidence from the first of
a kindly disposition recalling Mr. Barrett and
Miss Wainwright after the second and third
acts aud applaudlng wherever the situations
warranted IT, OF these stirring situations the
development OF the slight story affords but few.
While in two or three passages the interest is
aroused to high pitch. the play, as a whole,
does not contain sufficient action to
deeply stir the feelings or rvet the
attention for any considerable length of
time. The painful story from which the play
is constructed in itself possesses deep human
interest and might In other hands have been
wrought into dramatic form which would as
sure 1t long life on the stage. Asit sMnds The |
Blot on tho Scutcheon," can hardly be called |
good acting play. 1t is barren OF subplot |
and those minor incidents which, while not |
essential to the dlsentangling Of the story draw |
the at ention momentarily away from the !
main action only to enmesh 1t more securely |
in the web of the plot The unities are well
preserved and the dialogue abounds In beau-
timl and forcible language, aud, as already
stated, there are a few situations OF genuine
dramatic power. In brief the story Is of
and only sister, Mildred, to his
friend, Earl Mertoun Shortly after
ward Tresham is horrifcd to learn from the
lips OF an old retainer that tor many nights
man enveloped iu long cloak had been seen
to enter the chamber of Mildred through an
outer window The Earl is overwhelmed by
the disgrace brought upon his proud and an-
cient name, aud in his agony sends for his Sis
ter. As delicately as one In his over
wrought condition may, he makes clear
to her his suspicious She does
not deny the accusation, and when he asks
her what he will say to Earl Mcrtoun when he
comes that night TO claim her hand, she an
swers that she will receive him. Maddened at
what he regards her shamelessness, Tresham
calls in his family, tells them of Mildreds
shame, curses her, and departs. To Gwen
dohn, her cousin Mildred imparts the fact
| that her paramOur is Earl Mertoun. Tresham
resolves to slay the seducer of his sister,
and for that purpose waits beneath the win
dow the coming of night and the mysterious
gallant. When he finds the latter to be
Mertoun his deadly purpose almost fails, but
| he commands him to draw, and Mertoun Is
| killed. When informed Of the fate Of her
| lover, Mildred forgives her brother and dies
| in his arms. "She was SO young, she had no
| mother, and she fell" This slight story
affords Mr.. Barrett no great opportunity to
display his powers, though the scene where
! he tells his sister that he has discovered her
| dreadful secret he invests with great power
aud pathos, and the denunciation which fol-
| lows is likewise admirably done. Miss Marie
| Wainwright received some well-earned APP
plause In scene which strongly recalls that
between Beatrice and Benedick when she re-
proaches Austin, her brother, for deserving Mil
4 L.. Kofn al
struggled bravely with the exacting part of
Mildred, but 1t rather overwhelmed her. She
invested the part with little interest and the
weakness of her voice made 1t difficult to hear
her at any distance from the stage. The piece
was mounted In a manner that reflected the
highest credit on the stage management and on
the resources OF the house. The scene In Mil
dred's room and the wood set for the third act
were exceedingly beautiful and ingenious.
The light effects were also managed with nice
taste. Several New York dramatic critics were
present to witness the play, including Mr.. VIM.
Winter, of the Tribune AT the matinee to-day
Francesca da Rimini' will be repeated. Mr..
Barretts highly successful engagement will
close with production of Julius Cesar this
evening.
FoRD's OPERA HOUSE.
The coming week OF light opera at this
hauss li-b. welcomed with scuuiIio pleas
, ure, as for the first season in many years our
public has not had thus far this season sur
felt of this species of entertainment. The feet
that the troupe is under the direction of so ex-
cellent an artist as Mr.. w. 7. Carleton is addi-
tional matter for congratulation. The COM
pany comes well recommended from the cities
. in which 1t has been heard. Among Its mem
bers are such well known artists rs Dora WI
ley, Rose Beaudet, Gustave Adolphi, Alonzo
Hatch and W. III. CLARK. The engagement
will open Monday evening with production
of Offenbach's "Fllle du Pambour Major
which has not been heard here in many years
II indeed 1t has ever been heard here. Speak
ing of the Carleton company's render
ing of this bright little work, the
San Francisco Cal recently said: This com
position OF Ohenbach has a lyric strength and
melOdic beauty that requires precise and mas
terly handling In order TO develop its full
charm We are justified In saying 1t received
such treatment at the hands Of the Carleton
{ company. There was nothing to mar the
gracelulness of the movement throughout
and the exceptional numbers that came in the
course of the performance were SO remarka
bly, rendered. so deliciously toned, that thC
Il lmpressions.sof the vocal excellence of thu
a principals OF the company were.hxed at once.
The advance sale of seats indicates highly
n successful week.
NATIONAL THEATER.
, Tho Madison Square Theater company
which appears at the National on Monday
Dec. %, and during Christmas week, In tina
n popular farce comedy ".rhe Private Secretary,
Y IS competent one, including Mr.. AL Lipman
NJ. A. Kennedy, C. w. Stokes, J. ]. Sayille
Charles Coote, Miss Henrietta Crosman, Ma!
l. Gallagher Fanny Addison, and Ada Dwyer
4 The play has made one of the pronounced hit
Of the day. The story is new one to tn
y English speaking stage.
u The scheme OF 1.-THE Private Secretary"
that Of mistaken and transferred identities s
= often and ingeniously employed by Germa
n and French writers of iarcilal plays Tn
II persons who are regarded each as being tn
other are giddy young Londoner and sedat
clerical secretary and tutor, and the fun come
principally from the unGtness of both for tn
assumed characters.
l. ALBAUGH's GRAND OPERA HOUSE.
In addition to being one OF the most elat
orately mounted plays put upon the stage /
|. years, youth" the attraction at Albaugh
NJ next week, possesses many execellences of col
~ struction, aud is replete with powerful s!tui
tions. The story of Youth" in brief, is thu
of an oficer in the British army; the son of a
English clergyman, who brings disgrace upo
j. himself and his family by mesalliance;
II convicted OF the crime of forgery, Of whic
N he is falsely accused; undorgoes term of in
10 prsonment ns convict, from which he is rt
81 leased on "ticket OF leave" for saving the III
10 OF a keeper In the prison; forieits his liber
~ through failure to comply with the legal r
10 qulrements; enlists as a common soldier in h
~ old regiment to serve in the Afghan war; r
~ NJ gains his status with his former comrades
u. a display Of herosm and valor at the histor
y battle of the KhyDer Pass, and returns
~ England, decorated with the Victoria Cross,
m,a m flnd that through fortultous chain of ci
n o"ino'sNo's e - 'Seu '1l- ,, ~ "Ilo' y, :, :,