New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-07
: ,,v,au.ls with such names as KopaiouSh' anu f'"
THE DRAMA-M USIC.
PARK THEATRE-THE GRIP.

noonle who 60 to the Park Theatre, to
.no n,ovs of Mr. Harrgan go there for rrolic' and
,nav always find what they seek. ME- HarIleah mas
hronsht forward a new piece, written by hlmSel en-
.,,sd The Grip" and whatever may ne lis ineroriy'
hs,ber in literary style, artistic mechanism or ehoce
of materials the significant fact to he noted WIN refer
o IN its practical result is that 1t moves along anna
~, ,ncessant nubc merriment, and leaves its audi
g.. an q tumult of laughter. The means by which ths
sneo is produced certainly are not intellectual ihero
nm abundance OF horsepay ana mere ounoonery III an VI
MIR Harrlgan's dramas. His characters not nire-
GENTLY hufet and kick each other tumble from wndo"s'
,u through ceilings otherwise conduct themselves
~ hovs who are out ON lark But II is to he observed
,hat even these pranks aud mshaTs are by some means
invested with comic quality quick sense Oh tho iu
nrous alike incidents and In contrasts Oh chardc'or'
ould seem TO he OF the chief characteristics OF VS
authos mind He is not restrained ny any SENSE Vi TO-
1pemsnt aud he does trouble himself about form or
,,o us materials arc picked up from tho ground ana
81, +rtes are fashioned obedience TO the oapricous
motive OF animal fun. In his now play OF Inc 0I'P
very old theatrical expedient Is eInpioyeh 'ue- Gun
ditions of extremely common social life IL Is uhuer
stood that two who were comrades III the Amorl'
Civil War nave made compact and ratihed tue sans u!
a.a,r ,oouliar grio OF the hands-that their chill
dram a son and daughter shall be married to each
other Years have passed away. and the time Is no"
zine for the fulment OF this contract Dnt the 'ne
the girl has heard unDcasng news as TO tue I"'he Vi e
how AMI he now wishes shun the contemplated ma't
n,nnal alliance In order accomplish this OBJECT no
determines to disgust tho juvenile suor 10 MS oauen
ters band and to end he exchanges places win MS
Irish stabeman and directs his daughter 10 eAch"nse
naees with that stablemans sister The servant Is 70
the MASTER aud the servant girl is to mper
sonate the masters daughter.
Mr. Harrgsn enacts the stableman and Ike tho Mock
D.k, in the comedy of The Honeymoon" ho creates
CONSERVATION and laughter by his inflated and most rldc-
nloas assumption OF mGcsterla authority. The spurious
daughter is played by Mrs Yeamans and In the hahus
OF this sporve pair tho young swain who comes 10 WOO
IS treated lively experience OF comic vugarity
that Is the ground plan OF the piece subsidiary pO Is
conneeted with thus EMBARRASSING out vi an application
which has been made to the Aldermen OF New YORK by
s5sbtir Which stand daOSnt to his house, and
which are occupied by Irish people and negroes VINO as
frb the neighborhOOd with noisy revelry. Wien the
stabeman has been installed us the master OF the town
mansion it devoves on him to receive the Aldermen et
NewYork, and he promptly arrahees tnat tne onenuns
sbanties shall DO wheeed on in the night while Tue ocGI
pants of them are asleep he invites MS
parlUr and introduces them TO the Board OF Adorneh
wheIeupon the two parties c0aesSe ana give ME-
up 10 a night OF tipsy revel and drunken 1raWl Mr
Harrigans handling oil the reSpecuTe ara cohtrsteu
sk1ui aud it is marked we'll by strong tone OF play.
fol 10y exact knowledge OF the SUBJECT IL
takes freshman to represent perfectly well the come
nconsc0ucnce. the turbulence, and the rasclbe tenn
peranent OF the Irish. .
ure the lower orders OF Irish people lie Is IOrte
likewise in the actors whom he as selected 10
pig- headed some them drOy vaonous. hiding their
small shrewduess beneath the gise OF stupid simplicity
Among these actors Mr.. John Wild, MI refer Gold
rich Mr.. James Fox, and William West MI. Har1eah
himself presents peculiar pc OF the lrishinan. bat
true Que and extremely drol He Is the sagaclolS MICK
with tue slow movement the soft voice. the dry manner
the long-tailed coat and the perennial appetite ior
whiskey The dash add elasticity OF the Irish peasant
whom Barney Williams used to portray" the rantug
roaring Irishman he does not attempt His HI eruan
character is inv csted With curious comic saence ana
It is exceedingly amusing in It's quiet nnObtrave play
fuDess ami seemingly unconscious hunOr Inc cast OF
"Tho Grip" includes Miss Stella Bouiface ana her nus
band Mr. Henry Wraver jr The representatives, OF the
New York Board Aldermen are headed by Mt Arthur
a. Morcand who hits OF exceedingly well the elllOres
cent manner OF the lrical ward politician. he who
talks nonsense and who Is always 30 fond OF hearing
himself talk The sketch given 10y Mr.. MOTeland should
he recorded. indeed as than commonly clever.
Hall dozen songs by Mr. Brabam are introduced III the
course OF the Ths composer makes an
adrot use the old irish melodies and sometimes he
creates a happy effect by he application OF plantve
music 10 trivial words and cOmcal subjects The new
play has drawn crowded houses since the night OF us
FIRST prOductio and it evidently has started on long
career In public favor. such things are not for
moment to mistaken for literature, or to he viewed as
anything else than trines but as tribes they are clever
and they serve their purpose OF amusing multitude OF
"